Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales - Amalgamation Station

Amalgamation Station is a proprietary Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales blend exclusively formulated for the Rare Beer Club. This Flanders-inspired beer is a blend of hand selected sour ale barrel-aged with rose hips and rose petals, showcasing the craftsmanship of the folks at Jolly Pumpkin and their artistry of brewing. Amalgamation Station will only be available through the Rare Beer Club and Jolly Pumpkin tasting rooms in very limited quantities.

Jolly Pumpkin Amalgamation Station pours a deep amber to red-brown, with a touch of haze and an off-white, finely bubbled head. There is a touch of pink around the rim as well, hinting towards the rose hips and rose petals. The head is retained nicely with just a hint of lacing left behind after every sip. The initial aroma profile brought forth fruity, floral, and malty notes, with a light lactic presence. As we dive deeper into the aromas we discover notes of fresh berries, red plums, and red apples, with toasty malt from beginning to end. Further malt expressions come in the form of caramel and toffee with a delightful toastiness. The bourbon barrel aging comes through as well with notes of vanilla and a hint of brown sugar. We also enjoy the floral aspects of the rose petals with a gently perfumed bouquet.

Our first sip of the Jolly Pumpkin Amalgamation Station brings together all the aromas into an experience of pronounced flavors. There is an initial tartness typical of Flanders-style ales but restrained and refined without being astringent. Flavors of fresh rose hips and raspberries are well represented, as are red plums and red apples. Notes of tart cherries arise and are complemented by the rose petals which add complexity and a light perfumy quality. The bourbon barrel aging and malt provide a nice balance to the fruity and floral notes with flavors of caramel, vanilla, and toasty oak. There’s a nice warmth provided by notes of toffee and brown sugar giving way to hints of baking spices. Mid palate we’re welcomed by a dose of hoppy bitterness rounding out the flavor profile.

The Jolly Pumpkin Amalgamation Station is a medium bodied ale with a slightly aggressive mousse made up of tightly packed bubbles. The finish is dry and drawn out with expressions of tartness and bitterness. We really enjoyed this proprietary blend, and we encourage all our Rare Beer Club members to stock up on this limited release.

Amalgamation Station is ready to drink now but can age and mature long term if desired. We would cap the aging at around 3-5 years to avoid oxidation. Amalgamation Station is a very food friendly ale and we recommend Boeuf Carbonnade a la Flamande, your favorite grilled meats, farmhouse cheeses, or homemade rose hip jam toaster pastries. Cheers!

The Rare Beer Club is happy to once again offer a very special beer brewed exclusively for us by Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. This latest creation, Amalgamation Station, was brewed for our 30th Anniversary celebration and joins the other Jolly Pumpkin exclusives that we’ve had the pleasure of featuring, dating back 15 years to Oro De Calabaza.

The Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales brewery in Dexter, Michigan may be a bit unassuming from the outside, but stepping inside reveals not only gleaming brewing equipment but also countless wooden barrels where beers of various ages, blends, and levels of funk mature. Barrel aging is a cornerstone of Jolly Pumpkin's brewing process, a practice some deem extravagant due to the time, effort, and cost involved in aging every drop of beer in traditional wooden casks. Yet this dedication is what cultivates their exceptional range of distinct beers. Adding to their artisanal approach is open fermentation, where yeast works its magic in containers left uncovered, unlike the closed stainless-steel tanks typically used. This allows wild yeast from the air to impart its natural complexity to the beer's flavor profile. The combination of open fermentation and barrel aging is not just a nod to traditional brewing methods (Flanders and Lambic ales) but a distinctive art form that remains rarely seen in today's craft beer landscape.

Ron Jeffries, who led Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales since 2004, has taken on a new endeavor on the Big Island of Hawaii, though he remains with the brewery under the umbrella of Northern United Brewing Company. Now at the helm is Bryan Wiggs, who, under Jeffries’ wing, has taken over the role of “Chief Squeegee Operator” and is guiding Jolly Pumpkin with aplomb. At their main brewery in Dexter, Michigan, visitors can explore the brewhouse that accommodates both Jolly Pumpkin's creations and the conventionally fermented beers of North Peak Brewing Co., which are meticulously kept separate from the wild-fermented processes of Jolly Pumpkin. The Dexter location also has an awesome kitchen, open Wednesday through Saturday in the afternoon and evening, which serves a large selection of delicious food to pair all their great beers with. In addition to the original Dexter location, there are five other locations throughout Michigan, in Detroit, Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, and East Lansing. These are a mixture of cafes, brew pubs, and taprooms ready to accommodate Jolly Pumpkin cravings. For those interested in tours or visiting one of Jolly Pumpkin's locations in Michigan, more information can be found on their website at www.jollypumpkin.com.