Ommegang Hennepin

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

Very nice corked bottle from Shoreline Beverage on Long Island. I have to say that the aroma really hurt this beer in my eyes, as it smelled way too much like a despised Hefeweizen. The taste was better than expected though, although a little too sweet for me still, very fruity. This was my first taste of this style, not sure how much further I want to explore it...

Every brewery has made a brew at some time or another where they wish they hadn’t, and like a bad memory or nightmare, wait desperately for it to fade into the recesses of nothingness. If Ommegang has released a bad beer, I don’t know anything of or about it yet.
My Ommegang Hennepin was in a lovingly corked bottle which popped with a crisp burst. When I poured her liquid gold depths into my glass, a tower of soft puffy foam rushed to fill any and all empty nooks, crannies, and crevices in my goblet. Her body was a golden hue which gained a nice bit of haze as some of the flavor-packed and delicious dregs joined the rest of the brew I poured from the bottle. The foam takes her time fading into a thin layer and leaves evidence of her recession in the form of delicate brussels lace. Her nose is bright and yeasty with pepper and spices mingling with soft notes of banana, pear, coriander, and paprika. My first few quaffs are a bit heavier in body than some Belgian Saisons I have enjoyed, but still far lighter than a blonde or golden ale. Amidst the typical effervescence which I love, my Hennepin is tart and yeasty sour complimented by a balanced array of orange and banana. Mingling amidst the palate, coriander, pepper, and paprika add a pleasant nip to the overall smooth, soft, and refreshing brew. A clean finish with just a light lingering presence of orange, lemon, and sour yeasts. Of course, this just leaves me craving more, which I gladly answer with the remaining quaffs.
An excellent Belgian Saison from an American craft brewery based in Cooperstown, New York. Specializing in Belgian beers and beer styles, influences, Ommegang are American masters of a Belgian craft. Truly, I have yet to be disappointed with their brews, and I can live quite happily without ever having to be disappointed. Enjoy.

Bottle from Whole Food, Bowery. Sugar candy head, a little smoke from the bottle as I pop the champagne cork. A bit much descriing this as a farmhouse beer and using such exclusive packaging? Strong fruity aroma. Belgian yeas, sweet and sour, a little barnyard. Apricots, bitter almonds in the finish. What more do you want?

Bottle. Light straw note for the malt, moderate aromas of lemon and barnyard/leather for the hops and yeast, with background notes of apple, white wine and corriander. Head is large, frothy, white with good lacing and is mostly lasting. Color is hazy yellow. Flavor starts lightly sweet and moderately acidic, then the long finish is moderately acidic and lightly bitter. Palate is medium, watery and has a fizzy carbonation. It finishes very dry. I like this Saison for it’s fruity refreshing taste.

22oz bomber. Pours cloudy yellow, good amount of airy head. More lacing than a pair of Jordan’s...! Head dissipates quickly. Aroma of a hefeweizen, taste is a bit different. Creamy, maybe some vanilla, citrus fruit. Distinct finish that I can’t put my finger on. This type of beer isn’t my favorite, but this one tastes pretty damn good.

Pours a hazy apricot color from the bomber with an eruption of frothy off-white foam that leaves graffiti-like lacing. Smells of banana and yeast, almost like a hefe, but tastes of cream, orange peel, straw, hops, and mild vanilla. Finshes with a little copper and alcohol. An interesting brew to say the least.

12 oz bottle. Pours a orange amber that is cloudy with a rocky foamy quickly disappearing head. Nose is slight sour funky with a nice yeast underpinning. Some light citrus and hay also. Taste is way to strong on the alcohol. Thats all you taste up front. Creamy body with a lot of yeast and a lightly hoppy and lightly bitter finish of spice and a little funk. If it weren’t for the heavy alcohol note this would be a winner. As a western take on a saison though, this works pretty well. Lingering notes of Caramel and Vanilla and a very slight sour note redeem this one. Not too bad.

Bottle. Pours cloudy gold with a foamy head. Lots of lacing from start to finish. Hop aroma hith a hint of yeast. Thick abd creamy to the palate. flavor is hoppy at first with a sweet finish.