A busy day today that will hopefully continue but the one point of agreement seems to be Jolly Pumpkin beers and - oh, happy day - I have one in the stash. I have been known to Bam and Oro de Calabaza is the strong golden ale by the same happy gourd of a brewer.
Wow. It's like a cross between Duval and Fantome. Plenty of grain texture but a acidic, farm yard funk that leans towards a Flemish red. Plus, a whirlwind of fruit in the malt - yellow plum, pear, sultana. Black tea hops with a bit of white and black pepper. Fabulous. Golden light amber ale under a massive egg white head that keeps growing - it's alive.
I am heading in two Fridays to get to Jolly Pumpkin after a morning presentation in London Ontario to learn more. 100% of BAers are stunned by the quality.
Comments
Spencer Thomas - October 27, 2007 12:40 am
Alan,
If you've got time, I invite you to meet with some of the members of the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild homebrew club while you're in the area. We could get together at one of the 4 area brewpubs (or several of them!) If you are interested, please respond by email to spencer at spencerwthomas.com.
A fellow Jolly Pumpkin lover,
Spencer Thomas
Ann Arbor
Spencer Thomas - October 27, 2007 12:57 am
Oh, yes. Have you tried the Bam Noire? It presents with a lovely fruity, leathery nose -- dark cherries, apples, and a hint of oak. The creamy tan head sits atop a ruby-brown beer. The first sip is barely tart, dry, with a dark malt and fruit hit. With a few swishes, the carbonation blooms into a creamy fullness. A slight woody astringency blends with the light hop bitterness to keep the beer alive as I swallow. There's a hint of funk, nicely controlled, adding to the complex and changing nature of this beer. The finish shifts from tart fruit to woody oak and back again.
It is a thing of beauty, and I'm so happy that it's brewed only 11 miles from my home.
jason - October 27, 2007 7:57 pm
Alan, it's worth the trip back to Galt for the Grand River Brewery's Highballer Pumpkin Ale. Miam miam.
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/grand-river-highballer-pumpkin-ale/78839/60280/
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16304/38855
Alan - October 27, 2007 9:01 pm
Being the possessor of four empty Grand River growlers, my plan is exactly that.
Jason Tucker - October 30, 2007 9:13 pm
Jolly Pumpkin just became available in my area (at least I've just started seeing it). I couldn't be happier about it.
This was a fantastic beer, and one I'm writing about in a week or so. My wife even liked this brew, and that's saying a lot for her. I've also got a bottle of La Roja I'm itching to try soon.