Hennepin (Farmhouse Saison) - Brewery Ommegang

CraftBeerTastic

Pennsylvania

3.45/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Ba Review #196
Served On: 07/23/2012
Glassware: Pilsner Glass
Labeled ABV: -
Date/ Code: -

Had this at Finbars (Rehoboth) while visiting Coastal Delaware on summer vacation.

Look: Poured a clear yellow. Head was a thin coating of white foam. Some lacing formed on the glass - nothing to write home about though. Carbonation bubbles were minimal.

Smell: A typical Saison aroma. Peppery coriander, clove, some faint banana and wet grass. Nothing real special was in the nose.

Taste: Again, very typical to the style. The coriander and funky Belgian yeast hit first with hints of sweet banana making up the middle. The finish was a long lasting mango or kiwi that faded into a clean aftertaste.

This was a textbook Saison in my opinion. I've had others that were very similar, but the level of quality is probably what sets this beer apart from the others.

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2012 01:34:27 | More by CraftBeerTastic

CureTheRadio

1.43/5  rDev -65.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

I almost wonder if I had an infected bottle because this is one of the worst beers I've ever encountered. It is worth mentioning that saisons are hands down one of my favorite styles. It was poured out of a 12 oz bottle purchased from a roughly 55 degree cellar room at a local wine store. No dates on bottle. It was poured into a SA perfect pint. [don't judge me!]

A- Not impeccable. Odd for the style but not out of the question. After all saisons are neat because of the variety. Dark and quite clear for the style. Almost a burnt orange kind of color.

S- Malt overpowered most everything else. After tasting I found the smell to be unworthy of analysis. Vanilla and earth were most prevalent next to the malt.

T- Tastes like chewing a dry pack of Brett. B. and a handful of Maris Otter. With no water. In the desert. Again malt is overpowering, and the end leaves one with a sticky flavor somewhere between dirt and the smell of a dairy farm. Esters are very detectable but abrasive and unpleasant. In all fairness, despite the flaws it is somewhat balanced. I found it to be strangely acidic. There did not appear to be any residual sugars. I love funky beers but good god damn... This must have been a bad batch. Bad beers shouldn't make it to the shelf.

M- Thick and velvety for a beer of it's color/gravity/strength but mixing with the taste it just feels gross. It is sticky and slick, lingering on the back of the tongue for some time.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 21:01:34 | More by CureTheRadio

Vec2267

Florida

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

A - cloudy, straw yellow, abundant white foam, nice lacing

S - quite pungent, very spicy, coriander and ginger

T - coriander, pepper, lemon, ginger, very dry

M - well carbonated, medium in body, crisp and refreshing

O - very complex, very balanced, lots of bright fresh flavors

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2012 00:27:06 | More by Vec2267

Bung

North Carolina

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

12oz. Clear effervescent gold pour, rocky white head.

Aroma, staggering citrus, mustiness, white peppercorn. The faintest biscuit behind.

Taste, not as citrusy, a little more clove and sweeter biscuit or cornbread. Strong yeast and herbal hop notes. Pretty good balance of sweet, bitter, refreshment. Somewhat of a wheaty type flavor, though not the clingy body.

Nice carbonation tickles the tongue. A lighter body, just barely warmth from the alcohol.
Pretty darn good.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 03:00:42 | More by Bung

psuKinger

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3.5

25.4 ounce bomber, corked and caged, poured into my new Ommegang Tulip.

A: Huge bone-white head, well over 2 fingers worth. Perhaps the most visible carbonation I've ever seen. Hazy golden straw color. Reminds me of "beer champagne" in the glass.

S: Yeast, clove, and banana all come through in the nose.

T: Light bready notes with a sour lemon zest on the back end. Perhaps a hint of clove and garlic. A touch of pine bitterness on the back end to help balance things out.

M: Light and lively doesn't do this justice. A yeasty wheat beer that is still light and refreshing enough to truly be enjoyable even on the hottest of summer days.

D/O: Enjoyable from start to finish, and I get why so many suggest that this is a great summer beer. Sometime soon I hope to give it a go on a hot summer day. Until then, this was enjoyable, but it's still not something that I *crave* when the weather isn't hot.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2012 02:56:14 | More by psuKinger

cfrances33

Illinois

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

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a tulip.

Pour: Clear orange with two and fingers very fluffy, sticky white head. Nice lacing

Smell: Lemon zest, Belgian yeast, biscuit, slight funk.

Taste: Wow. Belgian yeast, biscuit, citrus, pineapple, hay funk are so harmoniously combined in this beer. Biscuit and lemon linger on the palate.

Mouthfeel: Slight carbonation, but really just crisp and dry. So refreshing.

Overall: I think this might be my never-fail, go to beer. I really am never let down, it is both fulfilling and drinkable, and it combines what comes best in so many different styles that it truly is a no brainer if you want a Saison. Do not be deceived by the shelf availability of this beer: it will beat many of the best.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 01:33:15 | More by cfrances33

Sirwootalot

Minnesota

4.88/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Poured into a tall pilsner glass. The beer has a thick, chunky, and very foamy head - some bubbles are large enough to be iridescent, and the whole thing has the look of ocean spray frozen in time. The nose is redolent of lemon candy, wheat fields, and a tiny hint of exceptionally tidy barn. Upon tasting this beer, I involuntarily exclaimed "oh my fucking god" - It's utterly sublime. Juicy fresh-squeezed lemonade accompanied by hints of carrot cake, white peppercorns, and maybe even a tiny tinge of nose-searing russian mustard. As the taste develops, the strong alchol notes and the copious phenols kick in, with a taste very much like banana bread or fried plantains. It's like a beer equivalent of a gruner veltliner, in all of the best ways imaginable. Despite the high alcohol, it goes down almost more like juice or 7-up - it is just fiendishly drinkable. It leaves a sticky, starchy and very dry feeling in your mouth after a while, which of course just makes you want more.

Overall, this is one of the best damn things that has ever entered my mouth, beer or otherwise - and hands-down the best Saison i've tried (though Surly cynic comes close). I originally wasn't planning on reviewing this beer, but it was so ridiculously good that I felt utterly compelled to share the experience.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 03:08:12 | More by Sirwootalot

WeedKing4

Ontario (Canada)

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

Picked this up in Buffalo. Pours a bright, hazy, golden yellow with lots of white head. Tastes slightly of lemon and grass, with a faint spicey finish and the typical belgian pale ale mouthfeel. Very nice overall and the alcohol is well hidden in this one.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2012 02:54:30 | More by WeedKing4

LadyM

4.58/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm new to this style and I just LOVE it! I've recently really become a big lover of Belgians and this one is wonderful in that it's not quite as strong, but has a delicious, full Belgian taste and smell. I find it tangy and crisp, not as sharp as an IPA. Perfect with food, not as filling as hefes, great for a hot summer day.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2012 04:12:02 | More by LadyM

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

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

A: Clear apple juice colour with some minimal but rapid carbonation bubbles. Frothy 3 fingers of white head that settled to a thin cap.

S: Up front floral and grass notes with sweet hits of lemon peel and coriander. Also some yeasty sweet bread and light malts.

T: Less sweet that the scent with yeasty bread and grassy earthiness. Taste of mild malts and a crisp clean dry finish.

M: Clean, crisp and dry with a upfront sting of carbonation. Maybe a little heavy carbonation, but that's my personal preference.

O: This dry brew is easy to drink, easy to enjoy and easy to pour another. The mix of malts and hops with a dry finish makes this a refreshing treat, uncomplicated and straight froward.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 02:16:55 | More by FondueVoodoo

RedBear84

Florida

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

poured into Sam Adams tasting glass. The beer has a light straw color with slight haze and light wispy head that disappears fast. There is a pronounced yeasty nose with a hint of lemon and much less sourness than some of this style. There is some tartness and a minor hop finish. Another fine Ommegang.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2012 20:37:06 | More by RedBear84

b11

3/5  rDev -28.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This was once one of my favorites, for a number of years. Now it is made in Belgium (as of June 2012) and it is a significantly different beer, not the same at all. I taste the following: hoppier and less sweet (the subtle sweetness of this beer was one of my pleasures), far less yeast taste (again, I loved this) and more filtered for sure, and less malt taste. It's as if the brewers said "let's make Hennepin taste more like Heineken". Very disappointing. I will not be buying this again (until they make it in NY).

If you doubt me please check this out yourself, the new label says "Product of Belgium" right on the front.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 23:16:07 | More by b11

Jesse13713

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An abridged review from notes.

Appearance - A light, bubbly clear yellow with fairly decent lacing. Golden-straw colored.

Smell - A sweet, zesty lemon-pepper smell. A bit of foul diaper-rash smell as well.

Taste - Traditional Belgian properties. Loved the beer from the bottle; the tap is the same. Fresh banana and peppery clove. Citrusy orange and fresh, faint hops.

Mouthfeel and Drinkability - A nice, light beer for summer. Easily drinkable and refreshing. A very nice saison and Ommegang offering.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2012 05:27:50 | More by Jesse13713

tlazaroff

Virginia

3.7/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Distinct buttery nose, but not diacetyl. It has a nice herb-like quality as if you were wandering through an herb garden. Somewhat barnyard-ish too. Very nice!

Pours out a dark hay straw color with a crisp white, fluffy head Lacing is spotty, but sufficient. Lots of visible carbonation supporting the head.

The flavor profile I can best use to describe this is dried wheat grass. It has a distinct earthy quality which is backed by herbal goodness. A little bit of black pepper on the finish rounds this beer out nicely.

Highly carbonated, moderate body, and a dry finish. Overall, I really like Hennepin. It's a quality saison and one that I will seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 05:00:01 | More by tlazaroff

estlinska

Arkansas

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

Poured from a bottle into a chalice glass. Pours a slightly hazy, golden yellow color. It was pretty dense appearing and had a good solid, rocky head with good lacing left on the glass. The nose is a wonderful, sharp spicy hop smell, with some yeasty/doughy background. There is a touch of fruit there too. The taste is great with lots of floral, spicy hops and fruit esters. I don’t get the banana some other folks talk about, more of sweet fruit. The palate is lots of carbonation which sort of takes over the rest of the body with a very crisp, dry finish. Overall, a very excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2012 23:51:04 | More by estlinska

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

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

Cloudy lemon yellow color with a stalwart white capper. Looks purty in its own glassware. 4.5

Sweet lemon, peppery spice, chalky yeast, light damp funk, and some floral hops. Very classic. 4.5

Powdery yeast with lemon and apple esters, white pepper, medicinal notes, grassy notes, and fruity tang with some sweetness in the finish. Tasty saison. 4.0

Medium body. Light carbonation. A little booze-showy, to be honest. Slick and settling. Light tack. 3.5

I loved this beer far more back in the day. Since then, I've had a wide array of tasty farmhouse ales, but this is a trusty classic. 4.0

Serving type: on-tap

06-16-2012 04:28:34 | More by thecheapies

CloudStrife

New York

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

12oz bottle poured into a tulip.

A: Pours an extremely fizzy cloudy yellowish white with a 3 finger puffy white head. Tons of visible carbonation. Large bubbles form and slowly break up the head, but it sticks around most of the glass and leaves a little lacing.

S: At first I get belgian yeast, an orange and banana base with hints of coriander. Certainly some pale malts and some hops in the background.

T: Has a nice light fruit taste, banana with orange and spice. Solid hop backing gives it a nice finish. Very balanced ale that has wonderful belgian qualities. Alcohol is well hidden.

M: Extremely drinkable, thirst quenching. Crisp and refreshing. Light bodied with a high level of carbonation.

Overall one of my favs from the Ommegang lineup. Would be enjoyed by anyone who likes beer with flavor. One of the more belgiany saisons I have tried.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 22:04:47 | More by CloudStrife

joemcgrath27

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - pale straw yellow, hazy , tower of white head retained forever
S - strong estery aromas of light citrus and banana, cloves, and some grain
T - starts with the fruity and spice yeast flavour but quickly moves towards strong grainy and slightly metallic flavours, grassy hops as well
M - solid carbonation kick gets in your nose, medium body, strong astringent feel through the finish
O - an in your face version of this style, not my favorite example but its up there

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 00:43:08 | More by joemcgrath27

tdm168

North Carolina

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

A - gold with a half an inch of soft white head

S - yeast, faint Belgian funk, faint wheat

T - spicy, yeasty, wheat, a bit funky

M - medium bodied, crisp, well carbonated

This is a solid saison. It doesn't have an overpowering yeast presence and has solid balance. It's definitely worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 21:17:46 | More by tdm168

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

Served on tap at the Brass Rail in Hoboken, NJ

A: Pours a cloudy golden orange in color with moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a finger tall dense white head that slowly reduces to a thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and an even thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Significant lacing is observed.

S: There are moderate aromas of floral hops, light amounts of citrus and spices, and just a hint of the yeast.

T: There is an earthy and floral quality to the taste of this beer most likely contributed by the hops. There is a good balance with the underlying malts. Also, there is a hint of citrus and moderate amounts of spices. This beer has very light bitterness but is not sweet, the bitterness lingers just a bit in the finish.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with moderate to heavy amounts of carbonation. Crisp.

O: Very refreshing, very enjoyable, and very easy to drink. This beer is sessionable and goes down well on a warm summer day/evening. At one point in time a couple of years back, this was my favorite beer and is still one of the best easy drinking beers.

Serving type: on-tap

06-01-2012 12:36:37 | More by dbrauneis

superspak

Michigan

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

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, best by 5/13/2014. Pours fairly crystal clear golden amber color with a nice 2-3 finger fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice thick cap that lasts. Some nice and dense soapy lacing clinging on the glass. Aromas of huge lemon, pepper, grass, clove, herbal, floral, grape, orange zest, coriander, earth, light funk, and herbal yeast spiciness. Absolutely fantastic aromas that are extremely balanced with nice complexity. Taste of big lemon, pepper, herbal, floral, orange peel, grass, earth, bread, coriander, slight funk, yeast spiciness, and slight tang. Nice herbal spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon, citrus zest, pepper, bread, floral, herbal, earth, and yeast spices and tang on the finish for a good bit. Incredible balance of flavors; with a perfect contrast of the malt sweetness and peppery spiciness. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a slightly slick and fairly crisp mouthfeel as expected. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with no warming noticed at all on the finish. Very easy to drink. Overall this is an absolutely world class saison. Extremely balanced with big complexities; and very smooth to drink. Definitely one of the best I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 03:19:53 | More by superspak

Luigi

North Carolina

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

Pours out a cloudy gold color with a some yeast particles floating around. The fluffy white head is massive and kind of chunky. There is just something about that yeast from Duvel. The head retains in the glass as a think blanket until the last drop. Lacing from the ale leaves some rings around the glass.

The aroma is light, crisp, and full of citrus hints. Lemon peal, white grape, and yeast.

The crisp tart citrus flavors hint the palate first. Lemon peal, even a hint orange peal pull through the almost white grape sweetness from the alcohol. On the other side, I get a soft yeast roll flavor from the malt. The hop and spice are light. Hints of coriander and a mild bitterness from the hop.

Light in bodied and despite the ABV % very refreshing

This would be a perfect ale to drink in the warmer months amongst friends for any occasion. Thumbs up from me!

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2012 17:13:11 | More by Luigi

emerge077

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Interesting and telling... after having this beer over a dozen times, and never pausing to review it, it's either a testament to pure drinkability and enjoyment, or my serial absent-mindedness.

Hennepin pours into a Duvel tulip with an ample head of creamy white foam that leaves concentric rings of lace in the glass. There's an ever-present skim on the surface, at least a few cm thick. Bright and saturated color, pure bubbly sunshine.

Signature Belgian yeast at first, lightly citrusy and musty, with herbal notes of tea leaves, coriander, and sage.

Grassy tea-like hops emerge in the flavor as well, alongside peppery Belgian yeast phenols and dry crackery malt. Finishes very dry with a lightly bitter edge. Seemingly simple on the surface but well nuanced in flavor and aroma. It has a prickly feel, well carbed, and easily degassed after swirling the glass a few times. Quite a thirst-quencher, and it pairs exceptionally well with charcuterie.

"Hennepin. It goes with everything!" ...Sorry, old joke.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2012 23:06:15 | More by emerge077

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

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

Consumed 5/12/12

Appearance: Pours with a massive, foamy, white head - particularly impressive considering this is just a 12 oz bottle - hazy, straw-colored, leaves wads of foamy lacing

Smell: Ommegang house yeast and typical saison aromas - lemon, orange rind, dry citrus - banana candy and a touch of clove and pepper - some farmhouse funk, but not much - some pale and slightly sweet malts

Taste: Sweet lemon and some subtle, spicy funk - lemon flesh and zest, along with some orange - minimal clove, some pepper, some apple, some spiciness from the yeast - touch of under-ripe bananas - some grass and some earth - pretty clean overall - honey - very pale malts, provide some balance

Mouthfeel: Medium body, very smooth, nicely carbonated

Overall: A solid saison

This is not particularly remarkable, but it's very good for what it is. If you've had any Ommegang beers, you can imagine the yeast profile. Very drinkable and well-rounded.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2012 19:19:09 | More by angrybabboon

Converge

Alberta (Canada)

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

750ml C&C bottle poured into a 13.5oz tulip.

A - A big fluffy white head puffs up off the pour sitting upon a hazy, medium golden brew with trails of effervescent bubbles streaming towards the top feeding fluffy snow-white head. Excellent head retention with sticky lacing abound. Looks incredible.

S - Spicy, fruity, and yeasty; everything I would expect here. Lots of coriander and floral esters adding spice, as well as a bright fruitiness, giving me crisp green apples, fresh peaches, white grapes, and a touch of apricot. Finishes with honey sweetness, hay, and mouth-watering yeast.

T - Opens with light malt that quickly turns to spicy coriander and grassy hop notes lasting into the finish. Fruit comes in the finish as well, giving some white grape dryness and tart green apple with just a touch of sweetness to balance. Floral esters come in at the finish as well, providing a subtle bite. The yeast comes in here too, meshing with the fruity, estery, and spicy characters seamlessly, giving the profile a drinkable and approachable feel all around. Subtle honey sweetness helps balance the stronger flavors here as well.

M - Light body, but not at all watery. Carbonation is apparent, but very fine and smooth. The finish adds a touch of spice and gentle bite, from the floral qualities. Finishes with notable dryness, but nothing too strong.

D - Only my second saison after Unibroue's Blonde De Chambly, and this is worlds apart in many aspects, but still distinctly satisfying in the same way. Also, for a 7.70% ABV brew, the alcohol is masked flawlessly well, a little too well even... Overall a remarkable and tasty beer, and perfect for the hot summer months ahead.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 21:09:06 | More by Converge