Ommegang Rare Vos

12 oz bottle. Pours a slightly hazy amber with a small fizzy off-white head that faded to a wispy film. Aroma is fairly light, some sweet and fruity malt with a good bit of yeastiness. Brown sugar and light spices. The flavor is on the drier side with a soft maltiness, light yeast derived spiciness, and some dark fruits. Mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with fairly active prickly fizzy carbonation. Overall, decent enough, but not a whole lot of depth or character. it would be more drinkable were it not so immensly fizzy.

On tap at Roman’s. Poured a lovely shade of coppery-orange with a well-retained, creamy cap of eggshell head. The aroma was spicy and engaging upfront with crisp autumn-y fruits and a dry Belgian yeast.. pale malt and honey sweetness behind.. nice, well-balanced presentation. The flavor opened with smooth, sweet honey and caramel rolling onto the palate surrounded by dry clovey spices and lightly-toasted banana.. dry on the back with a little fruit skin sourness.. tasty. Medium-bodied with low-to-moderate carbonation and nice spiciness.. dried out on the back. Very good brew.

Bottle, pours a rusty brown red color with a medium head. Yeasty nose, some clove and banana, slight sweet malt smells as well. Taste is slight sweetness, some nice malts plenty of hops, well rounded. Alcohol is present and become more dominate as the beer warms. A nice brew overall. Very drinkable.

Sweet fruity aroma. Pleasant bite from carbonation, lightly hopped. Flavor is lightly spiced, with a slight citrus. Light aftertaste. Great beer. Highly recommended.

[Bottle] Pours cloudy gold with a medium beige head. Aroma is loaded with banana, belgian yeast, a touch of hops, and some mango. Flavor is banana, grass, yeast, a touch of bitterness and a medium to thin mouthfeel.

Spicey nose same with flavor. Notes of light fruit pretty bitter. Nice red/brown color. Great beer.

Those crazy beer enthusiasts at Ommegang are back again, and this time with their interpretation of a traditional amber ale. As a beer style, the amber ale is unique in that it really isn’t a particular beer style, and yet it is. Confusing, I know. In the case of Ommegang, they took their expertise and brought the Belgian to the amber. Or is it the other way around?
My Rare Vos poured a rich deep amber and burnt orange into my glass. Her thick and slightly amber in hue head fades slowly into a thick layer while brussels lace again crackle along the sides of my glass. In true Belgian fashion, bottle fermentation has leant a soft head, effervescent body, and sticky brussels. As I raise my goblet for a quaff, I first embrace her delicate nose. I am received with hints of tangerines, caramel, toasted biscuits, and sweet yet tangy pink grapefruit. My first quaff is light, bubbly, and soft in my mouth and on my tongue. A tingling sensation along my tongue bursts with pink grapefruit and lemon flavors. Following right behind is a soothing song of sweet tangerines, caramel, and gentle biscuits and bread. I enjoy how my Rare Vos grabs your attention right away with her crisp tart hop presence up front, but then steps aside to allow her more mellow and dominant side to embrace and tempt me. During this entire flavor explosion, her body remains full and soft. The finish is clean, sweet, and with a hint of grapefruit.
As I mentioned above, amber ales are a vague beer style, but there is little to no doubt that Ommegang’s Rare Vos is one of the reigning examples of the amber ale. A great session brew, I will gladly enjoy her company any day of the week or month of the year. Sometimes, just maybe, simple really is best.

Pours a soft orange-brown body with a thick, three-finger head that forms like sponge--and lacing is a beautiful web that coats the OFFICIAL Rare Vos glass... yeasts are fruity and spicy--malts are interwoven with balance... without prior knowledge, this beer could smell like any number of styles--versatile! Palate is medium-bodied and a bit astringent--a finish with warmth befitting a 6.5% ABV... smooth and slick with lingering effects... citrus hops and strong malts collide in a seesaw that keeps the tongue in a suspended bliss... like a Belgian monk and a German beer wench brought forth a beautiful love child... rule one: Ommegang doesn’t brew a bad beer; rule two: each is a study in itself, demanding a session of focus and appreciation, followed by another sessio to compare and rethink... Rare Vos is a complex beer that chllenges and rewards--excellent.