Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison) - Brewery Ommegang

nlmartin

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from the bottle into a wide mouthed goblet.

Appearance: This beer looks fantastic in the goblet. The beer is a somewhat hazy golden coloration. The head towered in the glass a solid off white. The lacing clung like pancake batter on the glass. Very tight bubbles noted breaking the surface.

Smell: Very spicy hoppy smell. Lots of peppery spicyness plays with fruity goodness. Floral notes play with citrus. There is a nice musty spicy yeasty notes. A very nice funky smell plays around the nose.

Taste: There is an initial floral citrusy sweetness on initial taste. There is plenty of spicy funky notes in the flavor. Very nicely hopped and malted.

Mouthfeel: This beer is meduim bodied plus. There is loads of carbonation in this beer. The finish is dry and leaves you wanting more beer.

Drinkability: This is just an easy to drink beer. Pure drinking pleasure through and through.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2005 04:19:02 | More by nlmartin

FenwaySquid

Virginia

4.93/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Presentation: 750 ML bottle, no dating of any kind, poured into the Hennepin slender golbet style glass that was sold with the bottle.

Appearance: Pours a hazy pale golden color, light carbonation rising inside. The head formeda thick, creamy off-white color that faded slightly but maintained throughout.

Aroma: Peppery, spicey, tough to describe but very inviting.

Taste: Lemony and up front, then cloves, yeast and alcohol follow seemingly all at once. Sweet and spicy flavors battle and balance each other perfectly. The finish is dry and spicy but not bitter. Overall, exquisite.

Mouthfeel: Crisp, smooth, and creamy. The carbonation was also in good balance.

Overall: I'm honestly in shock that something this good is made here in the good ol' USA. No offense to American brewers, but beer this good is usually exclusive to Belgium. Arguably the best beer made in this entore country. If you have not tried this yet, do so immediately.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2007 03:34:30 | More by FenwaySquid

unclejimbay

Florida

4.93/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison)
Brewery Ommegang
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
ABV: 7.70 %
calories est @ 150 ps

Re-review on 3/6/09 for more detailed review
Bottle>tulip glass

A 4.5 - Golden cloudy honey in color, excellent head, retention & lacing
S 5.0 - Dry tart aroma, wheat, citrus, yeasty and spicy notes - complex aroma
T 5.0 - Tastes follow the aroma lead. Dry & crisp on palate. Spicy wheat flavors. Dry but not overdone.
MF 4.5 - Dry mouthfeel, high carbonation, medium wheat body.
D 5.0 - I love this unique brew. It 's one of my personal favorites. It's consistent in all categories and I think it is a fine example of Saison. You have to try it.

first review notes 8/28/2008
I must confess this is one of my most favorite beers indeed. I was turned on to it on a business trip to Rochester, MN at good old Newt's (shout out to Matt the bartender!) I have converted many a beer drinkers to this fine brew!

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2009 19:51:03 | More by unclejimbay

hdofu

Maryland

4.93/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Exceptional beer. Has a cloudy orangeish yellow with a tan head. Has a spicy orangeish smell. It has a taste like a wheat beer with citrus flavor. Has a spicy and crisp finish to this beer. This beer goes down extremely smooth and is very drinkable. This beer is definetly worth getting.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 01:06:13 | More by hdofu

magine

Pennsylvania

4.93/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured a 750ml bottle into an Ommegang Chalice, this beer pours a nice golden colored brew with a full thick frothy head and awesome lacing. The head becomes chunky as you drink it and stays nice throughout.

It smells of yeast, fruit and spices.

This beer tastes simply awesome. The beer has an awesome creamy head that mixes nicely with a fruity, spicy wheat taste. Tastes like it smells. The balance of this beer is amazing. The taste is enjoyed anywhere anytime of the year, incredible.

Ommegang makes some first class beer. The taste for this style is the best I have had. Until I find something else that is better, this to me is my desert island beer for the style. Awesome.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2009 17:15:00 | More by magine

NHGrafx

Massachusetts

4.93/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12oz brown bottle.

Pours a semi cloudy golden orange color. Nice big head which lasts for a few minutes. Aroma is nice, with yeast, spice and citrus aromas. Some hoppy aroma too.

Taste is great. Nice spiciness in the taste with some hoppy flavors. Some yeast taste as well, an interesting herbal flavor comes through as well. Very slight apple like flavor, and possibly grapefruit. Nice spicy/hoppy bite on the finish. So many different flavors, it is hard to separate them all.

I really like this one. I keep forgetting this one is brewed in New York. One of the best American brewed Belgian style ales I have had.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 02:54:36 | More by NHGrafx

BKotch

Texas

4.95/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is American? Whoa. Hennepin is the best American approximation of a Saison that I have ever had. Slightly cloudy golden brew that pours a big white head. Fruity sweetness (orange? lemon?) balanced by a good hop character in the finish. And, at a little over four bucks for 750 ml, what a deal!

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2001 18:07:48 | More by BKotch

tastybeer

North Carolina

4.95/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Glowing, frosted looking/hazy pale gold with spectacular head that lasts. Iridescent. Clumpy milk whtie lace all over the glass. One of the best looking very light/pale beers I've seen. Radient glow happening here. Aroma is extremely pleasant + delectable. Soft aromatic spice, pepper, ginger...etc blended amazingly well. Taste is in the same boat. The taste is perfectly mouth watering as is the smell. Everything is really subtle yet really awesome. Mouth is sticky and makes you want more. Drinkability is through the roof.

This is one sick brew, one of my favorites. A+++

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2005 05:53:20 | More by tastybeer

MmmIPA

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I decided to have this beer on a gorgous day.It also is the day my father passed away 10 years ago.RIP POP

I wanted to drink this beer before it went bad.It was bottled around sometime last summer and I got it for christmas.Poured into a St. Bernardus chalice.At around 55 degrees.The beer had a nice POP as the cork came out and a nice stream of smoke.

This beer is a stunning golden clear body with a bone white head that was about one and a half fingers.Nice lacing is left on the glass

I smell lemon,fresh hops.

I taste some lemon notes,some sort of a hop.This beer taste very fresh.Some pepper in the aftertaste.

This beer does indeed seem perfect.The carbonation is very pleasent and non attacking.

Im glad I savored this beer today.Very good work Ommegang.I have never found them to have a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2007 14:05:13 | More by MmmIPA

mwilbur

Minnesota

4.95/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap into a Hennepin cervoise.
A: Pours a yellow haze with moderate carbonation and a wonderful light, white, frothy head.
S: Sour citrus notes, lemon, hint of grass.
T: Light, but wonderfully complex. Notes of wheat, spice (ginger and coriander), and citrus hops.
M: Light and smooth with hint of dry bite.
D: Eminently drinkable. Very versatile beer. Perfect in the summer heat, with spicy food, thick burgers, or to complement simple fare of bread and cheese. Also great on its own. Ommegang has a stable of fine beers, but Hennepin out-shines the rest.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2008 02:30:23 | More by mwilbur

Angelface

Pennsylvania

4.95/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Having toured Howe's Cavern just hours before, I was very excited to try the beer that had been aged there at a constant 52 degrees for a year. It didn't take much enticing of our guide get a taste after the tour of the Brewery Ommegang.

Compared to the regular Hennepin, the Cave Aged was thicker, richer and a little sweeter. The regular already is a world champion but the Cave Aged which was 2 years old (bottle still covered in authentic cave dust) was so much richer and more complex than the regular Hennepin.

The beer was Saison but with the complexity of a good dubble. Get it while you can as new owners of Howe's Cavern no longer let Ommegang age beer there.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2010 02:24:08 | More by Angelface

purplehops

Maine

4.97/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Hennepin pours a cloudy honey yellow with a snow white head that billows out of the glass. The head looks of whipped egg whites. Buy the time you finish this ale the glass is covered with foam (it's not really a lace pattern). The aroma is heaven. The first thing you notice is the fruity yeast followed by grains of paradise, orange, lemon, coriander, and hints of alcohol. The taste is very well balanced with the malt flavors up front. This is followed by citrus flavors and spice flavors blending in with the malt and being balanced with the effervescence of this well carbonated ale. The finish is dry with notes of apple and pear and just a hint of hops balanced against the alcohol. The aftertaste is a lingering sweetness with citrus and alcohol notes. The mouthfeel is full and pleasant with effervescent tingling. IMHO this is one of the best Saison's made in the world. It goes great with food or just sipping in the afternoon. Summer or winter.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2002 12:39:18 | More by purplehops

alkemy

Ohio

4.97/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I've been bragging this beer up to a buddy of mine, so it's high time that I give it a review. I will likely be biased in that I've drank this quite a bit and feel that it may be the best beer I've had. I'm sure there are threads in the forum on the subject, but if I was forced to pick a single beer to be stuck on a desert island with, this would be the one. Pours a hazy, yet bright gold with a tinge of orange. The head is nice and fluffy with plenty of carbonation oozing beneath. Smell is somewhat typical to the Belgian style yeast with hints of lemon, grass, and a touch of bubble gum. I don't know how to explain it, but you do get a sense of earthiness in the smell and taste. Taste is magnificent. The 7.5 abv is unnoticeable. I think saisons were typically made in the winter to be enjoyed the following summer, but it would take more willpower than I have to wait those precious months for this beer to mature. Thank goodness for modern refrigeration! Also, I've read a few reviews perhaps complaining of too much carbonation, but I feel that it is in perfect harmony with this brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2009 03:00:02 | More by alkemy

WCBCFrank

Pennsylvania

4.97/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a foggy golden-yellow releasing a beautiful off-white cloudy head in a goblet. Aromas of citrus and banana and some slight honey too. Complex medium body, some sweetness, good spice and lots of carbonation (first-class yeast strains in this). There is some sweetness and plenty of dryness in the finish.

For the novice: Hennepin and Saison Dupont are standards in the world of saisons, you can not go wrong with those. Watch the pour, don't rush - let the head form.

Personally: I love Hennepin; I would put this against any good Chardonnay or white Châteauneuf-du-Pape any day of the week.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2009 20:25:10 | More by WCBCFrank

Mick

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Realistically one of the best beers on the market today when tallying in so many different factors. Deserving of a 5 across the board.

Translucent yellow allows a nice glare to lighten the contents in the glass. Colossal head frothy, creamy, and sticky. Excellent texture. It not only hangs on to the end, it wonderfully finishes the great story that this beer is.

Fruity and floral aromas; detected a slight hint of banana and or grassy tones.

Very complex body, very complex beer. At times fuller and chunky, at other times lighter and somewhat sweet. To call it excellent is an understatement. One of the best beers I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2002 10:41:05 | More by Mick

putnam

Michigan

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Gorgeous perfume. Angel food cake is the focus with spring breezes carrying the smell of thawing earth, sprouts, buds, green growth, honey, coriander...inviting.
The palate is slightly chalky as it delivers powerful flavors of reduced hops, stems, seeds, vanilla, leeks and sweet alcohol. Assertively dry. Perfectly balanced. Tight fizz indicates nice slow, cool maturation in the bottle.

Now, after pouring in some of the yeast crust, there is a decidedly additive effect. Black pepper surges on the mid palate and serves to power an even longer finish. More complexity, more bitterness and tang...more life. Keep it clean for the timid, I'll have mine cloudy.

beer.
___

upgraded from 4.85 to 5.0 on 9.19.03:
From what I can tell this is the best beer brewed in north America. It speaks of nectarine and pepper. From Cooperstown NY, it is exotic. Crunchy, tart fruit doused with nutmeg, pepper and mace. Green grapes, powdered steel, Epoisses rind, brick, Vermouth and wilted lettuce conjure. White crust in the shape of a crucifix adheres to the side of my glass. Freudian beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2003 12:52:12 | More by putnam

Morris729

Texas

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Saved for my 250th Review.
I’ve been saving this one for my 250th review since I’m such a huge fan of regular Hennepin. However, it’s been tough to resist the temptation to open it before tonight on many occasions! Pours a bright hazy golden color with a monstrous pillowy white head that billows out of the glass and very slowly fades into a heavy lace and coats the sides of the glass with thick sheets of lace as it recedes. Active carbonation is apparent as you can see many streams of tiny bubbles racing up the glass. Nose is sweet honey and fresh citrus with some floral notes. Similar to regular Hennepin but a bit softer. Medium in body with one of the smoothest mouthfeels I’ve ever known a beer to have. The active carbonation also gives the beer a very crisp quality. Taste is very complex. Sweet and fruity at first with flavors of banana, grapefruit, melon, lemon, and honey followed (and nicely balanced) by a dry yeastiness and maltiness. I’ve often been reminded of fine champagne while sipping a regular Hennepin, and this one is no different. It does have a more mellow yeasty and citrusy bite to it then regular Hennepin, though. This was simply a magnificent beer. Absolutely one of the best beers I’ve ever had the pleasure to drink. A very special thanks to paceyourself for sending me this brew!

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2003 19:05:32 | More by Morris729

scooter231

New York

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I should start this review out by saying that I'm quite biased towards the Ommegang Brewery beers- it's one of my favorite breweries, and Hennepin is my favorite beer. However, I will strive to be as honest as possible despite my love of it.

Can I rate this a 6? Please? It's fabulous. It's similar to the regular Hennepin in many ways...it pours a pale gold color, with lots of head- gorgeous. The smell is like Hennepin with more bite- it's sharper.

Taste is, simply, yummy. It's a bit crisper, drier, fruitier than regular Hennepin, and a bit more alcoholic tasting. The mouthfeel is bubbly, medium-bodied, and plays on the palate. Drinkable? You better believe it.

Now, I'm always in the mood for Hennepin- but, I can see this lovely cave-aged version being more of a specific craving. That being said... I can see cravings for this happening frequently. The sad thing is there are only 3360 out there... mine was number 1010. Oh well. Get it while it's there. Yummy, yummy, yummy.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2005 10:18:42 | More by scooter231

orfeu

New Mexico

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

750 mL, caged and corked. "Cave-aged" in Howe Caverns for 8 months; released October 8, 2005 and aged in my cellar for another two months. Bottle doesn't look any different than the regular "non-cave-aged" stuff, except there's a hangtag proclaiming that it sat 156 feet underground, etc. and there's a bunch of fuzzy cobwebby stuff and dust on the outside of the bottle. Hazy golden orange with massive, beautiful egg-white head that meringues and leaves an incredible webby lacing all the way down the sides of my Ommegang cervoise. Aroma is yeasty, bitter citrus peel, fresh apple juice, vanilla. Spicy, earthy, and fruity flavors abound. A bit vinous at the back of the palate. Granny Smith apples and newly-mown grass. Mellow ginger spiciness, yeast, and a lingering aftertaste of peach cobbler with vanilla and powdered ginger. Medium body; creamy smooth and dry for so much pronounced fruit flavor. This is one of my all time favorite beers from an all time favorite brewery. Saisons are all pretty unique (at least the ones I've tried), so it's a bit risky to say which one is "the Best." However, Hennepin, whether cave-aged or not, is absolutely one of the finest examples of the style in the world and easily the best Saison produced in the U.S. Difficult to imagine anyone pulling it off better than this. Fives all around.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2005 00:29:07 | More by orfeu

heavyblanket

Oklahoma

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

My new favorite style and my new favorite Brewery.
This is a beautiful beer. Golden with great bubbles like a great Champagne. Smelled of fruit and earth. Perfect feel in the mouth with a lingering finish. Paired well with an aged white cheese. Wonderful.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2008 23:17:37 | More by heavyblanket

billybob

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

pours a slightly cloudy yellow with a big white head that holds fairly well with a light to medium lace. smells great, with herbs and spice and pepper and clove. very peppery taste, with lots of spice and clove. lots of crisp carbonation and medium mouthfeel. slightly sweet and dry also. just a great taste can't wait to get more.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2008 23:13:45 | More by billybob

douggoodavage

Virginia

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Serving: 750ml corked bottle served at 45 degrees F.

Appearence: Cloudy golden ale with a long lasting thick head.

Smell: Indecent amount of yeast. Unbelievable amounts of super fresh hops. Smells like bread dough rising, fresh picked hops, & fresh cut lemon grass. Some caramel, nuts, and hops.

Taste: Crisp hops, citrus, pine & crackers. Superbly smooth yet bitter hoppiness. Refreshing carbonation and awesome citrus / piney hops wake up your taste buds on a new level. The hop assault on your tongue lingers on.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, bubbly, awe inspiring crisp bitterness. Thick and juicy.

Drinkability: World class. Its superb by itself I can only imagine how good it will be with food.

This is one of the finest brews I have experienced. Wow you have got to try this one. It satisfies my hop head desires while still preserving the ancient Belgium art of bottle conditioning unfiltered ales with a boat load of living yeast.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2009 03:46:32 | More by douggoodavage

cdizinno

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

12 oz brown bottle with no freshness date.

A: Clear golden color with a faint haze. Thick white head with major retention on the glass.

S: Mild spice. Possible peppery scent with mild overtone of sweetness. Slight grain aroma also.

T: Very crisp with a nice smooth flavor. Hard to break down because of its complexity. Ever so slightly spicy and very mild sweetness that lingers in the background. Aftertaste is like mild lemon and fruit tartness. Nothing overboard but very well ballanced.

This is excellent!!! I never understood why people spoke highly of Ommegang until I tried this style. It is a better version of the parent Duvel standard brew. This has lower alchohol phenol scent and flavor with a better taste. Best Ommegang I've had.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 22:20:25 | More by cdizinno

akorsak

Pennsylvania

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A growler filled at Al's of Hampden on 23-Apr-10. Hennepin is on record as being my favorite. It was also in the running for my newborn daughter's middle name (although it wasn't the winner).

A: The saison is crystal clear, a pale golden straw color that radiates. If I didn't know any better, I'd call it a pale lager due to the hue. A full head, over 2 fingers, is lacing in thick clumps.

S: The nose is refreshingly sharp, hoppy with a fresh dose of Belgian yeast. Mild fruitiness and black pepper jump out, both subtle but unmistakable. Grapes (white, of course) and a teaspoon of funk round out the nose, alongside a brief earthy hop aroma.

T: Each sip is deliciously sweet, lightened up by fleshy fruits (think pears, peaches, apples). A dose of anise follows the fruit, a dry sharp contrast to the sugary fruit. Coriander adds a black pepper flavor, a bite against the sweetness. Throughout, the saison is light and refreshing. Clove and pear appear near the finish. Near the end of the growler, the carbonation tapers off, allowing the fruits to linger much longer than normally.

M: The mouthfeel is sweet, with a heavy dose of yeasty fruits. Hops linger around but never get in the way of the pale fruits.

D: The ale nails every aspect, sweet and dry, sharp but lush. It's been my favorite for years and this growler is no exception.

Serving type: growler

04-26-2010 00:03:24 | More by akorsak

cdrogers

Illinois

5/5  rDev +19.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from bottle to wine glass-serving temperature was approximately 41F.

A: Golden amber. Dense white head that lasted quite a while. Lace was persistent as I was drinking. Very nice.

S: Fruity. Citrus for sure. Little to no hop aroma. Definite sweetness.

T: Citrus with this slight sour taste. Very well balance with a slight spice as well.

M: Good carbonation and maybe a medium body. Slightly dry finish with some tartness.

D: Probably one of my most favorite beers now. It reminds me of some of the trappist dubbels. Very refreshing and the citrus is just awesome.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2011 05:39:34 | More by cdrogers