Ommegang Rare Vos

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

Oh my it’s Ommegang! Funny how you think of that name as being imported. This is the Rare Voss buddy, which means something else in Flemmish. Rare is sly and voss is fox? 12 oz brown bottle, thanks to Nuts. The pour is great, like a very dark wheat beer. Swirling things in there from the gunk on the bottom of the bottle. Don’t you just love that? The aroma on the other hand is strictly business. Winelike. Sweet fruity strong alky indications. Nice creamy off white head. As far as the flavor goes, it does have an alky impact but not quite like a +6%, it is smoother and more mannered than many above fin brews. Malty nearly bitter impact imparts itself on the back of your tongue. Now I recall than it did look somewhat syrupy when I poured it. It has some sweetish syrupy effects on the palate. The carbonation is unnoticeable, tho present, due to the distraction from the rest of the complexities. Finish is somewhat whiskey like without water, perhaps even winish. Something like corsendonk on steroids, but isn’t it odd that Corsey has more alky % than this? Either way it is high end. Possibly better than Lagunitas #10 (formerly #9)., but on par with other good Belgians. Tho I consider Belgian ale to be bitter medicine, I think possibly bruge zot was better to drink than this. Michigan Brewing Celis Pale Bock and leff blonde may also be similar to voss.

Pour was a beautiful copper with a nice consistent head. Aroma had a slight doughy yeast note and a hint of orange spice. Very little hop evident. As the beer warmed, the aroma intensified. Head was subtle, but more than sufficient and carbonation was constant.I sensed a slight sweetness, with a hint of spice. Palate: medium body, creamy, lively, long finish.

Rated 4/9/06: This came across as a nice example of a Belgium Amber, even though I’m relatively new to the style this is a solid beer. Pour was an intense copper with abundant head and lacing, both of which lasted for the entire experience. Constant carbonation is visible. The aroma came across similar to other Belgian styles that I have had, in fact it smelled similar to a saison. I believe it is the yeast that produces this unique aroma and flavor. Somewhat spicy and hoppy, there was a definate presence of sweet malts, perhaps a touch of caramel. The flavor is good although a bit weak in my opinion when compared to the aroma. Malty with nice overtones of spices and fruits, there is a well deserved hop finish in the flavor that is especially nice. Tasty and complex a truly enjoyable beer.

bottle @ MrGoodbar GBC. Sweet malts in nose. Pours a nice head with medium copper color. Little black licorice, medicinal, sweet malt flavor. Well done

Got some slight fruiut and some light yeast in the aroma.Pours a cloudy orange/gold with a slight off white head.Got a lot of belgian spices along with some yeast that stands out in the flavor.Medium mouthfeel with a sweet spiced finish.

355 ml bottle. Pours a cloudy golden orange with a creamy white head. Nutty malt character in the noise with toffee overtones. Sweet slightly bitter start with a lingering dry crisp finish.

750 mL bottle. Pours gold. Initially half of the glass contains the body and the other half is head, which slowly diminishes. Yeasty aroma of belgian sugar, spices, and lemon. Flavor is basically a good belgian but a little dryer and peppery. This is very well done. Still complex without the higher alcohol exhibited by the "strong" category.

Bottle Deep amber pour with nice sized white microbubble head. Aroma of sweet malts and a bit of citrus. Flavor is a bit lighter than other Ommegang brews. Sweet malts and a bit of spice dominate the flavor with a bit of hidden smoky flavor. Well carbonated, very smooth, well balanced.