Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
2004 bottle consumed on 2/7/06.
Hazy, marmalade wrapped about by strawberry-blonde hues. Foamy, wispy, off-white head is initially one-finger high, rather quickly diminishing to cover and ring.
I’m greeted by brett, and sawdust baking in a hot garage, with newly repaneled white oak. The bourbon does not come out forcefully, giving way to more of the wood character of the barrel, the tannins and such. Brett keeps it sufficiently wild, you might say horseblanket (I don’t really ever smell that though). Faintest dash of dried apricots and marmalade. Dry, with no fusels/high alcohols becoming apparent thus far (10 minutes). Quite sniffable, for sure.
Wow, first sip is dry, tannic near the end, but more a strong tingle on the tongue (thanks to the tightly effervescent bubbles), than a stripping of the sides of the mouth (see Bush Prestige). The brett, wood and coriander combine to give an almost lime-pineapple flavor, just a fair hint of phenols, quite charming in such a low amount. More dry fruits, apricots, tangerines, nectarines. Bourbon and wood tannins do begin to build after 20 minutes and 1/4 of the glass gone. Yikes, now the bourbon is really catching up, overdrying the flavor, adding light coconut and an almost numbing sensation on the end (like you get from drinking lagavulin). Now the aroma has been overtaken by the alcohol. Very discouraging! The beer started out so marvelously charming! I can see some of Michael’s reaction to the La Roja Reserve in my rating of this. The beer just succumbs to too much tannic/acidic dryness. Esters do keep things somewhat interesting, as does the light brett that is still apparent, but this is just too much on the wood. By the end, the glass is very well laced. Rating for the first half of the glass would be about a 4.3, second half would be about a 3.0. Actual is an average. Thanks to SuIIy for the bottle!
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
2005 bottle (or was it bottled in 2006), whatever the case, it’s the first batch 750mL Bottle. Inky, midnight black, completely opaque and difficult to even find the deeper browns near the edges. Head is huge, deep tan, and well retained, creating powerful lacing. The nose of this mysterious beer wastes no time in showing off the lactobacillius. Lightly sour, complemented immensely by dry, bitter black chocolate notes from roasted barley. Crunchy, French roast coffee smooths the rough edges, aided by a touch of sweet vanilla iced cream. As the beer warms and breathes I do, unfortunately, get some raw alcohol notes in the nose, a trait I seem to keep finding in JP bottles. It’s not overly noticeable or brash, but it’s a glue and ethanol-like note that dosent belong. The oak is very underrepresented, both in nose and flavor, just the way it should be. Light tannins add a little juiciness to the flavor and more complexity to the nose. Earthy black barley and prunes linger and some light caramel sugars intensify as it warms. The flavor begins with this light caramel sweetness, quickly balanced by anise, vanillin, oily lacto notes, bitter baker’s chocolate, flashes of wood tannins and a brief interlude of green, bitter hops. Hops are quite bold, but yet, shed mostly bitterness, while remaining light on flavor. Not sure what kind of hops, but they are not distracting, if they are American. The flavor lightens up, with some light cocoa, more creamy sugars and bits of dry, tart fruits (cherries, prunes, blackberries). The body is medium and quite drinkable. I think the way this beer courts sweetness, but never really commits to being overly sweet or overly dry (I guess it is closer to being quite dry) really makes for a drinkability you don’t get in most stouts of this nature. Oily, lightly gritty at times, mouthfeel, but supportive and with a high, but tightly bubbled carbonation (and after an hour, the carbonation is fine). No note of the alcohol seen in the nose, in the flavor. Cheers to SuIIy for the gift!!
Rerate. 2/3/07
Every bit as good as when fresh (this is the first batch aged quite a while), with some thinning of the body as to be expected, but the lactobacillus hasnt overdeveloped, even with slightly warmer than average storage conditions. One of the better Belgian/Foreign stouts out there.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
Bottle. Dark reddish colour with a tan head. Aromas of malt yeast and dark fruits. Malty flavor with chocolate and dark fruits. Hints of spices and alcohol in the finish.
jcwattsrugger (14787) reviewed Oro from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 5 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 4.5
750ml bottle-pours a creamy light tan head. Color is cloudy gold. Aroma is fruit, citrusy, pepper.Taste is fruity, tart, creamy.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Thanks to Sully (Secret Santa) for enabling me to share this with the Georgia Crew at our Cask Eve Tasting! This begins with a clear dark amber body under a medium off white head that slips away fairly quickly leaving nice lacing behind. A combination of maple and dark fruits in the aroma. Smooth and lightly sweet flavor with a touch of acid and a bit of astringency in the finish. Another winner from JP!
Anders37 (30296) reviewed Luciérnaga from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 6 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7
Bottle. Slightly cloudy amber colour with a off-white head. Aroma is sweet fruity. Sweet and fruity flavor with a little spicy finish. Fruity finish.
Anders37 (30296) reviewed La Roja from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 7.5
Bottle. Hazy amber colour. Off-white head. Spicy aroma and hints of alcohol. Also a weak aroma of coconut. A little sweet spicy flavor with hints of dark fruits. A little coconut flavor too. Dry finish.
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
(Bottle 75 cl) Pours a vaguely hazy dark brown with a beige head. Vinous, port-like nose. Delicate, roasted malty accents with some alcohol. Notes of dried fruit and - again - port wine. A very refined and sophisticated brew. 270106
Anders37 (30296) reviewed Blanca from Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales 20 years ago
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 7 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 8
Bottle. Hazy pale golden colour. White head. Aroma is spicy with hints of yeast and coriander. Flavor is much the same as aroma, but also hints of citrus. Has a spicy finish.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 6 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 6.5
(Bottle 75 cl) Slightly hazy, pale amber with a fine, creamy, off-white head. Aroma of yeast and dry sherry. Very dry with distinct notes of alcohol and some vague touches of caramel. Very dry, bitter finish. 270106