Noel De Calabaza | Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Brewed by:
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Michigan, United States
jollypumpkin.com
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.00%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
"Belgian Christmas Ale aged in oak barrels."
Added by BeerBeing on 10-21-2007
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 1,032 | Reviews: 431
4.18/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.41/5 rDev +9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Lucky to have found a 2014 version at a store that ran out of room in their cellar.
-Dark brown with a very long standing tannish white foamy head
-surprisingly noticeable okay smell
-great sour and oak flavor
Another great by Jolly Pumpkin
243 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Lucky to have found a 2014 version at a store that ran out of room in their cellar.
-Dark brown with a very long standing tannish white foamy head
-surprisingly noticeable okay smell
-great sour and oak flavor
Another great by Jolly Pumpkin
243 characters
4.18/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Vintage Reserve 2014
20 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Vintage Reserve 2014
20 characters
4.25/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sour and very earthy, woodsy, oaky
34 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Sour and very earthy, woodsy, oaky
34 characters
4.12/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottled September 25th, 2015, bought at Liquor Shed.
I popped the cap and saw a slow rise of foam that had to be stopped. I poured some into my glass but the slow rising continued. I spent the next few minutes sucking on the bottle to lower the foam. It finally stopped.
It looks dark brown, semi clear, impressive head of off white foam.
The smell is of dark fruits, tartness in a tannins like/venous way. I get some woody notes from the oak.
The taste matches the smell with an additional vanilla flavour that seems to come and go. I reckon that there are some spices in the taste but they're rather subdued.
Medium body, with the carbonation surprisingly moderate considering what I had to go through.
With the alcohol being hidden well, I will enjoy sipping this for quite the while. Good stuff.
811 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Bottled September 25th, 2015, bought at Liquor Shed.
I popped the cap and saw a slow rise of foam that had to be stopped. I poured some into my glass but the slow rising continued. I spent the next few minutes sucking on the bottle to lower the foam. It finally stopped.
It looks dark brown, semi clear, impressive head of off white foam.
The smell is of dark fruits, tartness in a tannins like/venous way. I get some woody notes from the oak.
The taste matches the smell with an additional vanilla flavour that seems to come and go. I reckon that there are some spices in the taste but they're rather subdued.
Medium body, with the carbonation surprisingly moderate considering what I had to go through.
With the alcohol being hidden well, I will enjoy sipping this for quite the while. Good stuff.
811 characters
4.16/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
-dark pour with minimal visible carbonation. Nose is vinigar and figs. The flavor profile is complex with raisins, dried apricot and toffee. Oak and vinous notes dominate. The acidity is only moderate. This is a pleasure
220 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
-dark pour with minimal visible carbonation. Nose is vinigar and figs. The flavor profile is complex with raisins, dried apricot and toffee. Oak and vinous notes dominate. The acidity is only moderate. This is a pleasure
220 characters
4.12/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Tap
Pours dark opaque brown, almost black. Head is off white, fine, firm. Retains well at an inch thick.
Smells of sour apple, citrus, wine grape and sourdough bread.
Tastes of biscuit, sourdough bread, wine grape, oak, and berry.
Medium to full body, light velvet tingly carbonation on the tongue.
Big, rich sour ale, tinges of bitter fruit balance the tartness. Slow drinking but very smooth. Worth trying for a more bitter spin on a sour brew.
455 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Tap
Pours dark opaque brown, almost black. Head is off white, fine, firm. Retains well at an inch thick.
Smells of sour apple, citrus, wine grape and sourdough bread.
Tastes of biscuit, sourdough bread, wine grape, oak, and berry.
Medium to full body, light velvet tingly carbonation on the tongue.
Big, rich sour ale, tinges of bitter fruit balance the tartness. Slow drinking but very smooth. Worth trying for a more bitter spin on a sour brew.
455 characters
3.85/5 rDev -4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours brown with a tan head. Head retention is moderately high.
Smell: The aroma is initially strong with raisins, wine like elements, and a bit of tartness. There are background notes of chocolate, toast, and spice.
Taste: The flavors are highlighted with moderate sourness. There is an oak character mixed in with raisin, vinous elements, and spices. There are background notes of toast.
Feel: It has a moderately full body. The finish is tart and dry.
Overall, this has a complex blend of various flavor elements, but it's tartness makes it finish more like a sour than a Belgian Strong.
607 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Look: It pours brown with a tan head. Head retention is moderately high.
Smell: The aroma is initially strong with raisins, wine like elements, and a bit of tartness. There are background notes of chocolate, toast, and spice.
Taste: The flavors are highlighted with moderate sourness. There is an oak character mixed in with raisin, vinous elements, and spices. There are background notes of toast.
Feel: It has a moderately full body. The finish is tart and dry.
Overall, this has a complex blend of various flavor elements, but it's tartness makes it finish more like a sour than a Belgian Strong.
607 characters
4.24/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.5/5 rDev +11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2015. Bottle. Pours a deep reddish brown with light head. Dark in the glass but not murky. Smells of rich oak and mahagony flavors. Light fruitiness too, maybe hints of tart cherry. Taste is wonderfully oaky with warming fruit. Big warm notes of the wood with very mild vanilla compared to some
Fruitiness and malt is almost raisiny but not overly sweet, as if the fruit just wants to say "hi, I'm here" in a casual way. Tartness finishes out the taste. Funk is mild and never assertive. Light carbonation. Great bottle especially after 2 years.
546 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2015. Bottle. Pours a deep reddish brown with light head. Dark in the glass but not murky. Smells of rich oak and mahagony flavors. Light fruitiness too, maybe hints of tart cherry. Taste is wonderfully oaky with warming fruit. Big warm notes of the wood with very mild vanilla compared to some
Fruitiness and malt is almost raisiny but not overly sweet, as if the fruit just wants to say "hi, I'm here" in a casual way. Tartness finishes out the taste. Funk is mild and never assertive. Light carbonation. Great bottle especially after 2 years.
546 characters
4.34/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
3.75/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy dark reddish brown/coppery color with off-white head. Funk, tartness, dark fruits, cherries, yeast, and some oak on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with funk and tartness with some dark fruit.
234 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a cloudy dark reddish brown/coppery color with off-white head. Funk, tartness, dark fruits, cherries, yeast, and some oak on the nose; follows onto the palate. Medium bodied. Finishes with funk and tartness with some dark fruit.
234 characters
3.56/5 rDev -11.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
I like a Beer I can not see through... I have never tried this style before, and it reminds me of a barley wine ale and a gose! I do not note any particuliar scent about it... but its not anything fowl. As for taste, bitter notes, oaky and a lil sweetness on the finish. This beer has a light to medium body about it... all this mind you matters not... overall you fill feel very nice by the time you have finished it.
418 characters
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
I like a Beer I can not see through... I have never tried this style before, and it reminds me of a barley wine ale and a gose! I do not note any particuliar scent about it... but its not anything fowl. As for taste, bitter notes, oaky and a lil sweetness on the finish. This beer has a light to medium body about it... all this mind you matters not... overall you fill feel very nice by the time you have finished it.
418 characters
4.09/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a cellar temp 750 mL bottle into a tulip glass. The beer is a deep brown hue with an off-white head that leaves a thin lacing with each sip.
The aroma is mostly malt and a little caramel. There is a hint of apple cider that portends things to come.
The first taste is of bready malts and the aforementioned apple cider. With a little warmth, the tartness becomes more pronounced but not too sharp or overbearing. More dark fruits and caramel persist the rest of the way.
The body is moderate, and the carbonation level is just right. The spices stay with you long enough to pull you in for your next sip. Well done.
636 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a cellar temp 750 mL bottle into a tulip glass. The beer is a deep brown hue with an off-white head that leaves a thin lacing with each sip.
The aroma is mostly malt and a little caramel. There is a hint of apple cider that portends things to come.
The first taste is of bready malts and the aforementioned apple cider. With a little warmth, the tartness becomes more pronounced but not too sharp or overbearing. More dark fruits and caramel persist the rest of the way.
The body is moderate, and the carbonation level is just right. The spices stay with you long enough to pull you in for your next sip. Well done.
636 characters
4.34/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.05/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Noel De Calabaza from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales
Beer rating:
4.03 out of
5 with
1,032 ratings
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