Today marks a very special occasion for beer drinkers in New York City. Spuyten Duyvil, in Williamsburg, is hosting a very rare event by Beer Advocate Magazine’s 8th Best Brewery In America (and my personal favorite): Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. This event will feature four of Jolly Pumpkins ales on tap, and one on cask. Jolly Pumpkin is located in Dexter, Michigan, and the brewery has a strong focus on “old world craftmanship.” They brew “rustic country style beers” that employ the methods of open fermentation, oak barrel aging, and bottle conditioning.
Jolly Pumpkin’s Artisan Ales are not your average beers, but all you have to do is look at these ales in a different light to fully appreciate them. Jolly Pumpkin makes Belgian and French style ales, and you should approach them the same way you would any Belgian Ale or fine wine. The smell of the beer is equally as important as the taste. Before you sip you should inhale deep, get the flavors in your nose before they ever touch your mouth, and only at that point should you take your first sip.
Tonight only, Spuyten Duyvil will feature the following brews:
Oro de Calabaza is a spicy golden Belgian style ale that is extremely well balanced, and at the same time very complex with hints of spice and pepper, alcohol, and just a bit of vanilla followed up by a slightly tart finish. It is 8% alcohol by volume, and is one of those beers that I order every time I come across it. Oro de Calabaza has taken both Gold and Bronze Metals at the Great American Beer Festival in the Belgian and French Ale category. A true gem that I have never before seen in a keg form.
Bam Bière and Bam Noire are like cousins. One is a golden in color and the other is a dark (almost black). Both are farmhouse style ales. Bam Bière is light in color and extremely well balanced, and will be available on both keg and cask. Bam Noire is much darker, and a bit sweeter with hints of dark red fruits, chocolate, and coffee. Both Bam Noire and Bam Bière are low in alcohol and easy drinking.
Fuego del Otono is the only one of the four beers that will be featured that I am unfamiliar with. This beer is typically a late fall release, and is said to have notes of caramel and spice. This is one beer that I have never even seen in New York state, and I am looking forward to tasting it. Jolly Pumpkin makes their beers so that they age well, and since this is a fall release I am guessing that this keg has at least a year of age on it. Making this keg just that much more rare.
The event starts at 6pm, today, Tuesday June 15th. Jolly Pumpkin ales are rare, and I assume some of them will not last longer than one night. If you want to experience these ales on tap, tonight might be your only chance. See you at Spuyten Duyvil. Cheers.
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