Ommegang (Abbey Ale) - Brewery Ommegang

mjtiernan

New York

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured into a Chimay goblet. Packaged on 1/12/12.

A: Reddish brown body sits below almost two fingers of off-white head that settles to a perfect thin cap. Looking at what was coming out of the bottle, it seems somewhat lighter in color than other dubbels I’ve had recently. Spotty lacing.

S: Intense winter fruit. Mostly raisin with some plum and cherry. A generous amount of caramel. Vanilla and pepper.

T: Follows the aroma closely. The primary flavor is raisin with the caramel vanilla and pepper playing prominent supporting roles. There’s also some pleasant woodiness towards the back end. I sorta feel like the yeast isn't contributing as many flavors as I'm accustomed to.

M: Light to medium body. Feels less creamy than others I’ve had of this style and I miss it. Finish is strongly alcoholic and astringent. Carbonation is fine.

O: The mouthfeel knocks this down for me a bit, plus it didn’t seem as cohesive as the Westmalle or Rochefort. However, the fact that I’m even comparing it to those is impressive enough.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 03:18:48 | More by mjtiernan

BColton1

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-18-2013 01:35:47 | More by BColton1

swimnadd

California

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-17-2013 17:31:34 | More by swimnadd

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

4.34/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hadn't had this in years and when I saw it offered as a single bottle at Top Hops, I picked it up hoping that it would be just as enjoyable as the last time I had this. Sure enough, it was and just like the head and carbonation, this beer held its own over the long haul. I didn't realize that Ommegang was part of the Duvel family, but given how good they are at brewing Belgian-style beers, I can see why they'd want the upstate New York brewer in their portfolio!

Loved the pour to this, even from a 12 oz. bottle. The hue was a cross between ruby and plum with a thick head that almost looked solid, lacing that slowly slid down the sides of my pint glass, and quite a bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle that didn't need to be disturbed. Candied sugar, booze, and dark fruits were all over the aroma and strongly repeated in the mouthfeel. I couldn't taste the spice that the Alstrom brothers found here but the mouthfeel was a bit lighter than the aroma was, as fruits like apple and pear also made their way in. This felt slick too and never too heavy or terribly malty, even though the body was there from start to finish. The back had just a hint of dark bread and cherry that slowly faded away, leaving a nice coating of booze and dark fruit that lingered for quite some time.

Amazingly, this tasted less strong than it smelled and that was a testament to the strength of this beer. It's easy to kick back with a few of these at once, even though the alcohol would become apparent after a short while. The oily coating that this left behind on my mouth was so subtle and slick that I could have gotten hooked on that alone but there's a good reason why this has so many positive reviews on here - this was great from start to finish and worthy of its lofty rating on here. A must-try for any Belgian beer lover and those who doubt that an American-brewed offering can match up with overseas counterparts.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2013 08:09:12 | More by JerzDevl2000

Jersh67

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-16-2013 22:17:26 | More by Jersh67

GMUPatriot_inKansas

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-15-2013 23:57:15 | More by GMUPatriot_inKansas

Skyjmpr

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%

06-15-2013 23:04:34 | More by Skyjmpr

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Chestnut; small head, light lacing

Aroma: Candy sugar; belgian yeast; toffee; dried fruit; some hints of apple; smells delicious

Taste: Interesting flavor, a cross between an abbey ale and apple cider; apple flavor dominates the start and moves through the mid with hoppy bite showing up; finishes semi-sweet and nutty

Remarks: Excellent flavor overall, but not what I expected; tasty though.

Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 21:51:53 | More by IchLiebeBier

Azpittil57

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-15-2013 19:45:17 | More by Azpittil57

bluffpoint

New York

1.75/5  rDev -58%

06-15-2013 19:11:44 | More by bluffpoint

Artjsantos

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-15-2013 12:05:27 | More by Artjsantos

Desmodoc

Georgia

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-14-2013 14:53:04 | More by Desmodoc

VictorWisc

Massachusetts

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

06-14-2013 07:35:55 | More by VictorWisc

reitzbrewing

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

06-13-2013 02:32:38 | More by reitzbrewing

VDODSON

North Dakota

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%

06-12-2013 19:53:21 | More by VDODSON

dbossman

Nebraska

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-11-2013 21:02:25 | More by dbossman

freebirdbm14

New York

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%

06-11-2013 18:35:39 | More by freebirdbm14

utopiajane

New York

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

The Abbey Ale pours a handsome dark copper and has a sweet malty nose with a pleasant bursting of citrus. It’s loosely carbonated and has 2 fingers head with excellent retention. Lots of foam hugging the glass, lingering sweetness on the palate. This beer has full body and a hint of chocolate. . Ommegang does this dubbel perfectly.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 12:12:02 | More by utopiajane

andy1701

Florida

3/5  rDev -28.1%

06-10-2013 22:34:47 | More by andy1701

tehmogue

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-10-2013 14:43:42 | More by tehmogue

mcaulifww

Virginia

4/5  rDev -4.1%

06-10-2013 13:05:37 | More by mcaulifww

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into signature tulip glass, bottled on 10/10/2012. Pours very hazy and cloudy deep ruby red color with a nice 2-3 finger dense and fluffy khaki head with great retention, that reduces to a small cap that lingers. Nice foamy lacing clings on the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big raisin, prune, apple, fig, molasses, banana, brown bread, clove, light pepper, floral, candi sugar, and yeast earthiness. Damn nice aromas with great balance and complexity of malt and fruity/spicy yeast notes; with good strength. Taste of raisin, apple, prune, fig, molasses, toast, banana, candi sugar, clove, floral, light pepper, light chocolate, bread, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of light and dark fruits, molasses, toast, banana, candi sugar, light clove, floral, bread, and yeast earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast ester flavors; with moderate malt balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a creamy and fairly slick mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent Dubbel style. Great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy ester notes with malt balance; and very smooth to drink. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 04:24:25 | More by superspak

backphish

Texas

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-10-2013 01:09:38 | More by backphish

Resuin

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-10-2013 00:42:28 | More by Resuin

zrab11

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -10.1%

06-09-2013 16:53:28 | More by zrab11