Ommegang (Abbey Ale) - Brewery Ommegang

Bauzen

New York

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

It pours rich, hazy, and dark-copper color. The head dissipates quickly, but it's uniform and fluffy throughout.

Scent is a full bouquet of typical Belgian-style components. Toasted wheat, bananas, raisins, creamy caramel, a little licorice, and some semi-sweet malt.

Flavor follows the nose, but for an 8.5% ABV , this beer drinks much smoother and simpler than you'd imagine. I actually expected more bite, but there wasn't much. In fact, it's very easy on the palate. Each sip is flavorful and rewarding.

A fine alternative to beers that do their talking with nothing but sharp hops.

Serving type: on-tap

05-19-2013 22:43:47 | More by Bauzen

dar482

New York

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

The beer is a dark brown/red copper or Mahogany color, which in the light, becomes a dark rich ruby. Pouring it out, it has a huge 2-3 finger head that dissipates with much legs on the glass.

The aroma has some sweet dark fruitiness. A bright apple, Belgian yeast breadiness, sweet cherries and raisins. A delicious caramel and toffee. Very sweet big aroma.

The flavor follows through with huge caramel, then it becomes a complex array of fruit with banana, apple, raisin, cherry. Sweet breadiness.

The mouthfeel is nice and medium. Tiny bubbles that just washes delicately over the tongue. It leaves a wonderfully dry finish that’s slightly bitter. There’s a slight alcohol hint in there too.

A great great beer. Prefer it over its bigger Quad brother, Three Philosophers. I want to compare it slightly to Maudiate by Unibroue. I’d say the two are relatively close in quality, with Maudiate winning on more interesting flavors, the finish, and lack of alcohol taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 23:13:39 | More by dar482

T100Mark

California

3.86/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A 12 ounce bottle poured into a shaker pint glass.

Appearance - Rusty brownish color. Hazy. The head has an orange tint. A very interesting looking beer.

Smell - Figs. Bananas. Licorice. The beer smells a bit musty.

Taste - Grape skins. Cured olives. Burnt toast. Smokey. Slightly bitter. A nice balance between the malt and the hops.

Mouth - Slight bitterness. A little bit thin.

Overall - To me, this beer taste more like a German Bock. I liked this beer but I'm not sure what all the fuss is about.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 01:06:57 | More by T100Mark

curasowa

New York

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazy, dark copper color with a huge head that fades slowly with thick ribbons of lace.

Aroma: Fruity and floral, with lemon, sweet caramel syrup and hints of nutmeg. There's also a toasted wheat note floating about and that great Belgian yeast aroma.

Taste: Sweet and creamy upfront, with some nutty malt presence building as it goes. Lemon and some spicy hop resin show up for the finish, then a lingering cherry syrup taste over more nutty malt.

The Rest: An excellent, layered Dubble; lot of flavors coming and going keep it interesting and not a hint of boozyness.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2013 17:15:34 | More by curasowa

y2jrock60

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A- Dark brown with hints of copper. It's not completely opaque but it's definitely not clear. The head is off white and strong and remains until the last drop is gone. There was only moderate lacing, which is surprising since the head was so thick.

S- Very spicy and earthy upfront. There is also notes of caramel, light chocolate, and sweet malt.

T- There is a lot going on in the mouth with this one. It's on the sweet side with caramel and slightly roasted flavors. There are slight hints of roasted malt, but it's dominated by the other flavors. The Belgian yeast lends spicy and earthy characters that blend well with the sweetness. Even though there are a lot of flavors attacking the palate it's very well balanced.

M- Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation. It's also quite smooth on the tongue.

O- Even though I've been drinking craft beers for years, this is my first brew from Ommegang. I've always heard good things about their beer and finally had the opportunity to give it a try. I wasn't blown out of my socks by this beer, but it was really delicious. I have a bottle of Three Philosophers that I'm saving for the near future.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 22:57:29 | More by y2jrock60

BWED

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

750 ml into a tulip

A- Mahogany with some floaty yeast and a half finger tab head. Retention and lacing is nice. Head is a little creamy and wispy.

S- Dark fruit and a little caramel. Some spice adds complexity.

T- Caramelized sugar, with a slight booze taste. Very sweet. I was expecting a little more spice out of this however.

M- Medium body, medium carbonation, with a sweet finish.

O- Pretty good. The flavors are good, but I was expecting a little more complexity in the taste with all if the added spices.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 16:42:13 | More by BWED

jondeelee

Massachusetts

4.26/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Abbey Ale opens to a fruity, spicy, complex nose that in many ways defies classification. On the one hand are the nice Belgian notes of banana and clove, but these are joined by an extremely complex fruit and spice mélange, with pepper, orange peel, coriander, anise, fig, pear, white grape, and berry (especially strawberry) making strong appearances. There is furthermore a deep caramel runnel, with some vanilla and brown sugar making brief appearances, and a toast crust, biscuit, and Grape Nuts cereal undertone that blends extremely well with the powerful sugars. The caramel and berry notes are especially present overall, smelling like a heavenly dessert. As a whole, this is one of the better aromas you’ll find in a bottle, with an extremely potent and lasting, yet simultaneously delicate and nuanced profile, all of which begs to be sipped.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a huge banana and clove blast, this quickly joined by berry, orange, white grape, and pear fruit esters, as well as touches of brown sugar. Coriander and pepper add a bit of spiciness, with just a hint of anise at the edges. Caramel adds another layer of complexity, as does a bitter orange or grapefruit peel overtone, joined by touches of lemon zest. The underlying biscuit, wheat, toast crust, and cereal grain base adds a nice grounding effect, preventing the beer from turning into a sugary spice bomb. The aftertaste is largely a continuation of the main mouthful, with slightly more bitter hops and grapefruit rinds, and lingers for a decent while. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is extreme, the beer almost turning to foam in the mouth.

Overall, this is certainly one of the better dubbels on the market, and the delicate nature of the added spices brings lovely layers of complexity to what was already a very fine beer. The flavors aren’t overwhelming, but nicely balanced and cleverly subtle, providing new nuances with every mouthful. One of the beer’s only weak points is the massive level of carbonation; I’ve had champagnes with fewer bubbles than this, and the beer literally foams up in the mouth and fills the stomach with air. Had I a second bottle, I would let it sit open for a few minutes before taking my first sip. Other than that, you’re not going to find much better Trappist-style ale anywhere.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 19:16:57 | More by jondeelee

gr0g

New Jersey

4.34/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours coppery-brown and somewhat hazy. Prodigious head with great retention but leaves only sparse lacing. The aroma features some great Belgian aromatics: yeast, brown sugar, cinnamon-like spice note, dark fruit. This smells every bit as good as the great Trappist dubbels, if not better.

The flavor is right up there with the Trappist beers, too. Malty, fruity, and sweet, though drier than most Belgian strong dark ales of similar gravity. Everything that's present in the aroma is there in the flavor profile. Fruity esters evocative of apple, pear, raisin, and date. Subdued candi sugar. Some tartness comes in mid-palate and lasts though the finish with some of the spice-like flavors lingering too. As the beer warms, sweetness increases as tartness diminishes. In terms of mouthfeel: lively carbonation and a sticky character.

The relative ubiquity and value of Ommegang make it the rare beer that's both a good introduction to a style and one of the best representations of a style. This is a top-notch Abbey Dubbel, holding its own with Belgian offerings while being less expensive.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 22:49:50 | More by gr0g

jzeilinger

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - Pours a deep chestnut amber color with loads of active carbonation and a thick, frothy, cream colored head that stays one finger thick on top.

S - A fruity aroma that's yeasty, prunes, raisins, figs, cloves, light Belgian candy caramel.

T - Fruity and yeasty, follows the nose closely. Cloves, zesty Belgian spice, dark fruit (raisins, prunes, figs), and finishes with a coating of Belgian spice with subdued bitterness to round things out very nicely for a soft finish. The ABV is well hidden with very little warming on the way down in the back of the throat.

M - Medium body with soft, sprightly carbonation.

O - Very well done and a year round offering that brings a taste of Belgium from Cooperstown. I've passed this up on the shelf many times and that won't be the case next time when I'm in the Belgian mood.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2013 00:12:06 | More by jzeilinger

Utica_Brew_Review

New York

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Amazing red amber color. Beautiful. Great head also. Sweet caramel aroma. Sweet, chocolatey, toasted caramel taste with great complexity. Amazing flavor. Bit spicy. It pretty much covers every facet you want in a beer. This beer is just awesome. One of our favorites ever.

Serving type: on-tap

03-17-2013 18:54:58 | More by Utica_Brew_Review

Lordmuffinpants

California

4.26/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Beautiful pour, now mind you I used a frosted glass so the look was darn near perfect. Thick creamy head. A bit of yeast ( myson sniffed and said I smell bread)

This beer fights to be more then it is, a warm malty start, wonderful mouth feel then if you really let Itlinger there is a bit of a bitter at the end

A friend hand carried these from coopers town and I am so very glad he did

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 23:59:50 | More by Lordmuffinpants

MDDMD

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-brown red color with a nice beige head and great lacing

S-rich malty aroma with dark fruit, caramel, spices, hint if chocolate

T-raisins, figs, malt, caramel, chocolate, spices, slightly bitter and dry finish

F-medium body with moderate carbonation, smooth

O-delicious flavors and a beer to sip and enjoy

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 01:36:59 | More by MDDMD

Uncle_Jimmy

California

4.23/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance pours a hazy orangish brown with a finger and a half of fine peach colored head. the foam fades into big bubbles and then lingers on top. Some lacing

Aroma-fruit vanilla,cake or pastries for some reason, slight yeast funk carmel. One of the better smelling beers I have ever had. Butterscotch

taste- The fruity thing was right, hits of plum, fig and cherry, a little hit of spice (clove). Maybe even some Brandy/port flavors. A touch of alcoholic sweetness.

Mouthfeel- medium bodied a bit fizzy and syrupy but oh so good for this style. You feel the alcohol in your ears afterwards and this used to be boozier !

Overall- very well made beer, I really enjoyed it and I would order another. I would pair this with some mild cheeses, seasonal fruit and i think ultimately it would taste really good with a fine cut of red meat maybe in a peppercorn sauce.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 05:13:38 | More by Uncle_Jimmy

AmitC

Indiana

4.55/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle dated 09.29.2010 and best by date of 05.2013

Almost three years on it.

An extremely nice pour. Dark brown inside the glass with some ruby hues. A lot of cloudy and hazy appearance. Almost opaque. A super awesome almost three fingers thick chocolate cream whipped tan colored. Head stays really really well. Excellent Belgian lacing on the sides.

One of the stronger aromas. Fills the nose while sitting one feet away from me. Strong malt presence with strong hints of dry fruity esters. Some dates and figs. Slight caramel and coffee notes as well. Some alcohol warmth enters the nose as well. This has a rich and complex nose.

Taste is very much what the nose is all about. A lot of good malt balanced by dry fruit like taste. Some Belgian yeast flavor. A very complex taste indeed. Difficult to decipher yet. Finish is almost semi sweet to dry finish.

Mouth feel is almost full bodied. Some alcohol warmth. Moderate carbonation. Somewhat effervescent. Excellent smooth feel.

Fits the style to the tee. Makes me a fan of this rich and complex brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 01:13:46 | More by AmitC

chinchill

South Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Ommegang Abbey Ale served from a fresh 22oz bottle. Pours a clear mahogany color with a near perfect head. The aroma is mostly just malts but is quite good. Enjoyable if not compelling taste. Medium body and carbonation.
O: very good and recommended, but not up with the best Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 01:42:05 | More by chinchill

plaid75

New York

4.24/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

On draft at The Lark, East Northport, NY.

Poured a dark copper hue with a half finger foamy white cap. There was decent retention and lacing.

The smell featured an earthy yeast ester, balmy burnt caramel and tropical fruit.

The taste consisted of overall earthy tone highlighted by burnt candi sugar, hay, pineapple and pepper.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a very tasty and complex ale.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 04:03:53 | More by plaid75

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From: Binny's, Bloomingdale, IL
Date: None on bottle
Glass: St. Bernardus chalice

Ommegang's dubbel is quite nice, using the greater amount of malts and ethanol to its advantage to amplify the taste and aromatics of the beer. The caramel, dried fruits, and Belgian yeast influences are strong and effective at creating a very nice beer for fall, winter, and spring.

Pours a 1cm tall head of light tan to beige-colored foam, bubbles small to medium in size, with average retention levels. Head reduces to a thick ring around the glass and a few islands of foam atop the beer, leaving a modest amount of lacing (a few spots and lines, scattered randomly) along the sides of the glass. The body is a very dark chestnut brown, with light bringing out slightly "brighter" shades of crimson brown with a little orange around the sides. Carbonation is not visible, and the body is mostly (80%) opaque.

Aroma is of rich, brown and caramelized sugars, dried dates and figs, slight bread and pepper.

To me, the taste palette of this beer can be summarized by imagination: if you can, contemplate a lighter doppelbock that uses Belgian yeast. Front of palate features a mild nuttiness with caramel and toffee flavors and hints of dried dates and brown figs with a twist from the Belgian yeast. Mid-palate is richly malty, with caramel and toffee, dried fruit esters (date and fig) with a Belgian yeast touch, faint banana esters, and a bit of mineral quality. Back of palate picks up dried fruit (date, fig) esters, Belgian yeast secondary metabolites, light toffee, and mild ethanol. Aftertaste of dried dates and figs with a touch of ethanol and caramel-like malts.

Beer is medium-heavy in body, with medium-intensity carbonation that feels slightly aggressive and fizzy upon the palate. With time, though, this becomes comfortably foamy as the carbonation does its trick, softly moving across the palate. Closes rather dry, with moderate stickiness lingering across the palate.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2013 03:43:23 | More by falloutsnow

Chirpie

Kansas

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

I always saw this bottle on the shelf, and I've been a fan of the other offerings from Ommegang. While on the hunt for something new (to me) I finally decided to pick this one up.

Popped the quark (So easy compared to the awesomely stuck quarks on our local boulevard bottles) and poured it into a tulip.

Boom! Carb explosion as soon as the pour started in the glass. Large bubbles fill up the glass quickly and then dissipate. Dark auburn and a tan head.

The smell is a tad medicinal. Maybe some brown sugar, and definitely what I think of when I think of a stronger brown beer.

The taste was as nice as the nose. Strangely, it starts strong and finishes quite mild. A cereal character along with some fruitiness.

Solid!

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 01:57:22 | More by Chirpie

MattSweatshirt

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful red body filled with tons of carbonation flowing through it fueling a voluminous off-white/lightly tanned head.

The smell has a big caramel sweetness to it. Licorice. Fruity aromas abound.

Dark fruits, sweetness, bread, and an off putting metallic quality.

Lots of carbonation and a medium body. Smooth.

Good little dubbel.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 19:20:33 | More by MattSweatshirt

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a snifter.

A: Hazy dark red-brown with two-finger, off-white, creamy, fizzy head that lasted several minutes and left a nice film. Great lacing.

S: Vivid dates and banana bread. Wonderful.

T: Moderate to full sweetness and light bitterness. Dark fruit and spice. Light malty banana.

M: Medium bodied with lively carbonation. Really crisp. Slightly warm going down.

O: Awesome Dubbel. Phenomenal look and smell, and a taste and feel that makes it a pleasure to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 01:42:44 | More by SolipsismalCat

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a crystal clear ruby brown with a huge tightly bubbled beige head that persists forever. The aroma holds sweet malts of caramel and toffee with a huge expression of what a Belgian yeast strain can bring to a beer. Bubble gum, bready, Vegemite, with a hint of pepper round out the nose nicely. The flavor is sweet malts up front with brown sugar, toffee, and a hint of honey. Light dark fruits with all the yeastiness provides a great balance to the sweet malt. Medium body with a spirited level of carbonation and a sweet bubbly mouthfeel. This is a very nice brew, I'm glad I picked it up the other day.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 00:13:11 | More by johnnnniee

trxxpaxxs

New York

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2012 vintage (12oz. bottle)...

A: Pours a deep ruby, verging on brown, with about one and a half fingers of khaki colored head. The foam settles fairly quickly, and there is only minimal lacing as it drinks.

S: The nose is a mix of a lot of things. I get berries, banana bread, mild alcohol, dates, and mild clove. It's all over the place, but it smells great.

T: It starts out with berries, soaked bread, and mild banana. The middle brings on more caramel and clove. It is sweet and spicy, with good carbonation and a yeast note that isn't over the top.

M: Full bodied beer. This beer has serious weight. It's sweet to start, coats the palate, lightens up in the middle thanks to the carb, and finishes bright with notes of yeast, banana, bitters.

O: This is a solid brew. Dubbel's aren't my favorite style, but this is a drinker of a beer. I would return to this beer if I was in the dubbeldubble mood.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 22:15:14 | More by trxxpaxxs

dkeenan28

4.66/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

I am a huge fan of Ommegang, they have not made a beer that I hate. But out of their regular line of beers, this is perhaps my favorite. They have many others that taste better, but the Abbey blends flavor, drinkability and high alcohol together perfectly.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 20:38:56 | More by dkeenan28

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

4.98/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

poured into a small chalice.

Appearance - dark amber with 2-finger beautiful lacey head that is still clinging to the glass after the beer is gone. Looks like a crown sitting above this true King of Beers. the head adds a slight creamyness that is perfect.

Smell - a dubbel scent with a very unique strong twist. Dark fruit. some soapyness comes through. fantastic, couldn't decide whether to keep sniffing or finally dive in.

taste - Amazing. unique, but still very much a classic, IDEAL Dubbel Abbey Ale. Complex, rich. Date sugar, a touch of coriander, spicey alcohol, slight hoppy zing near the end to balance the strong malt. tiny dry finish, yet sweet. heaven. Rests heavy in the stomach, i wouldn't suggest drinking this if you've eaten too recently.

mouthfeel - silky. great.

overall - I was blown away by this beer. automatically without question on my top 5 now. couldn't believe I got this for a measly $2.29. and at 8.2%, I'm feeling great! Tastes like a $6 bottle beer to me! Time to go back and stock up on this gem.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 01:36:39 | More by TastyAdventure

patpbr

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Pours an amber brown color with an aggressive head.
S- sweet, fruit, and malty.
T- lots of malt complexity. Caramel, dark fruit, sweet, even chocolate. A taste of yeast and and a hint of spice.
M- Its rich with nice carbonation and a medium to full body.
O- This is a great dubbel. also affordable.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 02:14:09 | More by patpbr