Ommegang (Abbey Ale) - Brewery Ommegang

aracauna

Georgia

3.53/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark, cloudy brown body with an airy, faded khaki head. The aroma is surprisingly whiskey-like. Caramel and toffee ride over a light burn of alcohol. The carbonation is cottony but not too much so. There's a very faint acidity underneath the malt.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2002 23:01:42 | More by aracauna

mjohn27603

Michigan

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml corked bottle. Carbonation caused beer to overflow out of bottle upon opening. Huge head developed in glass. Dark amber in color. Aroma of suagary caramel, molasses, and rum cake. First sip indicates presence of alcohol, peppery flavor, a little on the dry side. Some burnt and roasted flavors. A little on the thin side for what I would like out of a dubbel. Chewing the beer reveals a little banana flavor. Although I rated them the same I enjoy the aroma a little more than the taste. $4.22/bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2002 19:23:05 | More by mjohn27603

Lupe

New York

3.78/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours hazy with a reddish amber color. Decent beige head and nice lace, but you have to pour a little harder to get the head going. Huge malt aroma with lots of different scents that come at you: bubble gum, dark fruit, candy, burnt toffee, licorice, pepper, and spice. Full body with a creamy mouthfeel. Rich flavor that is alot like the aroma. Starts sweet with hints of banana and candy, then comes some licorice and spice. Finishes dry with some alcohol. Tends to be a bit cloying at times and could do with some more balance. Definitly a sipping brew to end the night with.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2002 10:16:42 | More by Lupe

doho95fu

California

4.72/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a great beer. The bottle alone is cool - makes it look like they have been around alot longer than they have. The beer is a cherry brown and has a good head and moderate lacing. The smell and taste bring one word to mind for me - spice. It was a mix of molasses, nutmeg and lemon, some nuttiness too. Really, based on taste alone this beer cannot dissappoint. For an ABV of 8.5% there is no alcohol burn at all. Very drinkable as well.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2002 10:30:01 | More by doho95fu

Gusler

Arizona

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

The pour an opaque dark cherry red, the head adequate, but dissipates quickly, leaving skimpy lace. "Ah! That nose", malt, bubble gummy, sweet, plummish, quite delectable. Front is sweet, malt laden, the top is moderate, the finish parched, alcohol bitter, masterfully hopped, intensely acidic, but a most drinkable beer that deserves a sample. Ranks #224 on my current 1000 beer master list.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2002 18:11:12 | More by Gusler

MaineBeerMan

Maine

4.78/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Dark, nearly opaque brown beer with a huge merangue like head of bubbles. Aroma was very sweet, loaded with malt and raisins, prunes and molasses.
Flavor is amazing, every sip you dicover a new hint of background flavor lurking in the huge malt that dominates. Hints of raisins, molasses, bitter chocolate, banana, yeast, prunes, the list goes on and on. Very big creamy mouthfeel with a good amount of carbonation. This is a great beer all around and an exceptional value, local price is only $3.99 for a 750 ml. magnum. If you haven't tried this beer, I say you should.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2002 23:24:50 | More by MaineBeerMan

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I first had Ommegang about 4 or 5 years ago. At that time, I thought it was good, but didn't fully appreciate it. Since then, I've grown to believe that this is one of the best values around. The beer is beautiful - ruby-brown color with a tan, wispy head that lasts to the bottom of the glass. The aroma is spice, berries and a hint of alcohol. Taste is spice and berries, balanced with a terrific malt backbone. This is a world class beer for a bargain price.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2002 15:01:36 | More by Suds

BeerAngel

Texas

3.85/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a hazy dark choccolaty color with a tan 2 finger head. The smell is that of banana, yeast, and alcohol. The taste starts off with a tad of chocolate and fruit and tapers into a bread-like taste and finishes with a hint of sweet banana. It is a medium bodied beer that finishes slightly dry. Pretty good brew but not a session beer. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2002 17:14:48 | More by BeerAngel

StevieW

Florida

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Murky brown color, thick, bubbly tan head. Nice rich smells of ripe fruits, candied apples, bananas and spices. Taste was a very rich deep combination of raosted fruits, plums, berries, yeasty belgian goodness. Nice banana flavor, lots of sweet carmel malts. Finish has a spicy peppery snap to it. Flavors seem to dull as the bottle warms, into a sweet syrupy brown sugar taste with a faint port like taste. Very complex, drinkable and very memorable experience.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2002 17:15:57 | More by StevieW

DerKaiser

California

3.83/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

750ml. bottle, corked and caged.

This tarnished copper colored brew caps itself with a medium (finger and a half) sized head. Wow, the smell is evident at least 18-inches from the nose. And what a smell! Bananas Foster hits the nail on the head (if you're familiar with that dessert).

Taste: again bananas, thick sugars, and mild spices present themselves immediately to the tongue. If it ended there I'd be happy, but I keep picking up an annoyingly bitter finish that keeps me from giving this beer as high of rating as I'd like to. Still, at $5 a bottle, I'll be back.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2002 22:20:06 | More by DerKaiser

mzwolinski

California

4.58/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Darkish brown with a head which starts out thick and foamy, settling down to a thin creamy top.

Aroma: A lot goes on here as the beer warms. As the bottle indicates, the aroma has a somewhat burgundy-like quality. Sweet malt, alcohol, pepper and ripe fruit are also detectable.

Taste: Sweet malt with a slight hint of cloves. Fruity flavors come in mid-palate, perhaps plum or licorice. Peppery finish, slightly dry.

Mouthfeel: medium-full body

Overall: A very complex beer. Fun to try at different degrees of warmth. The flavor just won't stand still! Very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2002 07:25:10 | More by mzwolinski

whit

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours burgundy brown with a creamy tan head that hangs around. Beautiful fruity aroma with hints of chocolate. Rich, thick malty flavor with a hint of spice; the beer has an alcoholic warmth going down. Wow! Now this is a damn beer! Bought this beer because I heard about it on Beeradvocate.com. That's why this site exists.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2002 12:58:26 | More by whit

Longstaff

Massachusetts

2.75/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A great looking Belgian dubbel which looked dark and delicious with a nice creamy head, but I think the high temperature fermentation aromas and flavors seem to overpower. Smells like bananas dipped in chocolate, but the banana is so overwhelming that it smells artificial. The alcohol bite seems to mix well with the banana flavors but it still was hard to drink for me until I had finished about 3/4 of the glass. Then my mouth an tounge were so burnt out that I would not have tasted anything. Not my favorite Ommegang.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2002 06:28:52 | More by Longstaff

bditty187

Nebraska

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Rich chocolate brown hue with hints of auburn, great depth on the eye, the light beige head easily reached a multiple finger in height, it did not budge. Unyielding, cantankerous head retention, it is a very impressive beer visually. The nose does wonderful things to me, the first time I tried this dandy I was dumbfounded at its complexity and beauty. Bubblegum and marshmallows, alcohol, spice, light toffee-chocolate kisses, earthy-horsey-yeastiness, hints of green apple, and distant but solid maltiness. The potency is modest but the invitation is direct and simple, “drink me you fool!” The maltiness on the palate is more upfront that I remembered, I’d say this is a good thing. In the middle, on the tongue, is a spicy, apple tartness, followed by toffee and a trace of chocolate. The finish is quickly sweet with dashes of alcohol and spice, which is rubbed out by more chocolate. This beer is sweet on the palate yet dry. Throughout the flavor profile traditional earthy flavors mingle gracefully. This is on of my favorite “Belgium’s,” it is amazingly complex and well crafted. Medium-full body, modest carbonation that is natural and pleasing. The mouthfeel is very pleasurable and welcoming. Tremendously drinkable. This is a World Class Belgium Strong Dark Ale, brewed in New York! Highly Recommended!

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2002 14:14:04 | More by bditty187

Murph

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark ruby/garnet color with a thick light brown head that slowly settles out and leaves a nice clinging lace. The smell is extremely malty with some chocolate nuttiness mixed in there as well as some subtle dark fruit presence. Great creamy maltiness opens up the brew before going through some fruity tones with some banana and possibly some plums in there. The rbew then mellows quite a bit and goes to a nice smooth and sweet chocolate character which fades into some nuttiness and then finally to a slightly lingering spicy alcohol flavor than warms through and through. The smoothness of this brew makes it subtle flavors more noticeable and makes the beer that much more drinkable, it is slightly dry for a beer that starts so sweet and not as sticky or cloying as would be expected. This is a great brew overall.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2002 22:20:12 | More by Murph

BillyBrew

Maine

4.13/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Impending Drak-brown colour with a voluminous, creamy head that slides into a heavy, sprawling lace. Tart, fruity apples fill the nose with a heavy, malty sweetness and sugary goodness, teriffically full and complex. Tastes are deep and complex. Apples and various fleshy fruits and strong, sweet malts dominate. rich and smooth medium body with sweet and dry finish.

This brew is powerfull all over. I dig the look and aroma. I am put off by the taste. Too much for me, but I can appreciate its complexity. Well worth the effort to try this brew. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2002 21:27:15 | More by BillyBrew

Bighuge

Minnesota

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

This beer is a murky looking dark burgandy in color. A slight chocolate brown head recedes to just an edging within a minute. The aroma is alcoholic and estery. Also some wood notes on the nose. This is a solid tasting Belgian brew. Very vinous and woody. Dark fruits play a huge role. Surprisingly, there is little to note about an alcohol presence. There's a raw herbalness present also. Body is pretty light. Somewhere between light and medium bodied. Pretty nice brew. Personally think it is better than the Allagash Dubbel Reserve.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2002 21:55:14 | More by Bighuge

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Hazy, reddish amber in color with a big fluffy head. The aroma is quite distinct: lightly candyish, dryish dark fruit, slightly burnt toffee, light spice with a bit of honey, and maybe, licorice. The carbonation level is high, but very fine, and gives a creamy mouthfeel. The flavor is bold, offering flavors similar to the aroma. It starts with sweetish flavors, honey and caramel, then moves into a darker licorice and spice as it crosses the tongue, finally drying out nicely in the finish. I find this beer (and all of their beers) age nicely, offering a tighter presentation of its flavors at around a year.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2002 12:40:04 | More by NeroFiddled

Thrasher

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark, approaching red, with mild head and sweet candy aroma. This is a very sweet beer, with caramel maltiness really jacked up and flavors of sweet fruit. Hints of banana, licorice, and light spices shuffle up the malty sweetness a bit. At the bottom of the brew is a robust, peppery, hearty dark ale that is truly delectable and lends the authentic dubbel flavor, and makes this a great beer for a meat dinner. However it is not quite strong enough to break out through the candy and fruit qualities to make a truly exceptional beer. A lengthy cellaring time could balance it a little better, but I suspect it would just emphasize the overwhemingly sweet port-like candy qualities. Still a remarkably tasty beer, and an exceptional effort for a US brewer.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2002 16:25:28 | More by Thrasher

BeerBob

Nebraska

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Big 750 ml bottle with a formidable cork bound with a wire basket. Ommegang abbey ale, with an alcohol by volume of 8.5 %, has the sweet taste of prune, raisin and caramel plum mixed with pleasing floral hops. The first time I had a bottle of Ommegang, I recalled a Greek wine by Achaia Clauss, called Mavrodafni. The taste is strikingly simular to Mavrodafni, and the alcohol by volume is almost identical.

Ommegang abbey ale a Belgium Dubbel, a double fermentation ale, pours with with carbonation to spare. Nothing cloy here, all is in harmony and chanting the mantra... Ommegang... Ommegang... Ommegang...

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2002 19:32:20 | More by BeerBob

goindownsouth

South Carolina

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

This is a very interesting brew. The 25oz. bottle exudes a very citrus-spice aroma. The color is a dark amber, but still translucent. The forst sip tells you that this is something out of the ordinary. An earlier poster said this would be THE beer if he only had one to drink for the rest of his life...I would have to try it again to be sure, but I would try it again! Prost!

Serving type: bottle

07-06-2002 03:33:33 | More by goindownsouth

Jason

Massachusetts

4.78/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz capped bottle. Big foaming action as soon as the crown was cracked. Higher levels of carbonation hold the lace together as the hazy maroon amber colour throws a bubble here and there. Alcohol soaked candied fruit, mild clove, hint of anise, caramel and mild citric peel in the aroma. Dry palate with a big crisp high level of carbonation, spicy on the tongue with clove, anise and hints of black pepper. Fruity with ripe tropical fruit, faint metallic earthy flavours bug the taste buds. Powdery yeast in the nearly bone dry finish makes me want to take another sip. Esters are there but not overwhelming. To tell the truth, I prefer this beer out of the corked 750 ml bottle. I think it is slightly more complex from the 12 oz capped bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2002 19:15:30 | More by Jason

Jordan

California

5/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Perfection!

Profound belgian-style characteristics. Very rich and intricate flavor, clove, bannana, caramel, alcohals & bitters. Dark red-copper, very active carbonation and an aggitated head. Find the corked bottle. Drink slowly, deeply, enjoy. This is a living beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-24-2002 00:26:55 | More by Jordan

tigerpaws

South Carolina

4.93/5  rDev +18.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Nirvana!!!!!...Deep dark color, great nose it's there but not overwhelming. Can feel it as u take a sip and goes down so smooth. The alcohol is hidden well but it's there, I could feel the buzz after two 22 oz. bottles. If I had to pick one beer to drink for the rest of my life this would be the BEER. Since my state has some very stupid laws I can't get it here, but I will be in search of................CHEERS

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2002 09:13:21 | More by tigerpaws

frank4sail

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Fruity/yeasty nose with flowery overtones. Deep rich amber look with a lasting thick light orange head. Wonderful smell. Lots of very fine bubbles of carbonation. The original taste is very fruity of tart plum and raisin then is followed by a smooth slightly bitter finish. There is also an alcohol warmth in the finish. When I first tried his (several years ago) I did not have a developed enough taste to appreciate the complexity this beer portrays. Now I see (and taste) the tartness is balenced wonderfully by the smooth medium malt body. This is a great example of American Craftmanship.

PS.... You are not drunk (well maybe buzzed) but OMMEGANG is not written in a straight line on the label..

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2002 19:21:56 | More by frank4sail