Spring Sour (Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales)
The Spring Sour is a blend of five different beers (Bam Bière, Noel de Calabaza, Bog Beast, Humongous and Berserker) ranging in style from saison to porter, so it's no surprise that the final product is something entirely unique and memorable.
The brew is colored auburn, and arrived with a quickly dissipating one-finger head. It smells incredibly fruity and wine-like. The taste is initially like the nose, very tart with an immediately noticeable tinge of grape-like fruitiness. The finish, however, completely surprises with a subtle note of freshly-brewed coffee, presumably from the porter content of this blend. The mouthfeel is medium and slightly resinous, with a moderate cheek-pulling sourness throughout.
Overall, this beer is one of the most complex and interesting beers that I've ever come across. To say that I enjoyed it would be a massive understatement. The brewers at Jolly Pumpkin are truly masters of Belgian blending techniques, and with this beer, they've used their skills in a way that is nothing short of inspiring. A+