Ommegang - Belgian Pale Ale

Tonight I'm going to try another brew from Brewery Ommegang - the Belgian Pale Ale.  Steve reviewed Three Philosophers last night, and he's had all the fun with this brewery so far with the Abbey Ale and Rare Vos, so I decided I better hurry up and grab one while I can!  By the way, slightly off topic, but I would just like to reiterate what he mentioned yesterday - we don't have access to Russian River's Pliny the Elder here in MN, so if you're interested in a trade, we are IN!  To say we're desperate to try that brew would be an understatement...

Now, back to the focus of tonight's review, the Belgian Pale Ale.  This is a year-round offering from Ommegang that is primary fermented and bottle-conditioned using their very own special yeast.  It's brewed with 5 specialty malts, and "generously" hopped with Columbus, Celeia, and Cascade.  6.5% alcohol, a nice change of pace from the slew of big 9-10%er's I've been reviewing lately!

The label definitely has Duvel influence behind it - kind of boring, but it does include a great quote from Spinoza, "All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare."  The head on this brew is absolutely massive, I actually had to make an emergency move to keep it from overflowing out of the glass, close call.  Fluffy, white, and leaves a plateau in the middle that recedes relatively quickly.  The aroma is full of lemon-lime peels and a sweet belgian yeast funk.  Fresh-cut honey-crisp apples, and a hint of banana bread in the background.  Flavor starts off with big, crisp apples and pears.  Yeast funk dances around the palate for a while, but it's balanced out by a biscuity, firm malt base.  Pale malts, along with some of those piney cascade hops come next, and the finish leaves a spicy note that carries it's weight with the aggressive carbonation.

Overall Rating:  This is a great BPA!  Refreshing and delicious, I'm glad I bought a 4-pack because this bottle is already gone and I'm not done yet!  Go pick one up, great summer-time brew.  

Ommegang - Three Philosophers

Tonight I have the pleasure of reviewing one of the best beers crafted in America according to the Homerbrewers Association and the readers of their publication, Zymurgy.  Brewery Ommegang's Three Philosophers ranked tied for 29th alongside four other competitors.  The top beer on the list, three years running, is Russian River's Pliny the Elder.  They don't distribute out here so if you can get this brew out where you live Dunz and I would happily do a brew trade in order to experience what so many others are raving about.  There are a lot of other brews on that list that we have already reviewed.  Check out the list and compare our thoughts to see if their ranking on the list is warranted!

If you look close enough you can see my
cat in the background, playing a kitty version
of Wheres Waldo.

Brewery Ommegang has one of the bigger presences within the States when it comes to authentic European and Belgian brews.  We reviewed their Rare Vos and Abbey Ale and thought both were great.  The Abbey Ale post has a good background of the breweries origins and how they got to where they are today.

Three Philosophers is an authentic Belgian quad blended with a cherry Kriek with an additional 2% cherries added to accentuate the flavor.  Very unique, I doubt there is another beer on the market like it within the U.S.  The bottle reminds us to pour the beer slowly so as to not disturb the yeast on the bottom but vigorous enough to create a "luxurious head and release the sumptuous bouquet".  Ommegang does a great job at getting you in the mindset to enjoy their beer.  They don't want you to just drink the beer, they want you to have a great overall experience.

Ommegang's Belgian blend is a deep mahogany color with a sandy tan head.  With a robust 9.4% ABV the head recedes rather quickly and forms a thin tan lacing around the circumference of my glass.  The first smell is of dark candied fruit and Belgian spice.  Hints of alcohol come through with some black licorice tip-toeing throughout.  The flavor is where the Kriek's role comes in.  Smooth and creamy, dark candied black cherries blend together with an intense malty spice that you only find in well crafted Belgian brews.  Some alcohol warmth plays nicely with a subtle carbonation to accentuate the flavors all the way through to the finish.

Overall - If you enjoy Belgian brews you cannot pass up Ommegang's Three Philosophers.  Originally, I had thought the Kriek would play a larger role here but the quad that its blended with does a nice job taking center stage and allowing the cherry Kriek to play a supporting role.  It adds an additional layer of complexity that keeps you coming back for another sip.

Ommegang - Rare Vos

Tonights beer comes recommended to me by one of the helpful gents over at The Four Firkins.  I had originally went to their store to see if they carried Ommegangs Belgian IPA.  Unfortunately, unbeknownst to me but knownst to my Firkins associate, their BIPA was only available in a special variety pack.  I was further informed that they carried another Belgian style ale brewed by Ommegang which exhibits some similar qualities as the BIPA I was originally in search for.  My last experience with Ommegangs Abbey Ale was a great one which left me looking for more from this East coast brewery.  I anticipates tonights brew will leave me with the same feeling.

Categorized as a Belgian Amber, the first quality I notice after pouring is the aroma; spicy fruit with hints of citrus and clove are easily discernible.   A bit of malt battles its way through the spicy front lines and softens the overall character.  Sipping the hazy orange/amber brew brings similar flavors to my palate as it did my nose.  A more pronounced black pepper and citrus take on a leading role with caramelized dark fruit and hop bitterness filling in as the supporting cast.  The finish is a bit cloying towards the end of the pint.  However, the alcohol warmth and moderate carbonation make the cloying sweetness an afterthought.

Overall - This was certainly enjoyable.  I think this is one that would pair well with a variety of foods.  Cheese and fish come to mind initially.  Im not sure this is one I would drink on a regular basis though.  Not because its bad, far from it actually.  More so because its flavor profile is so bold and pronounced that my palate would be overwhelmed after just a few.  Ill be buying this one again next time the wife go out of our way to cook a nice dinner.  I encourage everyone else to give this 2008 GABF Gold Medal winner a try!

Ommegang - Abbey Ale

Tonights review is from a brewery out of Cooperstown, New York.  Sound familiar?  If you are a baseball fan you may already be aware that this town is home to the baseball Hall of Fame and known as the birthplace of baseball.  Luckily for us, the town is also home to one of the most prominent American breweries focused on crafting the best Belgian brews this side of the pond.

Brewery Ommegang was established back in 1997 at the location of a former hop farm.  The brewery itself was built from the ground up as a traditional farmhouse structure.  They wanted to ensure everything they did while producing their beer was authentic and traditionally Belgian.  Today they boast a year-round line up of five award winning beers along with a handful of seasonal and specialty brews that can be enjoyed throughout the year. The first beer they released, and what I would imagine is their flagship beer, is the beer I'm drinking tonight, Abbey Ale.

A dubbel style Belgian, Abbey Ale comes in a 750ml corked champaign bottle.  The label already has me excited describing this bottles contents as a "rich, fruity, and aromatic, burgundian brew".  There are also pouring instructions on one side and a brief history lesson on the other.  Ommegang wants to ensure you have the best experience possible when you open one of their hand crafted beers.

This dubbel is a slightly cloudy, deep caramel amber.  The foam is a similar caramelized brown.  My first thought when this filled my glass was "beautiful".  A little cheesy, I know, but if you take the time to enjoy the entire process of drinking a craft beer you may think the same with this one.  A complex bouquet of aromas are immediately present as I dip my nose past the rim of the glass.  Toasted caramel, spice, dark fruits, plum, licorice... very pleasant.  The flavors are more of the same with some brown sugar, alcohol warmth and cinnamon added into the already complex, yet enjoyable flavor profile.  The carbonation is higher than average to help dry out the bold, malty body of this 8.5% ABV brew.

Overall - This is great.  If you have been reading my posts for a while you will know I'm a big fan of Belgian brews, and this Abbey Ale satiates my craving.  Brewery Ommegang makes it cost effective for me to enjoy an authentic version of Belgian style beers year round.  Luckily they distribute most of their line up out to MN.  Ill certainly be looking up their other products during my next trip to the beer shop!