Slow Down
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

 

After years of wild fermentation, Jolly Pumpkin reacts to the need for simpler sour ale, easier flavors on the palate and an uncomplicated palate. You'd think that they are slowing down. But with the additions of blackberry and chocolate, slow just means something different.

Foggy in its rusty mauve hues, Slow Down casually settles in the glass with a sprite and arid froth. As the bubbles settle, the nose is struck by tangy notions of cider, white wine, citrus, berry and a fine must of damp burlap. Its gentle sweetness splashes the early palate with a juicy impression of saltwater taffy, wafer, sourdough and fructose.

As its underlying tartness of dry cider, chardonnay, lemon and lime lay a tart foundation of acidity, the overcast of blackberry gives a slightly more robust taste with plum, cranberry, rhubarb and pomegranate character. With any aspect of chocolate, the spice only serves to give the darkness of berry a heft as it takes a stretch of the imagination to actually taste anything cocoa derived. Its late taste offers a slight salinity for a rounded plumpness to the berry and citrusy tang.

Medium bodied for sour ale but on point for more traditional Gose, the session concludes with remnants of berry skins and a brisk sourness in a moderate level of acidity. Highly refreshing, crisp and mostly clean, the ale extends with a brief echo of sourdough and rose wine.