Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison) - Brewery Ommegang

jfclark

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pour from 12 oz bottle.

A: active head that holds. lots of carbonation. light straw color, and fairly clear. not much yeast sediment.

S: smell somewhat average and not strong. Hops barely noticeable

T: no dominating flavors, but very enjoyable and refreshing.

M: lots of activity, yet fairly light. crisp and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 00:03:04 | More by jfclark

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.98/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a New Belgium snifter. The beer was pale yellow in color with a slight haze and highly carbonated, producing a massive frothy white head. The nose was mostly herbal and flowery with a few mild citrus notes, primarily lemon. Not as much fruitiness as I expect from this style. It reminds me more of a pilsner.

Mouthfeel is crisp and firm and the high carbonation does not overwhelm the flavors. There is a soft, bready, malty flavor up front with a slight hint of diacetyl. Hop profile is extremely mild. Instead, the beer has a slight tart fruity acidity at mid-palate that develop into a dry, yet slightly sweet finish. Extremely drinkable and refreshing.

I really enjoyed this beer during a break from yardwork on a hot Saturday afternoon. It's not as fruity on the nose as I'd like, but the flavor is pretty spot-on for this style. Moreover, it's extremely easy to find. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 20:02:59 | More by deadonhisfeet

yamar68

Minnesota

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

Pours a pale gold an expanding, healthy head - great beading and lacing.

The nose is stuffed with ester, banana, some vanilla, quite floral.

It's very soft on the tongue. The yeast notes are apparent but soft... clove, a touch of booze, sweet grain. Good stuff.

Very easy going down - pairs perfectly with a shrimp scampi. Would highly recommend.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2012 01:19:29 | More by yamar68

alexipa

Colorado

3.08/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A: Too clear for the style. I need some floaties! Lacing is great with a nice thin head.

S: I don't know what to say here... smells a bit like Miller Lite. Maybe a little bit of fruit on the finish.

T: Some fruit, lots of light malt, not a ton going on though. Dry finish is quite nice.

M: They got this right. It feels light, the perfect amount of carbonation, just very pleasant.

O: Pretty good. I've been drinking a lot of Saison/farmhouse ales and this is the worst I've tried so far. I love the style, though.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 03:24:15 | More by alexipa

Nay

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -25.8%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I'm bewildered by the super-high ratings for this beer. Malty, finishes sweet, closer to a dunkel than a saison. Color is a lot darker and quite clear compared to other saisons. Pilsner malt flavor with other malt aromas I can't place, but not dry, tart, or refreshing. Where are the phenols and character>?Long lasting head and lace. I won't finish a glass.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 03:43:54 | More by Nay

seand

California

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

A: Pours a bubbly translucent golden color, with a fair amount of porous white head. Uneven clumps retain on the surface and leave pleasant groups of lacing.

S: Light funk and grassy/earthy hops, with a honey backdrop.

T: Balanced sweetness with a mild hoppy near-citrus note through the mid-palate. Finish is dry with the citrus hint lingering. The alcohol is barely noticeable.

M: Medium body, medium smooth carbonation.

Overall, a nice warm weather beer, if a bit strong. I'd get it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 00:10:35 | More by seand

troysoy2

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle straight from the Brewery, poured into a tulip glass.

What a head! Thick, many fingers deep, and it isn't going anywhere. Golden straw colored body, moderate clarity, and plenty of tiny bubbles.

The entire brewery grounds smelled a lot like this beer on the day I visited. Citrus, coriander, hay, a little banana, and possibly even horse blanket.

The taste is refreshing, and leans towards the dry side. This is good, as I'm not a huge fan of overly sweet saisons. Earthy yeast, a mild banana and clove is met by black pepper on the dry finish. Citrus hops lightly float above the other flavors. The mouthfeel is nothing spectacular. Wet, with a decent body, and a crispness that well accentuates the drier aspects of the taste.

Probably my favorite saison to date, and one that I hope to come back to sometime. Well balanced, with a nice flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 18:51:56 | More by troysoy2

steelerguy

New York

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Straw colored, exceptionally clear, with a large frothy white head. Huge amounts of carbonation keep the head strong while drinking.

S - Spice, apple, a bit of hay.

T - The spicy phenols come through first, some noble hop flavor, light malt, very crisp devoid of sweetness, ends with a slight alcohol flavor.

M - Light and refreshing.

O - Very good saison, one to enjoy outside on a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 23:20:07 | More by steelerguy

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

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

Aroma: Lots of fruity esters, lemon citrus and apples. Lots of spicy pepper phenols, clove and banana. Clean pale malts, maybe a little pilsner. Orange shows up after a bit and the pepper and clove spices step up as well. Some bitter and floral English hops.

Appearance: Pale straw. Moderately cloudy. Lots of rising bubbles. Head is clean white and pours very tall. Great retention and lots of lacing.

Taste: Light to moderate floral hops followed by black pepper and yeasty phenols, then the fruity orange citrus and apple. Lots of competing flavors here. Some alcohol shows up at the end. Long bitter and slightly tart aftertaste. Also a bit of sulfur, wonder how old this bottle is? A born on date would be nice.

Mouthfeel: Light and fluffy body. Carbonation is moderate, but is smooth and creamy, not stinging.

Overall: Nice, bold and complex brew. The spice dominates the fruitiness here, again perhaps due to the age of this bottle. Even so this is a good overall saison.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 23:43:22 | More by soulfly1492

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Semi hazy copper color with super bright white Crystal-like massive head. Lots of visible carbonation. Some barnyard and wheat on the nose with a bit of nuttiness, clove, underlying notes of banana bread.

Very well blended wave of flavors passes over the tongue and stays together amazing the whole time. Crisp clean and slightly spicy finish. Some phenolic flavors, earthy hops, classic belgian flavors like clove banana and bubble gum. Really really nice, big, complex, subtle, bold and drinkable all at the same time somehow. Impressive.

I was annoyed that the bottle said "product of belgium" on it but close enough, geez.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 03:04:42 | More by jtierney89

gtermi

Texas

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a nice yellow body, with a thick white head that slowly fades.

S: I am getting a sour funky yeast smell, which actually smells decent. The problem I have with this is that its the only thing you smell.

T: Wow lots of flavor! It has a very nice fruity yeast flavor, with a great amount of malt. The flavor lingers and continues to have that fruity flavor.

M: Super smooth for such a high alcohol beer. It has that full feling that makes me burp a lot too. I really enjoy the crispness on the tip of the tongue and the back of the throat.

O: This is a beer that I love to get whenever I get the chance. I dont see it too often, but it sure hits the spot. Just an all around great beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-09-2012 05:48:26 | More by gtermi

BarryMFBurton

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Hennepin: never thought I’d be drinking this as a Saturday night brew, but I’m feeling a little Belgian tonight. Cheers!

Brewed over two years before the date of this tasting (Bottled on 16/12/10, best by 16/12/13).

A: Gorgeous, shining body on this one; pours a rich goldenrod. Looks bubbly, producing two inches of thick, white foam and a cavalcade of bubbles from the nucleation site; and man, this head is not receding at all. Beautiful. The lacing is soapy and thick, too. Perfect look.

S: Smooth, Belgian aromas of vanilla, straw, cornbread – a pretty aromatic buttery-sweetness. Light, fresh lemon, too, which mixes with some chamomile and lilac notes to form a tea-with-lemon effect. Otherwise, there’s a bit of barnyard funk, pine needles, and even a charming hint of melon.

T: So herbal and complex – absolutely delicious. Loads of white pepper, pine, orange peel, coriander, and flowery hints wrap the first tastes into a shell of perfume airiness, bright and tongue-tickling. Exotic wheat notes take it down a heavier, though similar road, with a Belgian crusty-breadiness (yes, that’s a word) and some light butter tones. Astringency comes in the forms of phenolic, lemon-rind hops, showcasing light – but lasting – intensity. Finishes with some fruitcake and cinnamon tastes, with some flaky biscuit tones.

M: Very light – bubbles off the tongue, at first, but it evaporates in moments with a noticeable weightlessness. A little oily, but it fits just perfectly with the style. What a drinkable beer.

O: This beer makes me smile – every sip is just delicious. Complex, memorable, and intense at just the right moments. Every time I walked into the liquor store, this beer was right there; little did I know that Hennepin was just waiting to dispel the rarity-means-quality myth. Grip ‘n sip, my Belgian-beer fans; grip ‘n sip.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2012 01:58:54 | More by BarryMFBurton

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours lively yellow. A bunch of bubbles lead to a nice fizzed head. Medium sized head with moderate lacing. Very bubbly and mostly transparent.

S-Pretty light on any barnyard characteristics. More of the Belgian bananas, lemons, and other pale fleshed fruits. Light little grassy hop presence but overall a bit underwhelming I would say. Good, not great.

T-A little more musky. Grassy hops, spice a light sweetness (not fruit). The pale fruit flavors are there throughout as well. A pretty pleasant taste but far from my favorite from such a cool style.

M-Very carbonated and the ABV is masked very nicely. A very sessionable feel. Rather light but the body is fulfilling enough.

O/D-Not my favorite, but I can understand why this is such a well liked brew. Solid in every aspect but I would not put it among the best of its style.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 22:41:34 | More by VelvetExtract

depechemode1983

Texas

4.3/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours out clear golden in color. Carbonation is champagne like and constant. The head is two fingers of white foam. Retention is good but lacing is a moderate.

S - The nose is excellent. Lost's of clove and black pepper spice. Belgium yeast, banana and faint wheat characters thought the middle. Sweet white grape as well. Hints of alcohol. Complex.

T - Yeasty, spicy, grainy, fruity, it just like it smells. It taste so damn natural.

M - Smooth and refreshing with a champagne like finish. Pretty damn good.

O - Pretty much outstanding. Lots of flavors going on and melded so well together. Excellent to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 22:26:27 | More by depechemode1983

jeremy13586

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +10%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

12oz bottle poured in to a pint glass.

Cloudy straw yellow color with a big, fluffy, bone-white head.The head stuck around for a long time and left some very nice lacing.

Yeast and some sweeter citrus in the nose. Lemongrass, pineapple, and a little bit of fun and booze.

Citrus, fruit, and funk are up front in the flavor. The flavor then turns hoppy and spicy. It then has a nice clean finish of clove and yeast.

Medium bodied and very carbonated. Not overly dry and a crisp, clean finish.

Another great beer from Ommegang. Highly drinkable and refreshing. Could possibly be a new summer favorite for me.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2012 05:20:47 | More by jeremy13586

phishsihq

Colorado

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

Welcome this is a farmhouse...ale

Ommegang Hennepin is a Farmhouse Ale, that could also be classified as a Saison. The brew pours a pale gold with a HUGE white head that required several pours, before settling to leave a thick lace. Banana and clove dominate the nose at first, but settle into other aromas including some grainiess, citrus, and slight funkiness. Complex flavors erupt on the pallet! Citrus and floral notes intermingle with hints of wheat, spice, clove, lemon and funk, to name a few. This beer finishes clean and dry, with a medium body and high level of carbonation. As with all the other Brewery Ommegang beers we have had the opportunity to review, Hennepin is an amazing example of Belgian-style brewing in America. World-Class!

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 02:04:46 | More by phishsihq

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 poured into a De Struise glass that looks like the one they print on the back of the bottle.

This thing is carbonated! Bright golden body that would probably be totally transparent if it weren’t for the rush of bubbles. The big white head just kept growing after I poured.

Banana, citrus, grass, and pepper in the nose. Not much phunk.

Citrus and grass are very prominent in the taste. Pepper and clove type spice character. Little banana and a general fruitiness. Slightly tart.

Lots of bubbles. Light body. Super dry.

I dig super bubbly bottle conditioned Belgians but holy crap I have never seen so many bubbles in a beer. It settles after a couple minutes though and makes for a great drinking experience. A solid Saison for sure.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 05:12:12 | More by MattSweatshirt

BillH200174

California

4.28/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy copper-orange color with a fluffy white head. Flowery, citrusy, yeasty nose. Refreshing, spritzy mouthfeel. Flavors of lemon, orange, yeast rolls and green apple meld together admirably. Finishes with a bit of a hoppy blast along with a dry tartness. Improves greatly as the bottle warms into the 60 degree range as the nose, flavors and alcohol really intensify.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 11:06:03 | More by BillH200174

dumptruck81

Texas

4.78/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance- Very pale color mostly transparent color. Not much head retention. I'm inclined to think that a beer needs head retention to have the strong aroma that I like but this one defies that rule of thumb. Great aroma and taste from this one that almost looks like your typical garbage BMC.

Smell- At first it I got your typical banana, grass, and funk. As I got a bit further into it I noticed the it wasn'treally banana but some other fruits.

Taste- For the most part follows the nose. Opens up into a nice range of fruits. Lemon, apple, and pear. Nice hop crispness, hay, coriander spice, and funk. Really complex beer for a lighter style.

Mouthfeel- medium light bodied. Enough body to enjoy the range of flavor and just enough hop sharpness to keep it crisp.

Overall- Well done ommegang! This is a must try beer. This will be one of the beers where you have to ask yourself why you hadn't had it before. I wish I could give it a perfect score but I just can't bring myself to do it. The knock on appearance is due to previous standards on what usually makes a good beer. The sharp mouthfeel is most likely necessary to open up the depth in this beer but keeps it from being the beer you can drink all day.

Edit: I've had this beer again many times with a good amount of head. I think there was soapy residue in the glass when I did the review

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 04:46:47 | More by dumptruck81

scninmer08

New York

4.55/5  rDev +8.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle into tulip.

A- hazy yellow with white head. Hard to pour this one without creating a large head. Dissipated fairly quickly. Lots of bubbles.

S- Smells like a hefeweizen. Lots of banana and clove with some pepper.

T- Similar to a Duvel, but not quite as complex. The taste follows the nose, with plenty of the Belgian yeast coming through. I was fascinated by the finish I got, which added a new dimension to the range of flavors already present

M- Very carbonated at first, which took away from it, but was much better as it warmed. Dry and crisp.

O- I'm not too familiar with the Saison style. Having only had Saison de Silly, I was expecting something a little more funkier and out of normal range, but I suppose the Silly is an exception. Overall, a nice brew that I will be enjoying more of soon.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 23:06:46 | More by scninmer08

greencovesteve

North Carolina

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

A: golden and nicely carbonated

S: dark fruits and light spices

T: bananas and smooth tastes of summer fruits.

M: quick generating tounge tickler. Ends with a soft bitter dryness

O: hits the marks nicely. All around good drinking beer, it makes feel like I'm in the basement of the thirsty monk in Asheville.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 00:06:18 | More by greencovesteve

davidsumner

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

Ommegang brewery in Cooperstown is a beautiful brewery that I would highly recommend to visit.

Hennepin is a very lovely Belgium Saison. Has that Duvel tang to it. Light, crispy, florally with a slight banana/citrus. Goes well with any meal.

Unfortunately I'm not personally a big fan of the "Trappist" tang and gassiness. This is also more on the expensive side, which is why It's not usually in my beer fridge.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 21:17:44 | More by davidsumner

Goblinmunkey7

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazed pale gold/straw. Head is thick, bright-white, clean, and fluffy. Some minimal lacing on the glass. Nice tight carbonation. Lively and solidly hazed.

Smell: Lemon, hay, and a mild funk. Lemon zest and a mild touch of something akin to oak. Peppery and a touch sweet. Some hints of honey. Lots going on but none of its very potent. Mellow and on point.

Taste: Lemon zest and hay. Grass and a mild funkiness. Faintly musty with a decent lingering floral note. Raw honey and a mild peppery finish. Floral and earthy. Powdery bread crust. Very clean. Lingering notes of lemon.

Mouthfeel: Dry with a lively carbonation. Body is light and bubbly. Drinks clean and easy.

Overall: The first time I had this beer was on tap. It came to the table and smelled like a citronella candle. I've been putting off retrying it for 4 years as a result. Ultimately, I'm sad I waited. This is a damn fine American take on a non-American style. Nice flavor profile with a decent drinkability. Funk is on point.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 00:56:56 | More by Goblinmunkey7

angusdegraosta

New York

4.48/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Hennepin has an impressive appearance - not just the golden color, of course, but the head, which is massive and long-lasting. Pouring along the side of the glass will not even help one bit - pour slowly. Very nice honey-toned spicy floral aroma. Though there's some raw honey sweetness as well, the taste overall is nice and dry, lemony, and herbal, all very well integrated in the mouth. Smooth stuff. This bottle was brewed in Belgium, the label says. Wherever they wind up brewing the stuff, it's bound to be a classic. This is one of my top go-to beers for special occasions.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 01:24:27 | More by angusdegraosta

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Part of the few bottles of Ommegang I was able to procure on a recent trip to the US.

A - Pours a clear golden colour, finger of soapy head, solid retention and nice sticky lacing.

S - Floral notes, spicy citrus, leafy greens and a hint of cloves.

T - Fruity notes with the cloves coming through, floral citrus hops, unique spiciness that is tough to nail down, but is incredibly tasty and complements the musty caramel malts.

M - Lighter bodied ale that comes across a tad prickly is heavily carbonated, but finishes nice and wet.

O - Quite tasty saison, nice floral flavours, ABV is well hidden and the mouthfeel makes for a refreshing ale. A tasty ale indeed and worthy of seeking out.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 18:42:57 | More by andrenaline