Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza

Holy crap, a new glass!  I'm working on it, alright.  I left all my other ones in Ohio.  If you were unaware, I love Jolly Pumpkin.  In fact, I used some of their bottle conditioned wild yeast to make my own sour beer in the past.  I know that they probably aren't on the scale of some Russian River sours and others out west, but I haven't been out there.  Anyways, these are solid beers nonetheless and I will probably always have a fondness for them since they are what got me into funky/sour beers.  Although I have had this one in the past, it's time to review it!

Oro de Calabaza


Appearance- Golden yellow in color with a layer of persistent white head.  The body is slightly cloudy while lacing sticks to the side of the glass.

Smell- A sour tart smell pounds the nostrils immediately.  It seems mostly to be lactic acid rather than acetic as well as some barnyard funk as well.  Beneath all the funk and sour is some citrus, most notably that of lemon with some grassy character that probably melds in with the barnyard character as well.

Taste- A muted front with some slight funk.  The funky barnyard flavors begin to rise in the middle with an increase in sour as well.  There is some slight citrus, but not what I noticed in the smell.  Slight peak of tartness in the finish that carries into a barnyard aftertaste.

Mouthfeel- Medium-light body with moderate carbonation.  Very dry finish.

Overall and Notes- The last time I had this beer on tap at South Park in Dayton, there seemed to be a lot more umph and more importantly, more sour.  I know that Jolly Pumpkin has been said to be a little less consistent than other sour brewers in there creation because of a lack of blending (I believe that was the explanation, someone correct me if I'm wrong).  That being said, still a solid beer.  Jolly Pumpkin doesn't disappoint me and I'm sure any day I will find myself fighting the urge to buy one of every one of their beers.

5 O'clock Shadow Double Black Lager

Since I was recently called out for my lack of posting, I thought maybe it was time to get back at it.  This whole school thing is really starting to get in the way of my life.  Recently, a friend of mine gifted me a beer for doing him a favor so I thought I would throw it on here.  This is my first beer from Grand Teton Brewing Company and hopefully not my last.

5 O'clock Shadow Double Black Lager


Appearance- Dark brown color with a tan bubbly head. Disappears a little and is edging towards patchy. Lacing can be seen sticking to the glass.

Smell- Moderate amount of malty character with toasted malt and a bit of roasted malt being the most prominent. A slight amount of caramel in the nose with traces of coffee. No real hop aroma.

Taste- Moderate malty beginning that changes to a rich Munich malt in the middle. Toasted flavor as well as the roasted malt that was noticeable in the nose. Some low bitterness at the end with a clean lager character throughout.

Mouthfeel- Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Nice and smooth while finishing slightly dry.

Overall and Notes- Full flavored and smooth. Although I was surprised to see a "double" schwarzbier, this one worked out well.

LOOKS LIKES YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BREW ANOTHER BEER BUDDY.  It was worth taking the time to post just to invalidate your post.