Ommegang Ommegeddon

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

Pours with a big white foam atop a clear straw colored beer. The aroma is getting there. Huge barnyard, some chardonay character and a good smack of spicy grassy noble hops. The body is thin but not watery, rather luscious and satisfying. The flavors are WOW hoppy for a beer that has already been aged for this amount of time. The grassiness is backed by the vinous, funk of the brett. No sourness, just funk and I like it. Not quite as good as Orval, but they tried and good for them for doing it.

Bottle from June 1 2007 batch and the mouthfeel is great with a nice slithery feel. The flavor is a bit wild with some dark cherry-like citrus fruits hidden underneath the ever prominent yeast and dry hops which exude some bitterness on the initial impact. However, the balance is not here and I’d take Hennipen, Rare Vos or the regular Ommegang over this any day. Compared to wild yeast saisons I’ve had, this is okay. The mouthfeel is stellar but the flavor is working its way there.

Light hazy orange color with small white head and little lacing. Aroma is spicy and fruity with light citric notes. Similar flavor with strong spices, herbal hops, and light fruits. Slight alcohol tingle and very warming.

On tap @ the Buckeye Beer Engine 8/25/07: Medium gold w/ a lasting white head... Hazy body! Fragrant, perfumey, like rose petals, some orange citrus, peppery yeast with a slightly band aid phenolic, with hints of ginger; light grainy and bready malt.. Subdued but complex esters. Lightly tart, peppery, and plasticky up front in the flavor. The finish is a bit bitter and dry and lasts into the aftertaste. Herbal and earthy in the aftertaste as well, and has a citrusy mid palate. Bready malt, light sugar flavor and also a white grape juice raisiny ester, but has a bitter edge.. Not quite as sharp when it warms, and it is herbal and earthy in the aftertaste w/ some peppery yeast lingering. Highly carbonated, smooth texture, lighter medium body, decently hidden alcohol. I’m not fond of the plasticky phenolic, but a very nice saison! NIcely spiced, and refreshing for a beer of this ABV.

750 ml bottle. Yellow-gold pour below a queen-size pillowy white head. The aroma is spicy with notes of ginger. Behind the spice are notes of vanilla, lemon grass, caramel and cinamon. The flavor is lightly sweet, moderately tart/sour and lightly bitter. The medium body has a watery texture and lively carbonation. Long, slightly sweet, dry finish that leaves flavors of spice, candy and bitter. Nice blend of spice and sourness throughout. The carbonation and body make this a refreshing beer. Too bad it’s 8% abv instead of 5 because you could drink lots of this without tiring of it.

750ml bottle. Pours cloudy golden in color with full foamy white head. Aroma and taste of floral, citrus and yeast with very dry finsih.

Cloudy, hazy amber. Smell of lemons, malt, clove, cinnamon, caramel, flowers, ginger, yeast, pepper and citrus. Tastes the same. Crisp and refreshing. Good but I wouldn’t pay $11 for it.

750ml bottle: Pours a dulled gold with a healthy white head that sticks all the way down. The nose is well built, with a nice blend of honey, caramel, Saaz and ginger. Cinammon and bubblegum as well. The body follows through with a dangerously drinkable presentation. Finishes with a champagne dryness that is also nicely tart. Very good.