Ommegang 2011 Belgian Independence Day Saison

Brewed by Brewery Ommegang (Moortgat)
Style: Saison
Cooperstown, New York USA

Serve in Tulip

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On tap. Pours a near clear gold with an off-white head that dissipates to the edges. Aroma has a good amount of spice with clove, light pepper and a hint of nutmeg backed by a light floral note. Flavor has more sweet grains and light fruits coming through with backing spice.

Comes out of the tap a slightly hazy golden with a thin white head - but the latter may be an artifact with a pour. Yeasty aroma has a firm fruity note, mainly apple with a hint of berries. Flavor is mainly yeasty with fruity and malty hints and a touch of hops. Fruity taste is mainly apple with touches of banana and berry and even a whisper of lemon. Smooth, firm texture has a decent amount of fizz. Happy independence, Belgium! My fantasy is to visit that country and spend a month doing nothing but drinking their fantabulous beer.

On tap, amber color with an amazingly lacy head. Great belgian aroma, and the taste is a complex (slightly) spicy flavor with a surprising lack or carbonation. Again, Ommegang rules.

Draft at devils advocate, Minneapolis. Similar saison aroma to the Gnomegang. Wonderful. Beautiful white head and lace. Hazy gold body. Barely any carbonation. Soft and creamy. Allspice aspect on the tongue. Dark fruit. Really, really good.

Had this in 2011, thought I would rerate it but the 2012 version is a new rate. From notes. Aroma has hints of spice, yeast and bread. Flavor is sweet, spice, nice and dry. Finishes clean. Refreshing, well balanced. Some pepper and pie spices on the end.

Good. The nose is very bready with additional citrus and pepper notes. The beer is an orange gold with a white frothy head. The beer tastes of citrus and black pepper with an underlying bread theme. Smooth and crisp in a medium to light package.

draft. Orange amber color. Smells of citrus, yeast and wheat. Pretty intense for a saison. Not sure if the 2012 is the same as the 2011, but if its not I’ll estate it.

Tap at Red’s. Aroma of yeast, light malts and bread, pepper, and citrus. Pours hazy, straw-light golden color with a firm white head, good retention and lacing. Flavor: yeasty and bready, lemon and orange notes, pepper, faintly earthy, maybe a touch on the sweet side. Medium body, a bit thicker than expected, carbonation is medium, smooth and creamy mouthfeel. Nice.

Draft at Sugar Maple. Filtered orange-tan. Steady lacing, off-white head. Mellow aroma, some funky spearmint, tropical fruit. Some orange-candy flavors up front, very clean on the palate. Very true to style, lots of the funky yeast tones shine. Zesty, though somewhat mellowed carbonation. Not quite World Class, but very true to style and well crafted. Peppery hop tones. A touch sugary and big for the ABV. Sweet, almost a touch of corn in the finish. OK.

11 ounce goblet - $5.50 at Taco Mac in Canton, Georgia.

Appearance: Golden-hued body, clear, and with a slim, white head. Incredibly thin sheets of lace on the way down.

Smell: A scoop of sweet-scented candy sugar, pilsner maltiness with a hint of steeped grains, juiced orchard fruits, and a stink heady spices.

Taste: A sweet, glossy opening of pils malt -- grainy, tangy. Tart, thinly sliced Bosc pears and young apples. Very low citrus. The yeast is bringing about some spiciness, but also a big bump from the Grains of Paradise and pepper. Low bitterness, hop character. Drying, spicy finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied. Medium carbonation. A little languishing heft to the mouthfeel.

Overall: I would like a little more carbonation here, just a bit more effervescence. The mouthfeel isn’t entirely lifeless, but it just sits, giving you a mouthful of the added spices, when I generally prefer the yeast to do that duty.