Ommegang Hennepin

Draught at Hopleaf, Chicago. Nice golden pour with big white head. Citrus aroma. Tastes refreshing, crisp, citrus fruit, banana, champagne like. Pleasant beer.

Pours a light gold with a big frothy white head. Aroma holds nectarine, grapefruit, spice, yeast, banana, and a bit of wheat malt. In the flavor, the champagne yeast comes through with a sparkly, effervescent quality. There seems to be a bit of yeast, spice, and malt in the background, but the champagne quality is a bit too powerful for my liking; I think some of the complexity of the beer may be masked. Palate is extremely light and dry; a nice change from the thick, sugary beers I am usually drawn to. This is a good saison, but I don’t consider it top notch in the style.

A clear light straw pour with a luxurious white billowing froth. Aroma is quite citrusy with some banana esters and spicy peppery clove notes. A slight yeasty dough comes through subtly as does a slightly astringent wheat grain. Flavor is quite fruity with notes of orange, banana, and lemon prevailing. Malt character is minimal, giving way to some spicy dough notes. Sugars are mostly attenuated leaving a distinct dryness in the wake of the quaff. A warming alcohol is notable perhaps due to attenuation. Palate is medium with a warming alcohol presence and a clean dry finish. Quite enjoyable.

12 oz bottle. Pours a pale gold with lots of debris and haze. Way too much head. Strong clove aroma with some perfumey floral notes. Flavor is strong green apple with some banana and cloves, a bit of citrusy hops and spice, and a hint of alcohol. Really nice work, with the exception of the overcarbonation.

The nose on this one is just wrong. In every way. I’m suspecting sun damage because it just went very very skunky. I can tell from the taste that it has a lot to offer, but I can’t get over the nose to go much further. In fairness, I will try this one again. Taste is light and crisp, with a nice aftertaste. Sad treatment of this bottle.

Bottle. Pours murky golden. Thick white head which dissapates quickly. Aroma of a boquet of fruits. Medium body, perfect carbonation, and extremely smooth finish. Excellent saison. I’ll be trying the rest of this brewery’s offerings.

Bottle. Pours a hazy golden yellow with a gorgeous large fluffy white head that deflates slowly. Lightly floral with some soft hay and pears. Light crisp apple, hay, wheat, biscuit. Finishes crisp and dry. Just need an assortment of cheeses and bread and I’d be quite happy.

750 mL bottle from Total Wine (purchased August 2008; cellared just over 1 year). Golden yellow pour with a thick, fluffy white head. Wonderful, complex aroma of lemon, orange, vanilla, and a hint of banana. Flavors range from mildly sweet to lightly sour with everything realized in the aroma in between. After a few duds in the saison category I knew I needed to give this beer a fair shot and I’m glad I did. An excellent American saison.