Jolly Pumpkin / Nøgne Ø / Stone Collababeire Special Holiday Ale

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

750 ml bottle, blend 4, Cardinal Pub & Bar, Stavanger. ABV is 9%. Cloudy dark brown colour, moderate beige head. Some sediment in the bottle, you’re in for floaties if you pour too vigorously in the end. Strong sourish and vinous aroma, with notes of Flemish red ales and red wine vinegar. Sour flavour with notes of oak, red wine vinegar, herbs and spices, noticeable hops in the finish. Quite interesting, but requires that you’re into the sour stuff.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

it's been a while since i've had a JP beer with a distinct enough base to tell it apart from other JP beers. the pumpkin beer for example, had practically no pumpkin flavor or aroma, just the house JP funk (which is fine, but a little repetetive at the price). this was not that way at all. juniper, sage, and caraway explode out of the bottle. the funk is there in the aroma and flavor as well, which was expected, but compliments, rather than overshadowimg the spices. nice full feel, finishing very dry and fruity. well done, though the first release of this beer in 08 is still my favorite spiced ale.