 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.
BeerGuyTWMore (20), USA
Jun 28, 2009 Pours a deep burgundy with thick tawny head. Never thought I’d find a brew with cotton candy as I’ve seen before, but that was the first thing I thought of when sniffing this one, along with dark fruit, caramel, chocolate and toffee. Flavors of raisins, caramel and little chocolate with malts on the end. Finishes dry with alcohol warmth and light sweet resonance.(brandy-esque)
DerWeg (620), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Jun 24, 2009 Tasty fruity and slightly sticky with a bit of a good wine-like tart ale-fruit edge from the yeast, and a clever attenuation of hops that puts the dryness right under the fruity tartness and sweetness. Everything supports the taste profile. Quite a nice little trick! Smell apple raisin sweet grains and tart yeast. Taste raisin, apple, dry cocoa, caramel. Great finish with a bit of alcohol warmth. Really nice, possibly more subtle dry, nuanced and wine-like than similar Unibroue beers.
CUJO (63), Brooklyn, New York, USA
Jun 22, 2009 From the bottle, pours bloody mollasses, so dark I couldn’t tell how clear/ opaque it was. An off-white, thick head reveals dark fruits, plums, apricots, some spice. The taste is very rich, full flavor, mouth coating creaminess. Agina the dark fruits are present, more spice, and a more characteristic bitter chocolate, coffee, malts. A bit of alcohol remains in the mouth and throat but is nicely balanced by the carbonation. Great beer.
lithy (1187), Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
Jun 22, 2009 Dark brown-red with a thin light tan cover. Aroma is big fruity malts, spice and banana, yeast notes, prunes, raisins, cherries. Creamy feel, bit of thinning alcohol. Taste is more fleshy fruits, dates, raisins, plums, cherries, some toffee, maltiness, and a light yeast spice.
boomer0813 (29), denton, Texas, USA
Jun 18, 2009 Bottle thanks to Metzlers. Had a nice dark amberish brown color w/ a cream head. Lacing was nice. Aroma was of caramel, pecans, black cherry, and choclate. Flavor was good with toffee, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Yummy beer.
Cirrhosis (550), Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Jun 15, 2009 Thank you gully for yet a other high quality brew you smuggled back into the country in your bum. Body appears brown actually it seems more red but whatever, gully sucks. A small tan cap floats on top. Aroma is strange but very likable, its sour with bubble gum that been chewed to long, smoke, and black liquorish. There is a thousand different aromas going on I can’t pick them all out. First sip had a lot of rubbing alcohol in it of the rubbing variety but not in a bad way. A massive dark bitterness lingers in the back of my throat after every sip. Douche bag gully has convinced me I’m tasting lots of oak and I think he’s probly correct. Lots o prunes and on some sip sweet cherries that are in the middle of a black forest cake can be tasted. The more I drink the sweeter and more full bodied the taste becomes it also starts to get dry. Sour wood is showing up on my last few sips. Such a good beer, thanks gully.
ericandersnavy (707), denton, Texas, USA
Jun 14, 2009 bottle from metzlers in denton, tx. poured a brownish color with a nice beige head and some sediment. aroma was plum, spice, cinnamon, chocolate, and praline. flavor was the same with the addition of candi sugar and cherry. light body and high carbonation.
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