 kepano (239), Meudon, France
Nov 9, 2005
As we walk back from the liquor store, my friend and I often like to read off the label of our latest acquisition as we prepare for a rating session. This time it was long after we had gotten back and established ourselves at the bar of his kitchen, that we were finally ready to actually drink Ommegang. Indeed, the six pack and bottles feature more quotes, facts and stories than the Guinness book itself. I don’t know how they managed to fit it all there, it’s really quite a feat. The pour was nice but nothing terribly exciting: a thick yellowish head towering over the reddish brown liquid. The aroma however was quite pleasant, blending dark fruits and malts. Port wine, plums, figs and licorice held a fine balance with the brown sugar and chocolate base. Some alcohol was noticeable but not overwhelmingly so. As I took my time to analyze the nose, my friend and I would take turns discovering new facts on every part of the packaging. As I finally took a sip, I was greeted with a metallic, salty, bitter flavor that I really was not expecting. I noticed a familiar flavor, reminding of a really bad Rochefort 8 - as if someone took a leak in my beer. I mean Rochefort is pretty amazing to begin with, so that was still quite good. However I resorted to take long sniffs before each tip of the glass as the aroma seems far more pleasurable than the taste. When I finally finished the six-pack I noticed a whole new chapter of text on the underside of the box... It’s just too much.
williamherbert (461), Syracuse, New York, USA
Nov 8, 2009 Thick and dark ruby red look. Thick cardboard head. Very deep. Looks like a darker thinner blush wine.
Smell is a pungent Belgian aroma with the addition of dark cherries. The fruit is light, however. The malt is dark and roasted. Plenty of bread-like yeast. A bit musty but appropriately so.
Heavy burst of alcohol, followed by a bittersweet combination of dark caramel and sweet berries. Nutty at the bottom, but darkly sweet on top. Some dark chocolate. Sugary sweet as it warms.
Milky, creamy feel. A bitter bite on the way down. A real slow-sipper. Fizzy and bubbly toward the end. This is a very strong beverage. Thick and chewy. Sweeter than expected; quite challenging.
msante79 (785), Orland Hills, Illinois, USA
Nov 7, 2009 12oz bottle. Pours dark reddish brown with soapy off-white head. Aroma is sweet with dark fruits, brown sugar, and spices. Flavor is malty with spices, caramel, toffee, candied sugars. Has a very familiar aroma but I can’t quite identify it. Pretty solid dubbel overall.
kuphish (150), Bloomington, Indiana, USA
Nov 5, 2009 750ml bottle. Pours a large, tan, pitted, creamy head. Good, patchy lacing. Clear, ruby colored body. Aroma is a mixture of rich fruit - dark cherry, grape, plum and mild raisin. Not overwhelming. Also some peppery spice. Aromas are present in the flavor profile as well as some light rum and warming alcohol. Light-medium body, lively carbonation. Malt forward flavor is complemented by the lovely yeast profile and finishes super dry. A really well crafted, balanced, delightful dubbel.
Soonah (900), Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
Nov 5, 2009 Poured a dingy, reddish color into my Chimay glass. The head was not quite one-finger tall and the bubbles were fizzy. Minimal lacing. The aroma was raisins, alcohol, apples and some spice. The flavor reminded me of ginger ale. There was some apple and alcohol as well. A bit of yeast. Thin to medium in body. Lots of carbonation.
CJfromPhilly (82), Aston, Pennsylvania, USA
Nov 1, 2009 Pours from the 12 oz. bottle a somewhat hazy iced tea-ish brown color with the traditional huge Belgian head that quickly settles into a thick collar. Very active carbonation, quite a few bubbles rising through the brown haze. Aroma is sweet and fruity...my nose picks up hints of peach, apple and apricot. first sip is almost orgasmically delicious! Raisins, plums, peach, apricot, caramel, honey... all soaked in a rum like alcohol backdrop...but the alcohol acts a a compliment to the chorus. Present, but not overpowering. Mouthfeel is rich, creamy & tingly with some alcohol bitterness on the swallow, but again, nothing overpowering. My, oh my! Simply fantastic!!! Now the Baseball Hall of Fame drops to second place on the list of reasons to visit Cooperstown!
Pershing (146), Garland, Texas, USA
Oct 23, 2009 Pours Ruby with a thick tan head with tight compacted bubbles. Fruit aroma with a thick rich complex taste of raisins and ripe plum. The alcohol radiates after each sip. Excellent lacing on the glass. Nice filling finish.
doomfistinc (15), New Mexico, USA
Oct 21, 2009 1 pint bottle from Liquor Barn in SF, NM. A VERY powerful taste and smell from this one. Musty beyond anything I’ve tried before. Incredible amounts of lacing. Creates too thick of a head too quickly during the pour. Color is a dark brown. Not my usual style, but I could definitely see how others would like it.
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