Anchorage Brewing / Jolly Pumpkin Calabaza Boreal

Calabaza Boreal is a collaboration between Anchorage Brewing and Jolly Pumpkin. This Saison/Farmhouse Ale is fermented in oak tanks with fresh grapefruit, peppercorns and grapefruit juice, 7% ABV.

This pours with a nice light golden color that is bit more of a lemon yellow when held to the light. Intense and funky aroma on this beer, almost a bit too much really since I pulled back a bit form my initial sniff. A bit of old grapefruit, but it mellows as you get used to it. Tons of grapefruit in the taste for sure and a surprising amount of peppercorns. The pepper spicing works well to add surprising flavor balance. The oak tanks are adding some wood notes, and the yeast is really adding some good flavor as well. This changes some as it warms, getting a bit sweeter with the grapefruit and pepper mellowing, added are some more lemon notes.

This is an enjoyable tart and funky saison, you might want to share this with a friend or two though, it could be a little intense to tackle on your own.