Ommegang Abbey Ale

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

If anyone stuck a shiv to my ribs and make me squeal out my one and only favorite beer, I'd yelp the name "Ommegang!" (Actually, it would probably sound more like "Ommegod, this guy's killing me, somebody HELP!", but that's getting off track..) Why? 1. It demonstates best my personal belief that the best beer in the world is coming out of American craftbrewers, and the greatest brewing nation, for that reason, is the good ol' U.S.A. If you have a friend who is an import beer snob, loves Belgians, but gives micros the air, let them try this blindfolded and watch 'em eat crow! 2. It tastes so good! Color is dark amber to a rich, rustic brown. Hue of the head leans toward a dark orange, and is mighty and boisterous--I can hear it across the room! Aroma makes itself known from far off, too. It's utterly luxurious: toffee, chocolate, plums, grapes, dark fruit, leather, tobacco, flowers, sugar and spice and everything nice! A thick, musky, full aroma. On the lips and over the tongue, it's smooth, mellow, and extremely flavorful. Warming, deliciously hopped, tingly and enticing. Goes down so nice, and makes you feel good all the way. Everything I ask for in beer, and more!

Deep mahogany red, with nice head. Aroma of raisins and malt, with some yeast. Creamy body, flavors of raisins, currants, plums present, along with some toffee notes. Really shines as it hits room temperature. Much like Chimay Rouge in my opinion.

Pours a transparent ruby-amber with a robust 3-4cm light tan head. Yeast, bananas, and hints of chocolate in the nose. Some yeast to start giving way to some hops and a mild ethanol burn. Vinishes VERY ROASTY and SMOKEY. Mouth might be a touch too carbonated. Another solid brew by Ommegang.

750 mL Bottle, 3/29/04. Glorious rich ruby-brown, cloudy, syrupy pour. Massive brown head that fades, but a fine coating head lingers. Aromas burst of rich, ripe fruits - cherries, blueberry, apple. Nutmeg and sherry. Smells a tad barley-wine-ish. Flavor has initial metallic tang, but that leaves with the head and chil and is never noticable on the nose. Simple malts are the name of this beers game, but full and delicious. Fruits are lost in the flavor but for some raisin, plum that emerge with temperature. This beer really mellows and improves as it warms. Fantastic! Around 60F+ it is all Toffee, chocolate, and port...yumm!! The palate is smooth, thinner than expected. Not sweet of cloying as I feared, but a balancing tingly carbonation that excites the mouth. The finish is rather abrupt and dry. Some hops bite closes the deal nicely. Another great experience form Ommegang.

750 ml bottle in tulip glass, has a lot of carbonation which I liked, amber color with spice, caramel and hops, nice head with medium body and strong finish

Hazy plum color with streaming jets of carbonation and a silky cream head. Complex and pungeant with elements of sweet and sour plums, molasses maltiness, and musty yeast. Smooth but sour palate with some fruit peel bitterness.

Dark amber body with a faint head. Spice and caramel aroma. Caramel body and light yeasty finish.

Aroma:Sugar and apple... Appearance:Red,brown small brown head... Flavor:Sugar,wine,grape and small bitterness...