Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison) - Brewery Ommegang

Maxwell

Massachusetts

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

The beer pours pale, golden yellow with a lot of chunks and carbonation bubbles circling around. The beer pours with a nice tight white head on it that settles to a quarter of a fingers width and leaves a thin lacing of tight, dry bubbles. On the nose, the beer smells strongly of spiced coriander with hints of orange peel, and ginger. There is also distinct bananay yeast in the background giving lovely character to the nose, while the hops and yeast are properly downplayed with lights notes of grass and hay and some wheat notes. On the tongue, the beer tastes creamy sweet and grassy bitter with lots of spice character. The flavor begins as orange peel and light wheat malt before being steamrolled away by heavy coriander spices with hints of pickling ginger. This moves into bitter grassy hops and banana yeast. The finish gives a fresh kiss of coriander infused orange juice with just a hint of sweet wheat bread before mellowing into an aftertaste of light coriander spice and yeasty banana funk. In the mouth, the beer tastes creamy smooth and medium in body with a touch of fierce carbonation that mellows into a clean scrubbing of the tongue. The mouth is left slightly dry but clean. Overall this is a solid and interestingly flavored beer. They’re a little heavy handed with the coriander spicing, which hurts the other flavors, but these flavors still show through and are beautiful and fresh in feel. This is a classic American saison in a Belgian-style. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 19:31:32 | More by Maxwell

BigBarley

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a crisp, bright gold. Almost completely clear, with the exception of the swirling sediment and the extremely active carbonation. Yields about 1.5 fingers of head that recedes over time to a floating cap of foam.

Fresh banana and clove smell up front, touch of citrus and coriander right below. Stand out smells of wild yeast all around. Fits the style well, keeping that funk balanced with the sweet, fruity undertones

Interesting. There's a bitterness wrapped around this beer that gives it a sour flavor. Very sweet but subdued by the funky presence. Similar to some Hefe flavors, with the presence of coriander and a clove taste, but the dominant quality is this funky sourness. Pretty interesting to say the least.

Somewhat thick, but refreshing in it's own way. Pretty much the standard mouth for the style, but goes down easier than some.

Not a bad Saison, but the flavor doesn't really wow me. It's enjoyable, but it doesn't really surprise or excite, and it falls short because of the way some notes clash.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 11:39:19 | More by BigBarley

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.7/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - alightly cloudy gold. Big 2 finger head that doesnt go anywhere, big soapy bubbles.

S - yeast, sweet bubblegum. similar to a few weiss biers i've had lately.

T - mild sweet bubblegum that has spice in the background that makes it more enjoyable. slightly dry. crisp. hops are there but their bitterness is mixed with the dryness so it's hard to differentiate, but definitely refreshing and enjoyable.

M - Carbonation is definitely refreshing, but not overwhelming with too much of it. Slight sweet syrup touch, slick, i'd say.

O - didnt quite live up to the hype for me, but this is just my second saison. If I would drink it again, It'd be on a hot summer day and I would've had it nearly ice cold.

Not sure if it's worth the steep price.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 01:18:53 | More by TastyAdventure

Benish

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev -6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from bottle into a snifter glass. It had an awesome foamy head. It almost covered half my glass and remained that way for a good 5 minutes (I poured gently into the glass). The color is a cloudy or hazy yellow (like most Belgium beers); nothing can be seen on the other side of the glass except light. Lacings were present.

I smelled cloves, other spices, gingerbread and some apricots. I do get ripen bananas as well!

It taste great. It has a fruity flavor yet it was not too sweet like I expected it to be. I have to admit this is my first Saison beer. There is an equal of sweetness and bitterness which makes this great. It also had that spiciness that came with the smell of cloves and other spices.

I opened this bottle in March but I have read that it is really refreshing to indulge during the summer months. I do think this beer complements well with all seasons. Drinking it right now felt like a perfect occasion. It could be opened on a cold rainy day or on a hot sunny day. Best drink cold before the beverage warms up if drinking on a hot day.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 03:36:17 | More by Benish

Someguy1_8t

California

4.73/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Got from the Whole Foods Market in Northridge

Served in a Tulip Glass

Appearance - pale straw like color. Hazy, with plenty of carbonation, and about a finger of moderately diminishing head

Aroma- floral citrusy hops. Belgian candied yeast. Banana and spice

Taste- fruits like banana,pears, and apples. Candied sugar and clove spice.

Mouthfeel - light to medium bodied. Plenty of carbonation slight dry finish. Crisp!

Overall- great example of the style that I would definitely recommend. Very refreshing

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 04:14:49 | More by Someguy1_8t

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

4.15/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Gold and orange hues with an inch head. Good retention and decent lacing

S: Belgian yeast and spices

T: Tastes like it smells. spicy pepper and some clove. A hint of fruit comes though as well. No Alcohol

M: Light and well carbonated

Overall: This is a nice warm weather beer. Well developed flavors and depth but light and delicate. The carbonation and zest make it very refreshing. I will definitely seek this out again in the summer months.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 14:43:08 | More by JuliusCaesar

SometimesIfart

Michigan

1.94/5  rDev -53.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 4 | overall: 1

Welll it appears I get to be " THAT GUY " ONCE AGAIN!.

A - Pours a murky golden with a large three and a half finger white head. Left decen lacing.

S - Banana clove and spices. That's about it.

T - A bit of banana and pepper, followed by a massive urine aftertaste. YUCK!.

M - Light bodied with light bubbly carbonation.

O - Overall, It looked promising, but since it's a part of the Duvel family I am not surprised that it is highly overrated. Tastes like urine. Plain and simple.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 05:32:14 | More by SometimesIfart

vfgccp

New York

3.91/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

2013 re-review in a 12oz bottle - identical to the 750ml review in 2010. Great consistency!

A - Golden hay. Thick frothy head.

S - Very mild. Light yeast, grassy, with some floral notes.

T - Light malt, wildflower honey. A split second touch of hops in the mid profile as it mellows into a soft grain finish.

M - Smooth but buttery.

O - A nice accessible saison.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 01:09:01 | More by vfgccp

Marq18

Virginia

4.09/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A- Poured a golden and slightly hazy with great billowy head. Head subsided to thin film with good lacing.
S- Smells slightly bready. More pronounced citrus and floral notes.
T- Tastes wonderful. Nice light spice and yeastiness with bread and fruit overtones. Slight bitterness at the end.
M- Medium body with medium to high carbonation, finishes quite dry.

Great saison, I would recommend this beer to anyone.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 01:14:36 | More by Marq18

andrewjraab

Michigan

3.86/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A - Golden straw yellow with a head so big I couldn't even pour the beer into my glass all at once.

S - Fruity, floral, phenolic, fresh bread dough, lemon grass.

T - Fruity - pears, raisin, banana peel, light sweetness, highly carbonated mouthfeel, bitter finish.

O - Very solid beer that makes me want to try more Saisons. Definitely worth a go.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 03:31:30 | More by andrewjraab

EdTheEdge

California

3.85/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

S - 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A - Bright cloudy yellow with thick pure white head and substantial lacing.

N - Smells of sweet pine, orange peel, grass and yeast.

T - First I get a orange zest taste followed shortly there after by a peppery spice. Malt and hops in the end. The alcohol is well hidden behind the flavor profile.

M - Near perfect carbonation. Aftertaste is pleasantly clean and does not linger.

O - Not my favorite style as I usually enjoy hoppier beers, but Hennepin is a crisp and refreshing representative of the style. I will most likely drink this beer again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 15:41:28 | More by EdTheEdge

TheCondor

Missouri

4.14/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Side poured from the bottle into a tulip glass.

Appearance - Pours a nice golden color with a big thick, pillowy head of about two fingers that had great retention, probably more than five minutes. I love the bottles that Ommegang uses, very unique and cool.

Smell - Bananas and spices, some citrus from the hops, yeast, and cloves round out the smell. Not as pronounced of a smell as something like Orval, but a well balanced nose that is quality.

Taste - Follows the nose, although a little more subdued. The spices and yeast make their appearance, finishing with a touch of hops.

Mouthfeel - Finishes smooth, easy to drink this beer. Medium carbonation with a fairly dry finish.

Overall - This is a good beer, nothing spectacular, but good. I would rather have a couple of the other Saisons instead, but there is nothing wrong with this one. It just doesn't really leave the "wow" impression taht I look for out of a Beer of Fame.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 02:35:59 | More by TheCondor

Dave1999

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a pale semi transparent yellow with an impressive white foamy head. The head is bright and fluffy like vanila ice cream.

The smell is lemons and yeast. Smell very fresh, like a lemon desert.

The flavour is similar to smell, a little tart and bitter.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation .

This is nice tasting beer, light and refreshing, would be nice in the summer. Hides its abv completely.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 01:25:39 | More by Dave1999

spoony

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Reviewed from notes date January 27, 2013.

From a 355 ml bottle into a tulip.

A-The brew pours with a big, shiny, white head of foam. The head is slow to fade. The beer is clear and golden in color with a lot of visible carbonation.

S-The smell is spicy and crisp. I detect straw, hay, and lemon, as well as a touch of honey. Underlying the mixture is a powdery yeast scent. Complex and pleasing.

T-The taste follows the smell in flavor and complexity. There is less honey and more lemon (lemon curd to be accurate). The flavors are predominantly dry, grassy, and crisp. The finish is long lasting and drying.

M-Mouthfeel is an example for the style. The brew is nicely carbonated with a lighter body. This brew is crisp and easy to drink, but full of flavor.

O-This is one of my favorite saisons ever (new or old world). Ommegang really hits on all cylinders here: the brew is good looking, it smells nice (love the crisp lemon and honey), the taste is complex, and the feel is well-matched to the flavor profile. I will definitely drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 05:08:23 | More by spoony

CurtFromHershey

Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a brilliant golden straw with a thick intense head which lingers forever. Surprisingly little lacing.

Smell is citrusy, predominantly lime. also a vague fruitiness and spiciness.

Taste is a muted version of the nose. Not unpleasant in the least, but not as flavorful as I had hoped given the awesome smell.

Mouthfeel seems a bit off for me. Perhaps undercarbonated, but given the massive head, perhaps something else is off. Can't put my finger on it.

Overall a really good beer which is very close to being a top notch beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 23:50:58 | More by CurtFromHershey

Goosehunter75

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - Poured a cloudy honey orange with tons of big bubbles and a very pretty white 1 1/2 finger head

S - Smells of orange, malts, spices, and bread.

T - I tasted the sweet citurs flavors up front, but as it finishes tastes of spices like corriander come out. There is some grassyness to the beer and it has a bitter finish

M - Light to medium bodied. When poured there are lots of big bubbles, but they seem to dissappear quickly and arent noticable when drinking. Very crisp

O - Great beer. Lots going on and its balanced fairly well. I couldn't sit down and drink more than a couple though.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 23:44:02 | More by Goosehunter75

steeb

3.28/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip.

A: Golden yellow with a nice frothy head that slowly dissapated.

S: Orange peel and ever so sight level of funk.

T: Sweet, green apples, slight pepperyness, and some belgian aromatics.

M: Medium/Full body, it still feels like its in your mouth after drinking

O: A pretty solid belgian ale. I fell in love with Saison Dupont and hold all other saisons to that standard. A bit on the fuller body sweet side that i didnt care for too much.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 04:52:08 | More by steeb

Mavigo

Michigan

4.38/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

I've been waiting on this guy for a long time, Costco had a holiday special a few months ago, 3 bottles (750ml) for the price of 2, good deal. Served in a snifter.

A: Pours a hazy golden color with a nice 3/4-1 inch soapy white head with bits of lacing.

S: Nice aroma going here, wheat, malts, yeast, floral hues, hops, the combination of these gives a champagne like scent, has citrus notes to it, very sweet,

T: Good sweetness to it, very smooth, yeast and wheat flavors predominate, with hints of spices and has a good hop presence to it, very well balanced, very delicious,

M: Has moderate amounts of carbonation and is full bodied, very well balanced in all aspects, has little bitterness from its mild hops and spices, it is quite enjoyable.

O: Overall the wait paid off, this beer is a bit expensive, but for the deal I got, it's in amazing gig, but cost aside, this is a great beer, I mean it's perfectly balanced, rich, robust, and smooth all at the same time, great with food, excellent craftsmanship, a must try for everyone.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 00:34:59 | More by Mavigo

Beerstorian

District of Columbia

3.76/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured into a tall tulip glass.

Aroma: A light malt nose. None of the clove-y esters one would expect from a saison. Almost no aroma.

Appearance: Yellow-orange, with ruby highlights at the edges. Nice whipped meringue head.

Taste: Malty, sweet, and clove-t. Close to style, but a bit harsh.

Mouthfeel: Sharp.

Overall: I like this beer, and have it every chance I get. But when I finally set down to review it, it didn't hit the style notes I thought it would. It's perhaps a too-commercialized version of a saison.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 13:40:45 | More by Beerstorian

DMXLOX22

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Picked up a bottle of this brew fresh from the brewery after visiting/vacationing a nice snowstorm in Cooperstown, NY. Lets see how this ranks up.

Appearance: Pours a golden, foggy hue. Leaves behind a pure white, fluffy white, frothy head that looks utterly appetizing. Leaves behind some very nice lacing.

Smell: The aroma packs a slight hint of fruit, some admirable spice. Some alcohol is also in the mix. Fair Belgian hops can be also scented.

Taste: Has a well-balanced sweetness and actually some fruit flavors that come to mind like apples, pears, raisins. The yeast comes to the palate towards the end of a sip, along with some gentle spices.

Mouthfeel: Medium carbonation that actually goes down quite easily. Nothing intimating at all about it. Has a great balance between sweetness and bitterness. Awesome job.

Overall: Liked the look of this beer and actually liked holding the bottle once I first grabbed it. Something told me this was going to be a special one, and boy was it! Quite disappointined this perticular beer isn't widely available in PA, but I'm sure I can do some hunting and locate it. I would recommend this beer to anyone interested in trying a traditional Saison. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 02:49:54 | More by DMXLOX22

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

4.34/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: Corked and caged brown Belgian-style 750ml bottle, with the old-style label (I'm one of those who likes the new labels a bit better). Best by December 17th, 2013 clearly stamped. Poured into my Hennepin chalice. Thanks to the wife for picking this up for me today to celebrate getting a new job. Love ya babe!

Appearance: Rich straw-gold beer with just a hint of haziness, this pours with a large brilliantly white, fluffly yet cream cap that shows good retention. Medium-high levels of carbonation. Really nice looking brew.

Smell: This starts off with clean, grainy notes reminiscent of the best European Pilseners, but with a soft, yeasty notes of golden fruit, white grapes, and hints of bubblegum in the background.

Taste: Slightly musty (in a good way) golden fruit, firm clean bitterness that feels a bit more than the 24 IBUs, with a bit of earthy hop flavor. I certainly can't pick out the coriander, ginger, grains of paradise and sweet orange peel that this is brewed with, but there is a subtle spicy character that is nice. A pleasant, unobtrusive, hint of alcohol. Sweet, golden-fruit flavors combine with firm bitterness, cleansing alcohol and a clean finish to produce a well-balanced, refreshing beer.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and smooth.

Overall: Very simply the best American-made saison I've had the pleasure to try (though this particular batch was brewed in Belgium). I generally favor Belgian versions (like Dupont) over American interpretations, but this one is really damn-near world class, especially as it's priced at around $7.99 a bottle.

93-94 A

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 02:45:29 | More by BedetheVenerable

biteme398

Virginia

4.36/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

From a 750ml bottle as part of a Ommegang variety pack. Very tall head that recedes slowly. A fairly pale color with some hints of amber. The smell seems similar to a pilsner; very crisp and clean with some flowery hints. The taste is very interesting. Almost like a pilsner and wheat beer combination. Some sweetness at the end leaves you wanting more. Although I am not very familiar with the saison style, this is a very good beer overall.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 00:25:45 | More by biteme398

viverlee

Ohio

3.19/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Beer No. 57 – Ommegang Hennepin

I keep a bit of everything in the house because you never know when a summer craving will come a little early.

STYLE: Saison / Farmhouse Ale

ABV: 7.7%

LOOK: Less than yellow, refreshing. Ideal one-finger head that doesn’t resist a subtle sip.

NOSE: It won’t shine here. And that’s OK because that rather misses the point. Loafy and dry.

MOUTH: White pepper, nonfat butter, bitter salad greens. It’s not – memorable. On the front, too much rind and not enough zest. On the back, a quiet lagerish coat.

Beeradvocate Rating: 93

ratebeer Rating: 97

Hayward Abbey Rating: 83

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 01:39:56 | More by viverlee

Chaney

District of Columbia

3.35/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

I thought I had ticked this "Beer of Fame," but I guess not.

Served in a Delirium Tremens shaped-glass.

A: Poured a bright, yet murky orange color, with a pillowy, cloud-like formation posing as a head on top.

S: Coriander and orange peel upfront, followed by some banana pudding, and candy component reminiscent of "Pixie Stick" dust.

T: The finish on this is really harsh and not entirely pleasant to my taste buds. A bit too alcoholic, and a bit too grainy and bitter for my liking. I think that if some pepper were added to the overall profile, it might have been more fun and interesting.

M: I dug the carbonation bill.... very spritzy and champagne-like, but the bitter lingering was substantial. A good bit of lacing on the glass.

O: It's been years since I've tried this one, but I remember not really caring much for it back in the day either. To each his or her own, I guess.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 01:22:21 | More by Chaney

oline73

Maryland

4.09/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a slightly cloudy golden amber. There is a layer of off white head. Has a pils like note in the nose along with some Belgian spice. More Belgian spice in the taste along with a pleasant sweetness. Just a bit herbal with a slight bitterness in the finish. Light and quite nice. The carbonation level is a bit high,

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 03:19:00 | More by oline73