Ommegang (Abbey Ale) - Brewery Ommegang

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

Viking

Indiana

3.4/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Deep reddish-amber color, with a thick, creamy head. Head stays around and lasts longer than the beer itself! Rich aroma that reminds me too much of a red wine (I'm not a wine fan). Notes of malt and yeast keep the smell from being a turn-off. Taste is a bit better than the aroma, with the wine-like taste less pronounced than the smell. Nice creamy and oily mouthfeel adds to the experience, but not enough to make this a truly enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2002 10:34:30 | More by Viking

ADR

Pennsylvania

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

Semi-transparent cocoa color, relatively mild charge to the head, settles to a thin yellow skin. Deep smell, a little like burgundy with the yeasty sense of warm weather in the country. Very thick and impressive initial taste, notes of raisin and grape. Trace of tartness, but it doesn't run out of control. Textured middle, estery and fluffy. Satisfying and semi-coating mouthfeel, trace of a brandy quality. Great finish, leaves a good impression at the back of the throat. A solid, solid brew from Cooperstown, NY.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2002 07:48:47 | More by ADR

beerluvr

New Jersey

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

"This is an American Mirco-brew?" is what you'll be asking yourself after you drink this! This pours with a firm off-white head, great garnet/reddish color, nose is fruity & yeasty...very Belgian. The fruity/yeastiness carries thru the malts in this superb take on a Belgian Abbey ale, finishes nice with a subtle hoppiness & a hint of the alcohol contained within. This is a must-try!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2002 18:09:28 | More by beerluvr

inebrius

Michigan

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

Deep amber. Apple-banana nose. Big malt profile with a fruity-ester tang. This brew could use a touch of bittering hops or spice to balance the almost cloying sweet malt. Nevertheless a fine beverage from our friends at Ommegang.

Cheers to frank4sail for the sample.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2002 17:26:58 | More by inebrius

mophie

Delaware

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

I am just now discovering Belgian dubbels, so I really do not have much to compare this to. That being said, I really like this beer. Beautiful ruby appearance, with a nice tan head that remains throughout. The smell reminds me of fresh baked brown bread, with some honey and butter on it. The taste is malty sweet, but not overly so. It's like bread in a glass. I really want to explore Belgian dubbels now!

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2002 23:51:00 | More by mophie

hooligan

Florida

2.23/5  rDev -46.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 1

Tasted/reviewed 02/06/02
The bottles that I have gotten recently have been much heavier on the sweetness, almost cloying and sickning... with heavy toffee and honey notes, leaving an overly sweet taste and a stickyness in your mouth. I am not really pleased with this beer anymore, don't know if it is my tastebuds or the beer, but it really is too sweet for me as of late...

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2002 22:36:04 | More by hooligan

mickeymac

California

4.22/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

It is a bargain compared to real Belgians, but it is lacking a bit of the flavor that keeps me coming back to Belgians. I found the fruity flavor to be a bit overwhelming. It does look great, with its dark reddish-brown color. I'll head for the Belgians when I'm flush and search out the Ommegang at the end of the pay period.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2002 21:33:28 | More by mickeymac

Bierman9

New Hampshire

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

Has a wonderful look: Deep, dark-brown color with some ruby, and a huge, rocky, tan head. Lacing in the glass is quite nice too. Aroma is semi-sweet with dark-fruit coming through. Body is medium to full, with an ever-so-slight carbonation-roughness on the tongue, and a slight foamy feel as well. Combo of malt, dark- and tropical-fruit flavors abound. Nice stuff.... Skol!!

overall: 4.35
appearance: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4.5

28

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2002 14:39:03 | More by Bierman9

Brent

Kentucky

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

Dead-on for the Belgian style. Very wine-like, and the description "burgundian" on the label is apt. A little fizzy, even for a bottle conditioned beer, but not so much as to be distracting. Quite fruity, and further toward the sweet end of the scale than average, in a heavy-handed way. Still, great depth and complexity, overall.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2002 00:43:24 | More by Brent

mmthompson33

Kansas

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

As good as some of the best Belgian beers, with a unique flavor. A great expansion of the classic 'dubbel'.

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2001 23:58:10 | More by mmthompson33

John

New York

4.8/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A superbly rich, fruity, spicy, brew. Sip this one by itself, with Belgian chocolate, or pair with food instead of red wine.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2001 16:28:59 | More by John

DrDocRudge

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -16.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A bit too yeasty for my palate, with too much of an alcohol presence. If you want a great American Dubbel, try Flying Fish Dubbel. Now that beer will knock your socks off!!!

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2001 11:59:25 | More by DrDocRudge

Todd

Massachusetts

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

Presentation: A beautiful 750ml. bottle with tips on pouring, drinking, and where to find the brewery. The front label also had a brief, but revealing. description of the liquid within. "Ommegang is a Belgian-style Abbey Ale- top fermented and bottle conditioned, yielding a rich, fruity, aromatic, burgundian brew."

Appearance: Rich and dark, with an extremely healthy head comprised of tiny bubbles.

Smell: Malty and sweet with hints of caramelized sugars and honey. Slightly fruity and deep to the nose.

Taste: Complex malt richness and fruit flavours, with hints of spice and a smooth body of dark sweetness. Semi-champagne style carbonation led to it finishing slightly dry and yet again ... more sweetness.

Notes: This is a victory for American Belgian Ale lovers. With a price point of about $5 for a 750ml. bottle, as opposed to the typical $7-$12 for imports, it makes for a very affordable treat.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-1998 00:00:01 | More by Todd