Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison) - Brewery Ommegang

beerthulhu

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a cloudy lemony-wit color with a billowy 2 finger creamy white head that pitted in the middle and had great retention leaving a nice streaky film lacing. Visible carbonation was strong and vibrant.

S: The nose was rather soft and lemony with only very faint traces of bananas.

T: The initial flavor was tart, citric (lemons), with a touch of acidity. A light tropical fruitiness, perhaps pineapples are present with some zesty oranges and a lemony zing. A nice light wheat creaminess is observed with some light oats as well coming through. The beer finishes with a nice acidic bite in the finish with some light bananas, and cloves contributed by the yeast.

M: light, and lively from the strong carbonation with a tart yeastiness of lemon citrus.

D: A great refreshing farmhouse with a tart citric lemons makes this a definite thirst quencher for the summer months. sure to leave you satisfied.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2008 22:49:24 | More by beerthulhu

DrJay

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazed pale gold with a short, bright white head made up of a combination of very fine and rocky bubbles. Great retention and plenty of lacing throughout. Aromas of lemon zest, bready yeast and vinous white wine grapes dominate, but there's a hint of caramel as well. Strong citrus component in the flavour that really lingers backed up by a bit of hop bitterness. Sweetness is light and there's a delicate fruity grape flavour and light spice in the finish. Soft alcohol warmth. Creamy carbonation and lightly palate coating. Off-dry. Refreshing and very enjoyable, this is one well-crafted beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2006 17:27:04 | More by DrJay

HopHead84

California

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

8/9/2011

On tap at High Dive.

A: Hazy yellow with a creamy one finger head. Good retention and sheets of lacing.

S: Apple, pear, lemon, and orange with notes of pepper and coriander. I get a little hay and grain accompanying perfumy floral notes.

T: The beer has a lower moderate earthy and herbal bitterness up front with lots of fruit. I detect pear, apple, and lemon, with a rustic yeast profile and a light peppery spiciness.

M: Upper light body with high carbonation and a silky, smooth mouthfeel.

Overall: A tasty and refreshing Saison. Enjoyable stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

08-09-2011 21:41:01 | More by HopHead84

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A very Champagne-esque appearance - consistent streams of carbonation and an anemically pale shade of yellow. The head is bounteous and creamy, continuously growing from the steady contribution of bubbles. A light haze distorts clarity but transparency prevails nonetheless. This, itself, looks like a sunny day.

The aroma is musty in a sort of barnyard kind of way. It abounds notes of farmhouse straw, fresh squeezed lemon, spicy phenols, and under-ripe orchard fruits. It is a charming blend of musty and zesty, grainy and fruity. When my nose dips into that glass it doesn't resurface for quite some time.

The flavours are simple and straightforward - wheat, bread, grains accompanied by a sprinkling of spice and citrus zest. The taste of roses and additional floral notes arise. Flavours of under-ripe fruits - green apple, pear, peach - are also noted. Grains, tang and spice all make equal contributions and combine for a balanced, flavourful beverage.

The carbonation is rather effervescent. Little bursts of bubbles pin-prick the roof of the mouth on each sip. The beer is tremendously refreshing and it's peppery (mustard seed-like?) spice and citrusy fruity esters blend in an intricate manner that becomes only more so with some warmth.

This really does make a valid substitute for Champagne as a sociable drink that could be shared amongst guests. It would make a great welcoming drink and seems to make for a good aperitif as well. This bridges the world of beer drinkers and non-beer drinkers on agreeable grounds of undeniable quaffability.

The brewery will tell you that Hennepin is suited to every season but I'd insist it's absolutely ideal for spring and summer. Wait for a hot, sunny day and sit yourself down with a big bottle of this stuff. Find shade under a tree, nestle up with a good book or share it over a meal with family and friends at the table. Just take my word on it...

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2009 18:07:09 | More by biegaman

kojevergas

California

3.64/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

I've taken a long time to get to this one, but I'm glad to finally get to it. I've educated myself on saisons recently with a lot of Fantome, so I'm confident I can give this the fair review it deserves. 7.70% ABV confirmed. 12 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap acquired at a local bottle shop and served into a New Belgium stem-goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are through the roof given its reputation.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

Not paired with food.

A: Pours a two finger white colour head - disappointingly thin - of slight cream, and great retention for the high ABV (~4 minutes). Body colour is a hazy pale yellow-gold. Thin minimal lacing. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Nontransparent. Translucent.

Sm: Crystal malt, brett yeast funkiness, heavy lemon esters and lemon zest, lemongrass, rustic spicing (perhaps cilantro and clove if I had to guess), and pale malts. Maybe a bit of light white pepper. The lemon citric zest is pure and fragrant, evoking a fine dry champagne. Pear effervescence. Honey. Pale grains. A moderate strength evocative aroma. I can't wait to try it. Yeasty and inviting. No alcohol is detectable.

T: Delightful lemon citrus esters and lemon zest; these notes are dominant. Complementary funky yeast as well with notes of clove spice and maybe even a bit of banana and phenol. Some light biscuity character. Crystal malt. Dry pear and champagne notes. A hint of sour green apple - but not to the extent you'd see in a patersbier. Pale unobtrusive malt body. Rustic spices seem primarily yeast-derived. Refreshing and a bit tangy. Some honey. Perhaps some light fermented pineapple. These bright fruit esters also seem to come from the yeast. Little malty sweetness - just enough to aid the balance. I quite like it. What's sorely lacking is white pepper; a quality saison should always have peppery qualities but this one lacks them. Still, it's a balanced and well-layered saison. No alcohol comes through either, and it manages to remain refreshing. It doesn't lack complexity, but saisons are a complex style, and more could certainly be done. Maybe my Fantome consumption has driven up my expectations.

Mf: Smooth and wet, with some effervescent dry champagne qualities as well. Excellent carbonation and thickness, complementing the flavour profile and coaxing out the more subtle flavours. Good palate presence. Refreshing and enjoyable.

Dr: Drinkable and enjoyable. Hides its high ABV well. A quality saison from Ommegang, but it drinks a bit too much like a witbier with its heavy reliance on lemon notes. Still, I quite enjoy it and I'd definitely get it again if I was in the mood for a domestic saison. It's a fine offering and a fairly priced one. Lives up to its reputation. Very refreshing. Bravo, Ommegang.

B

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 05:45:14 | More by kojevergas

Brad007

Vermont

4.6/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very pale color with a very nice, frothy, amount of foam. Heh. My snifter's broke so I had to use a pint glass. Shouldn't matter too much. Aroma is very nice and spicy upfront. I detect raisin, clove and mild apple flavors. A second sniff of the aroma brings up an apple pie flavor and leaves a decent amount of lacing. Taste is much of the same as the aroma except that the spice is more pronounced and the apple flavor seems to be dominant. Goes down very smooth. This is more of a sipping beer as well. Taste is somewhat sour towards the very back of the throat. Definitely a nice Saison!

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2007 01:02:10 | More by Brad007

stakem

Pennsylvania

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750ml C&C bottle I have been sitting on for awhile just for giggles. Circa 2006-07 vintage. The bottle has conflicting information regarding it's abv. At the bottom it states the abv is 7.5, at the top left corner it states 8.5%. Poured into a Ommegang 10 year anniversary cervoise it appears a clear straw yellow color with a golden center. A finger of white froth dissolves leaving finger-like patterns of lace on the glass. A light swirl revives the cap to a finger of fluff that is yellowish stained.

The smell of this brew is quite fruity with notes of pear and bready grains. Somewhat like caramel with hints of original bubblegum. There is some expected yeasty spice included not really peppery in nature more like clove. There is an evident amount of sulfur and some grassy notes mixed with belgian phenols. The backend is minorly reminiscent of banana.

The taste is sweet with caramel malt and a hint of original bubblegum flavoring. Slight herbal hop inclusion provides a nice balancing bitterness. There are some spiced yeasty notes of clove and faint banana. It is very clean and well balanced.

This is a medium bodied brew with a modest level of carbonation. It is quite creamy and smooth in the feel. Very easy drinking with a low alcohol impact despite the conflict of listed abv on the label. Regardless if it is 7.5 or 8.5% abv, it drinks like it is half of that. Exceptionally balanced, this brew has gone through quite a transformation I actually enjoy it more with age on it than a fresh offering. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2011 16:26:01 | More by stakem

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This nice, corked, 750 mL bottle paired nicely with the Christmas turkey and stuffing.

A: Carefully decanted: Very clear, pilsner-like straw/yellow in colour. Tons of fluffy white head, not much retention, but leaves a nice lace. Mix up the yeast sediment and it becomes quite murky.

S: Earthy, spicy and bready.

T: Spicy, earthy, bready. Slightly bitter, with a hint of tartness in the aftertaste. Mix up the yeast sediment and the earthy flavour is really intensified. The flavours are very light, but still offer some depth and complexity. Very nice.

M: Moderate body, fairly high carbonation.

D: Quite good.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2005 04:09:21 | More by Derek

Georgiabeer

Georgia

3.78/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a cloudy golden with a big white head that retains pretty well and leaves quite good lacing. Smells of typical Belgian yeasty flavors with some clove and light apple in the mix. There is also quite a pungent sharp smell there as well that cuts through everything. Tastes a little sharp as well, but not necessarily in abad well- kinds a more stinky cheese flavor. Complex, with ripe, musty flavors and some subdued stone fruit. Fades to a more typical saison light yeastiness on the end. Decent body, good balance between creaminess and crispness, but finishes a little limp. Pretty drinkable, a a good value, but there are others similar to this beer I'd reach for first.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2007 01:00:44 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a big pillow top off white head. Good retention with decent lace. Color is a slight hazed dark golden copper.

Aroma: mainly of spices, but not a very strong aroma. Lemon zest and orange peel. Funky yeast.

Taste: There is a lot more flavor here then the smell would give away. Very zesty with a lot of spices. Black pepper, orange peel, lemon citrus, and a funky yeast flavor.

Mouthfeel: Citrus and zesty. Medium bodied. Fairly high amount of carbonation. Ends with a spicy and funky aftertaste.

Overall, this beer is pretty good, especially on a hot summer day. Light enough to have a few, but still packs a nice flavor.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2009 03:25:29 | More by mothman

tavernjef

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Color is a firm cloudy golden straw yellow, growing firm and frothy a white one inch head builds slowly and reatins for a good long time, slowly slips down to a thick haze, lace in slow dripping ink blots. Smell is mostly yeasty and spiced, some citrusy lemon and white pepper underlay with a slight touch of alcohol. Taste is subtle and fairly complex with an overall mellowness thats super nice with an easy and soft maltyness, lightly citrusy of lemon and melon rinds, dulled tangyness, some notes of musty grasses and sugar. Spicy yeastyness is light up until the finish where it approaches ever so tingly and lightly building slowly, gaining some and helping end with a calm dryness in the finish. Carbonation was perfect, solid and full bodied, a nice crescendo from start to finish and a bit of thickness and even some light chewyness rendering in some of the finish. Nice malty balance with the yeast, and what ever hops may be in there adding in with some of that grassyness and very slight calm bitterness thats barely noticeable in the middle. A definate keeper and a wonderful drinker. Mellow, soothingly smooth, thick, luscious, a hidden alcoholic treat to be shared, if willing ; )

Big thanks to Fishbone for the bottle!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2003 01:38:24 | More by tavernjef

mactrail

California

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Mother's milk! Smooth as caramel, warm and slightly sweet. A creamy mouthfull with great rich flavors. Beautiful beer-- golden color and clear in the tall tulip glass. Individual flavors don't seem to stand out as much, but the overall effect is spicy with rich wheaty malt. Mellow is the word, just enough fruit and a hint of hops. Not the usual Ommegang over-the-top Belgian funk.

Best Saison I've tasted this year. Highly drinkable but with a rich set of flavors. Shows a good Saison doesn't need the excess of acidity and random bacteria so often encountered.

Serving type: on-tap

08-07-2011 04:22:14 | More by mactrail

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served from tap into a sampler shaker. Poured a slightly hazy straw yellow with a one finger pure white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained excellent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt and banana. The flavor was of sweet malt, banana, and spices. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall thiswas a pretty decent and easy drinking brew. It was not overly complex, but still pretty nice for the style. I had this one a long time back and the spices just overwhelmed me. Really glad I re-visited this one. If it were more complex, this one would definitely be great. Definitely worth trying without a doubt.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2011 13:45:19 | More by thagr81us

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, bright golden with a decent off-white head. Rich, wheaty, slightly lemony aroma calls for a sip. Flavor is crisp, mouth-filling, wheaty and yeasty with a hint of lemon and just a touch of hop bitterness. Texture is smooth and refreshing to give a pleasant and crisp finish.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2009 01:55:58 | More by Cyberkedi

ccrida

Oregon

3.2/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

I've had this one on tap a few times, and while it's one of my favorite styles, I was never too impressed with the Hennepin. This is my first bottle. As soon as I twisted the cage loose, the corked exploded out, with a little bit of gush, but a relatively easy pour, into my St. Feuillien Goblet. The Saison is a golden yellow with tons of streamers and a big, pillowly white head. While I'd rather it a bit cloudy, the head is really gorgeous, and with the effervescence, continues to grow in a nice rocky fashion. It is very slow to subsided and leaves blankets of foam and lace to the very end.

The smell is sweet, some honey and vanilla, a bit floral, with rustic grain, a decent bite of booze, and a hint of diactyle as it warms. Overall, more omphh and saison-like then it is on draft, so it's off to a good start, although still on the understated side.

Well, so far this has been much better then the draft version, which was bland and unobjectable. While the taste certainly isn't bland, it's really not too good. Initially there's some sweetness, but it's quickly overcome by a husky astringency, is a tad chalky, rather hot and boozy. Letting it warm too much, it gets worse, funky, but not in that fun belgian way, just off, with a bit of diactyle. Overall, it seems like they were more focused with making it taste rough for that farmhouse authenticity, rather then taste really good. I'm not so hard points wise on the graininess, but booze is too much to ignore, especially for only 7.7.

The mouthfeel is very creamy, medium light bodied.

This wasn't too drinkable. It was just too husky and astringent, and not enjoyable enough. While the heat might fade in cellar, I'm not so sure about those grain tannins.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2007 04:53:49 | More by ccrida

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The appearance of this beer is quite fabulous. It's crystal clear and the entire vessel is teeming with effervescence. The color is a light shade of yellow. The head is huge and white, containing a plethora of bubbles. As it fades over an hour or so, it coats the glass in sticky lacing. The aroma is of spices, straw, grass, lemons. The taste is better than the aroma, with notes of lemon grass, orange zest, clove, lemon, straw. There is a subtle, spicy kick in the finish. The beer has a nice feel, with an above average carbonation level. This is a great saison, and from the United States, no less. I definitely recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2010 16:16:21 | More by Huhzubendah

RoyalT

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance – Beautiful, light but cloudy yellowish-orange body with a nice white head that went down slowly.

Smell – Nice mix of yeast and slight sourness with some significant spicing. The spicing is typical BSPA. The fruits are light and pleasant, most notably melons, apples, strawberries dipped in sugar, and lots of green grapes.

Taste – This one is very good. There’s a hint of the grassy garden in there, but mostly you’ve got a wonderful yeast base mixed with tangy but restrained fruitiness. There’s a hint of alcohol more along the lines of a dry blanc or maybe even a brut blanc de noir with all that carbonation.

Mouthfeel – Medium-bodied but heavily carbonated, this one produces about a thousand sensations in the mouth. Very fun and entertaining; not something you’d want to serve with a meal.

Drinkability – I had this on an empty stomach just before dinner, and it was a delight. It wetted my appetite for the stuffed chicken with sticky rice and garlic gravy. Excellent and adventurous example of the style.

Update – I re-reviewed this with a 2004 bottle and found it to be very enjoyable. I got a lot more spicing this time around but otherwise it seems pretty consistent.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2003 03:37:31 | More by RoyalT

largadeer

California

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Blond in color and fairly cloudy, moreso after the first glass. A billowing white head rises from a gentle pour, lasting until the final drop.

Smell: Very malty with some banana-like esters. Closer inspection reveals spicy and floral notes (white pepper, ginger and mint come to mind).

Taste/mouthfeel: Tropical fruit and yeast are at the forefront here, but there's a spicy kick beneath it. Mildly sweet initially, though that's quickly overtaken by a lasting dryness and mild herbal/floral hop bite. Carbonation is high and the finish is ultra-crisp - this is one seriously refreshing beer despite the high ABV. The flavor is low on the funkiness sometimes found in Belgian saisons, but I'm not complaining; this is a damn good beer.

Notes: A solid beer that was past due for a review. For the price it's hard to go wrong with this stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2008 02:13:18 | More by largadeer

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A. Served into a Snifter glass from a keg. Appeared semi hazy with a nice head, lace, retention, the whole game. Looks good.

S. Sweet bubblegum wheat.

T. Like the nose, this was a pleasent banana/bubblegum experience with some yeasty notes as well.

M. Smooth, crisp and light.

D. Very good as well. No alcohal burn, just a nice example of the style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-01-2008 20:33:27 | More by Stinkypuss

avalon07

South Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This was my first Ommegang beer, as well as the first saison/farmhouse ale I've had. I'd have to say this was a super first go. It had a somewhat opaque appearance, with an amber hue. There was a strong odor of fruit about this one. It tasted strongly of bananas and other spices, giving it a smooth yet vibrant finish. This is lovely beer, one that you can easily get attached to.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2008 03:02:33 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clean yellow color with a nice white head. In the aroma, hints of spice, corriander and a touch of cinnamon. In the taste, spicey and yeasty, hints of citrus as well. A spice bite, and a medium mouthfeel, with a dry yeasty spice in the aftertaste. A very nice saison, smooth, yet a nice spicey bite.

Serving type: on-tap

08-03-2008 14:32:33 | More by OWSLEY069

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a golden sunshine, light amber. At least six strong columns of tiny ubbles with a strong head directly after the pour, but quickly recedes after the initial pour. I love a grand head in a saison. The aroma is a great earthy hop and malt blend. Light notes of a barnyard,light fruits, and some grass in a Missouri prairie. The taste starts with some tart, unripened apples, light currants, and fresh cit grass. The finish shows some very lightly toasted, dry caramel malts with some mild funk. Good complex beer. Very refreshing with some light tartness. Very drnkabl, dare I say its sessionable even given its abv. This a good beer Johnny Cakes.

Serving type: bottle

07-10-2008 05:47:58 | More by scruffwhor

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.53/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cave Aged: Bottle #1315

Presentation: ‘Standard’ looking 750ml Hennepin bottle, which is deceptive at first and may fool the uninitiated. But on closer inspection, this is no “ordinary” bottle. The wire cage has a weathered and crimpled looking gray cardboard tab that states that “this Hennepin” is one of 3360 cellared at Howe Caverns at a depth of 156 feet at a constant temperature of 52°F from early 2003 until September 23rd 2003.

Hand applied Red Ink Stamp professes Bottle # 1315.

The gold colored cage encases a thumbed champagne cork that has an aged black spotted surface (from the Cave Aging?) and it takes a little coaxing to remove. When it is extracted, a solid but manageable ‘thrupp’ precedes a whispy phantom like expulsion of twisting light gray gunsmoke.

Appearance: Fantastic pour, carefully slaked into my Westie Glass (only the best!) the hazed Golden body shimmered as it slid effortlessly down the hyperbolic sides of my pristinely clean and recently rinsed Westvleteren Glass all the time releasing its dissolved carbon dioxide to form a head that rolled back on itself forming a beery surf. A lovely shimmering straw colored haze sits in the fusel gold body that is disrupted only by constant rising streamers once it quickly settles. The head is perfectly silky and forms an immaculately uniform bone-white creamy cap. Gently rolled like a fine Brandy in the Westie Goblet, the dissolved carbonation comes out to play, but only for a short time, as it is soon called back by its Head-master. This has one of those perfect heads that easily forms with a careful ‘top-up’ each time. Solid web-like lacing on the Goblets edge. Excellent conditioning, even better head retention, and a fantastic overall presentation in a Goblet style glass. Top Marks here!

Nose: Perceptible from the off, fresh Tripel-like hoppiness mixed with yeasts and freshly proved dough odor that has a little clean farmyard funkiness to it. Light spices and a citrus element together with a smidgeon of Coriander. Mmmmm, smells great, I may have to imbibe this one through my nose!

Taste: Soft, fluffy entrance allows the bitter hoppy feel to expand readily. Pale malts are in the background, light alcohol feel, slightly warming on subsequent mouthfuls. Lemon rind and coriander in the middle, spicy hops with a delicate farmyardiness (yes it’s a made up word) and some more flavored spicy bitterness in the warming finish which gently caresses the stomach with a smooth frictional like heat after a glass or two. Tangerine rises in the back end with some citric bitterness.

Mouthfeel: This has a well attenuated smoothness from the fine carbonation. Talcum powder soft on the tongue with a light rasping feel when swallowed. Superb presence, this has a very mature Tripel mouthfeel.

Drinkability: The whole 750ml went down quicker than the Titanic! A whole three-quarters of a litre of this 7.5% beauty all to myself – My Bad! Oh Yeah - Sheer Indulgence!

Overall: Very nice!! The precise effects of ‘Cave-Aging’ are argued over it seems, it could well be the equivalent of modern day Fuzzy Logic. I am no expert on the Aging process, except that I may have to look forward to gray pubes and bad eyesight one day, but this is certainly a beer that definitely appears to benefit from Aging in a Cave (see how diplomatic I am!).

I make no apologies for admitting that I am a big fan of Brouwerij Ommegang’s offerings, they still represent probably the best value for money widely available, high quality Belgian style US brews around for me. I am not sure what I did to deserve this beautiful, and rather prized, rare bottle as a gift - but a very BIG heartfelt Thank You indeed to djgonzalez and RokotGirl for sparing this gift from their stash during a recent trip to NYC. It was much appreciated and highly enjoyed. I’ll have to get to NYC more often - the first beer in the Blind Tiger is on me next time!!!

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2004 05:56:47 | More by TheLongBeachBum

ZAP

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Another I had heard great things about but had anticipated not liking all that much...WRONG!!..this is truly a great beer....citrus and cloves on the nose...pours a pretty clear gold with a big frothy white head...as I pour the bottom of the beers chucks of shit start floating around and get caught inthe head...COOL!! Body is about medium in thickness....very very drinkable...flavor includes sweet lemon drops...honey...cloves...juicy oranges...and some grassy hop notes develop along with a very slight alcohol spiciness on the long finish...this is a dandy...I want more!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2003 21:40:54 | More by ZAP

jrallen34

Illinois

3.8/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4.5

I drank this from a 22 oz bottle into my Rochefort chalice.

The beer is very clear medium straw, hardly distinguishable from any other farm or lager. The head is about a finger, gone quickly with decent retention.

The aroma is ok, nothing outstanding with light hops and flowers.

The taste is better than I thought after the aroma, but once again nothing to distinguish itself as a great, it is what it is. There is light hoppiness with flowers.

The beer is really watery but easily drinkaable.

Overall this to me is just a little more pricey sessional, nothing special

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2009 01:25:42 | More by jrallen34