Noel
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

 

Poured from an undated 12oz can.

On the pour, nearly 3 fingers of brown off white head form on top of a deep, dark hazy brown body. Head retention is pretty good as well, especially for a sour.

Aroma is immediately tart with some notes of sweet molasses immediately following. Almost like a nice balsamic vinegar. I am picking up some malts and maybe even some spicy notes?

Flavor follows the aroma, but is a bit less overwhelmingly acidic. It is tart and a bit bitter right up front with some notes of stone fruits but it quickly transitions into a complex malty, boozy, and woody flavor. The fruit fades allowing the earthy and woody barrel notes come through as well as a roasted, maybe even burnt flavor coming through towards the finish.

This is a big beer and it feels like it too. It is certainly more of a sipper, but the tartness makes it a little dangerous, at least for me, as it balances the booze roast and general heaviness. It definitely comes off as a surprisingly uplifting winter warmer.

Overall this beer is pretty good, but it is a bit heavy for my taste, and there is an almost burnt flavor I don't love in the finish. I've never loved barrel aged beers unless it is purely a "souring barrel/foeder" if you will. I just don't love woody beer. I don't believe this is bourbon barrel aged, but it does give me some of the flavors I don't love about those types of beers.

 

Foamier than expected were the pours that emptied the entire contents of two twelve ounce cans into a clear glass liter mug. The thick foam is beige and beneath it sits a dark brown liquid, not quite as dark as milk chocolate. Neither bright, nor dull, it is rather opaque. The aroma of pumpkin spices is matched by one of sourness. Neither is less than pleasant, nor pronounced. To taste, this is pleasingly more of a sour than another typically spiced pumpkin beer. It's not merely tart, it's legitimately sour. Not to a degree than it should offend any beer drinker with expended tastes, but those that don't appreciate sours won't like this. Whatever pumpkin spices are included are done so in balance and with subtlety. The ABV is a pleasant part of the taste and mouthfeel. Of which, it's light, as a sour usually is, but carries the flavors adequately. There's even some nice glass lacing, in this case, an indication about the quality of this beer. Probably, this is unique as it is exceptional.

 

 

 

 

Fizzy brown-red pour with a thin off-white head. Subtle nose. Hints of cherry, cranberry, grape, orange, lemon, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove. Mild to medium tartness and bitterness. Light to medium feel with a moderately dry finish. Though the above range of notes is present on both the nose and taste, this beer is ultimately a bit muted to my palate and is good but not great.

Dark brown with a reddish tinge, topped with a beige head.

Smells of Flemish yeasts, oak, and acidic cherry.

The taste follows the nose. Balance of sour and sweet, reminds me of Duchess de Bourgogne. Honda of oak and dark toasted notes.

Medium to light body with moderate carbonation.

Excellent brew. I got it in Grande Rapids MI and am drinking in Phuket Thailand, Feb 7 2023.

Sampled from a can labeled only as "Noel", not Noel De Calabaza.

Pours deep amber, bright but not see through. Aroma is oaky, cherry and spice (cardamon comes to mind). Taste is highly bitter, extremely low carbonation, cherry and spice. This is a brew that is likely an acquired taste.

 

750 ml bottle, blend 3, courtesy of Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. Hazy dark brown colour, huge off-white head. Strong sourish aroma of red wine vinegar, lemon, farmhouse, spices and hops. Sour flavour, some malts, hints of brown kandij sugar, oak, moderate hops. Okay, but I’m not excited.

 

Dark amber colored with a quarter inch of beige on top. The aroma is of brettanomyces, oak, and nutmeg. I’m tasting cherries, oak, and nutmeg with a lingering tartness. The mouth is heavily carbonated and very crisp and dry.

 

Pours a dark amber with a finger of caramel head reducing to a ring. Smell is sour and oak. Taste is so absolutely sour and tart nothing else is distinguishable. Is is very crisp feeling, but hard to drink. I took a few drinks and dumped it.

 

16oz can poured into a tulip. Pours a very dark brown/amber; off-white head that fades leaving nice retention and lacing. The aromas have a nice amount of funk and vinegar leading the way. Hints of cherries and dark fruits. Yeasts and malts do their thing. The flavors follow the nose. They're tart and sour. More vinegar and funk. More cherries and dark fruits. Some raisins in the mix. Hints of oak. It's sweet, but not cloyingly sweet. Zero bitterness. Yeasts and malts do their thing. Alcohol is ultimately well hidden for the most part. Mouthfeel is very nice. It's full-bodied with active carbonation. It's sharp but soft. It's fluffy, smooth and dangerously drinkable.

This is a nice brew. It definitely seems more like a "sour" than a traditional "Belgian Dark Strong Ale", for what it's worth. Either way it's enjoyable stuff and fun to drink. The craftsmanship is on point. Well done. I like it.

Beer received in bif12.5 from @whyteboar

Pours a deep ruby cola brown into a chalice thin taupe island immediately evaporates , no visible carbonation

Aroma is red grapes, Pinot noir , barley wine perhaps

Taste is red grape, wine , tart cherries

Low sudsing, small fizzy bubbles, dry finish , tart , quenching , abv is well hidden