Ommegang (Abbey Ale) - Brewery Ommegang

fx20736

New York

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

poured from a 750ml bottle into a chalice, served cool.

Chestnut Brown with baclit Ochre supports a light Khaki head that fades quickly and leaves little lacing.

Aroma of Brown Bread, molasses and cloves.

mouthfeel is medium and spritzy.

Taste; plums and booze stand out. Soy Sauce, toasted rye bread.

Notes; a mere description of this beer cannot begin to give justice to it. Hands down one of the best beers I have ever tasted. This is toe curlingly good.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 19:06:18 | More by fx20736

hardy008

Minnesota

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

Pours a mahogany color with a 3 finger foamy tan head with good retention and lacing. The aroma has pears, brown sugar, caramel, cherries, yeast, and pepper.

Tastes just like it smells. Sweet flavor with pears, brown sugar, caramel, cherries, yeast, and pepper. No bitterness for balance, but I didn't expect it in this beer, and quite frankly, it isn't needed.

Medium to full bodied with soft carbonation. Feels somewhat creamy. This beer is so well made, it is hard to criticize anything about it.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 03:32:19 | More by hardy008

StonedTrippin

Colorado

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

a lovely american dubbel. it pours a rich cherrywood color with a two inch tan head that is fizzy and lasting. the nose is quite yeasty, spiced, and a little sugary like candy. there is a ton of fruit in the flavor, dried and a little sweet, but totally balanced by the yeast, the bubbles, and the alcohol. this is a really fun brew, elegant and sassy. finish is sweet but quick, the yeast lasts on the tongue for a bit. this has infinite culinary potential. mouthfeel is perhaps even a little overcarbonated, its so bubbly i cant always taste every bit of it. it doesnt settle down at all either. medium body and way dinkable for over 8% abv. like all ommegang beers, this is something special.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2012 01:28:58 | More by StonedTrippin

bmwats

Louisiana

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a chalice.

A: Dark brown. Pours about a 1 finger, frothy, brown-white head. Disintegrates slowly leaving a blanket of foam, and a thick beer ring. Thick, substantial, thorough lacing. Head renews fully with each pour.

D: White bread, fresh tea, and honey.

T: Papery malt with a memory of raisin and honey.

M: Light feel disguises the high alcohol content. A hint of sweetness just lingers in the upper reaches of the palette, somewhere beyond reach.

D: Sip and enjoy.

Atmosphere is great. Frothy head and thick lacing. Nose is full, but a basic combination of bready malt and tea leaves. Flavor is again basic, but well done. Light malt with pungent sweetness of raisin with a stronger tone of honey. Light but full. Overall, this is a really good quaff.

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2012 03:50:31 | More by bmwats

Beer_Runner

3.93/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

No bottling date on the label of the bottle.

A: A slow pour into a standard pint glass yielded a huge head that filled almost three-quarters of the glass. This head was a lighter shade of tan and very foamy. After a few minutes the head dissipated to about a quarter-finger and lasted throughout the duration, but did not leave any lacing. The beer was a medium brown color with a slight golden hue. It was dark but still translucent with only a small amount of light able to pass through.

S: The aroma consisted of sweet fruit like candied pair and plums, and these combined with a mild Belgian yeast funk and some sweet bread and sweet malted barley aromas.

T: The taste began with malted barley sweetness and some candied fruit along with a little Belgian yeast funk. This was balanced by some licorice and some bitter chocolate notes and some slightly spice hops and just a little bit of alcohol bite.

M: The body was medium-heavy, with a medium amount of carbonation; and, it was also very smooth.

O: This was a very good Belgian double. It had plenty of sweetness and complexity with its fruit and licorice notes; and, the Belgian yeast funk is fairly restrained and remained closer to bread or biscuit with only a bit of funk. I might not go out of my way for this beer, but it was a very enjoyable beer anyway.

Serving type: bottle

10-18-2012 00:34:55 | More by Beer_Runner

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Frothy head in a snifter. Probably 2 inches in total. Dark brown-maroon in hue with decent lacing as I recall.

Smell: Dark fruit and yeast. Nice balance.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Raisins and licorice. Some woody notes. Not overly spiced, but a bit peppery. Excellent rosin mouthfeel that is not too sticky. Very full-bodied.

Overall Drinkability: I've heard a lot of hype about this beer, and I was a bit disappointed. That said, it was stil a very, very good beer. Not a world-changing beer, but I highly recommend it.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2012 22:05:14 | More by tjsdomer2

NarrowG8

4.3/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in a tulip glass

A - Dark Chocolate w/ slight amber appearance when help up to light.

S - Banana, Clove, Bread, Alcohol

T - Banana bread, nutty

M - smooth, foamy, creamy

O - Great dubbel, strong with great flavor and feeling good

I like this offering but not the best Ommegang has to offer and personally would choose Allagash's Dubbel or a true Belgian or from Ommegang: Hennepin or Rare Vos. Personal fav = Rare Vos !

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2012 00:44:02 | More by NarrowG8

tviz33

New York

4.15/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1 Pt 9.4 oz bottle to Notorious BIG pint glass

A- Pours a medium red/brown body with a giant tan head. Head quickly settles to a thin foam cap

S- Dark fruits, sweet malts, and a bit of hops hit the nose all at once. Smells pretty good, but nothing outstanding.

T- Right along the same lines as the smell but intensified. I'm getting a bit of chocolate and spicy yeast here as well.

M- This beer is firing on all cylinders here. Smooth, thick, and biting all at once.

O- Another great Ommegang offering. Right up there behind Three Philosophers for me.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 02:52:44 | More by tviz33

Mavigo

Michigan

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

Adding a little bit to my earlier review, tasting from a tulip

A: A nice cloudy, reddish-brown with a nice glow, with 1/4 in head, good amount of caramel lacing

S: Could pick up the fruit, spices, sugars, very aromatic

T: Dark and spicy - Very good, very easy to drink, could taste the alcohol but not over bearing, could tastes the spices, hops, sugars, malts, very good

M: Carbonated, rich boldness, could pick up on the alcohol but not overbearing, a great sipping beer, has an aftertaste, a complex aftertaste, its not over bearing, its interesting, its excellent

O: This is a great beer, great great flavor, its smooth, its relaxing, its complex, its a very enjoyable beer, its awesome,

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 04:12:08 | More by Mavigo

JustininKansasCity

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

This beer was fantastic! It was a substitution as I was really looking for a Trippel that evening and the liquor store didn't have any in-stock.

Picked up the big bottle for a reasonable $7? $8? something like that and was just blown away by the depth and richness of this brew. Creamy, carmely (I know that's not a word but it should be) with a hint of some kind of chocolate or coffee or something... just incredible.

I HIGHLY recommend this beer to anyone who enjoys a malty flavored brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 14:47:38 | More by JustininKansasCity

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed 9/19/12

Appearance: Hazy brown with some dark amber - pours with a big, rocky beige head, fades to a little cap, leaves some nice streaks of lacing

Smell: Dark and spicy - Ommegang's generally pleasant Belgian yeast strain, lightly spicy, some faint banana esters, and some clove - cooked, caramelized malts - some dark fruits like figs and raisins - some apple, some candi sugar, and some alcohol

Taste: A solid blend of dark fruits and malts - dark fruits like figs, raisins, prunes are quite prominent - spicy yeast, with some clove and light phenols - cooked, caramelized malts, with some caramel sweetness and an overall spice cake-like flavor - alcohol is pretty obvious

Mouthfeel: Nearly full bodied, creamy, nicely carbonated, with some alcohol heat

Overall: Exceeds expectations

I drank this a few years ago and was memorably not impressed. I guess I have gained an appreciation for Ommegang in general, for I now think this is pretty good. It's not as "Belgian" as some examples of this style, but sometimes this is a good thing. This is pretty clean and drinkable, although it is a bit boozy.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2012 05:26:11 | More by angrybabboon

ubenumber2

Arkansas

4.73/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Great pour , nice head , lacing is there. The smell is wonderful. Taste is outstanding the malt and spices really come through and blend together perfect and the feel is great , a dry finish just tops this beer off. This is one of my new favorites , served from a bottle

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2012 21:39:50 | More by ubenumber2

MadScientist

New York

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

A: A slightly hazy dark copper with a reddish hue. The off-white head of creamy bubble quickly settles to a a ring and a thin cap of bubbles. The head should be fuller and longer lasting for the style and clarity is optional.

S: Light caramel and cocoa malt notes blend with a soft alcohol. Dark fruit aromas grow in strength as the beer warms, mostly raisins and prunes. There is a slight spicy spicy aroma and mild apple esters from the yeast also show as it warms.

T: Caramel, cocoa, raisins and prunes provided the dominate aromas with moderate clove-like spice. There is a moderate hops bitterness and no hops flavors. The balance is spicy and malty but drying out to an off-dry finish with lingering bitterness and spice.

M: Medium full bodied with high carbonation. There is substantial belly warming alcohol with out being hot.

O: A rich complex Dubbel with dark fruit, malt and spice running the show. Year ago this Ommegang beer introduced me to the world of flavorful beers with layers of flavor ultimately saving me from a life of wine snobbery.

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 01:51:20 | More by MadScientist

BrownAleMale

Wisconsin

3.58/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bomber bottle poured into a Gulden Draak tulip glass

Appearance- A orangish yellow in color with some haziness. 1 finger white head that dissipates somewhat and leaves a very small amount of lacing.

Smell- Lots of fruit with some floral hops.

Taste- Apple and banana with a very small tar hop finish.

Mouthfeel- Light body but not watery, good carbonation and very drinkable.

Overall- Very well done for the style.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2012 18:16:49 | More by BrownAleMale

match1112

Illinois

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

a: think liquid caramel with a generous two finger head that's made up of thousands of quick moving bubbles.

s: caramel, spice and dark fruits like figs, raisins and plums soaked in booze.

t: sweet and spicy. tons of caramel malts and spices like corriander and pepper maybe a little star of anise.

m: medium body, very well carbonated, you can feel the bubbles liven up the taste buds. some burn from the pepper on the back of my tongue. a dry finish that leaves you wanting another sip.

o: nice dubbel, glad i finally took the time to enjoy a bottle out of the glass instead of drinkin out of 12oz bottles.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 01:22:40 | More by match1112

BigTuna

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

A great beer! Smell is malty, with hints of caramel, banana and nuts; a bit spicy too, typical of many Belgians. Tastes boozy yet smooth. I get dark fruits, but also orange, caramel, and spices. Carbonation mellows as the beer warms. Overall, a superb dubbel brewed in the Belgian tradition by an American brewer.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 19:34:04 | More by BigTuna

claspada

New Jersey

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

Pours a mahogany color with dark red highlights and a frothy tan head that leaves lots of foamy spotty lacing on the chalice as it recedes,

Aromas begin with dark fruity cherries and raisins, some yeasty spice and doughy malt. As it warms I get some sweeter brown sugar and rum-soaked brown bread.

The tastes begin with the same dark fruity cherries, up front, with developing sweeter fig and golden raisin. As it warms you get an increasingly sweeter candy sugar sweeteness and some spice cake.

The mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with moderate carbonation. Finish is semi-dry with lingering dark fruits and a hint of warmth in the gullet.

Overall this is a good Belgian dubbel but by no means my favorite. Fairly dark fruit forward with emerging alcohol and a strong yeasty spice. I bet all these flavors would mellow out with age but there are also higher quality examples worthy of cellar space. Good, not great, worth a try to emerging fans of the style for availability and fair price point.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 19:00:39 | More by claspada

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Looks nice. It's a bit heartier and spicier than I would have guessed. Carbonation seems a bit too much really. Fairly smooth overall, though I would have anticipated it being a bit more considering who made this and who they collaborated with. Interesting to see my perceptions of this beer now as compared to so many years ago.

Serving type: on-tap

08-27-2012 02:00:58 | More by RblWthACoz

PeterM

California

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

Pours beautifully into a goblet with a 1.5 finger tan colored head without vigorous pouring. Head remains as a substantial coating until the end of the glass. Rich ruby amber body, clouded by fine bubbles that last and last.
Smells a bit pine-y, sharp, and clean. First taste is fruity sweet and champagne-like, then hits your throat and stomach like a fine whiskey, leaving a wonderful glow. Malt, woody oak flavors linger, with a honey sweet aftertaste. This is one fine beer - most highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2012 01:02:27 | More by PeterM

lancecenter

Texas

4.65/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - beautiful dark brown with creamy head and a ton of lacing.

S - I could smell this all day long. Raisins, honey, and sweet malt. A small bit of esters.

T - Sweet fruits and cloves with an earthy undertone.

M - Surprisingly dry for the style

O - One of my all time favs. And for $8 at the local HEB? Sign me up!

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 06:45:07 | More by lancecenter

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a murky brown with ruby high lights. Doesn't really have much of a head it faded away rather quickly.
Aroma is big and sweet and slick. Lots of candied sugar and ripe fruits.
Taste is quite malty. It's rich and sweet with yeast and candied sugar and dark fruits like figs or something.
Taste good but I don't think I really like it. It's to thick and syrupy too sweet. It doesn't work for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 21:00:37 | More by micromaniac129

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

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Review from 2/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a nice dark orange color with a creamy tan head and nice lacing. Delicious aroma of caramel malts, dark fruit and Belgian spicing. Typical Belgian flavors, dark fruit, orange, spicy. High carbonation leaves a dry, slightly astringent flavor. Somewhat sour, dry fruit finish. A bit on the dry side for my taste in dubbles, but well made and pleasant to drink. Medium bodied.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 19:29:55 | More by LiquidAmber

billab914

Virginia

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

12oz bottle poured into my Allagash glass. It's got a really nice looking caramel color to it with a thick, frothy head filling the top two inches of the glass.

The aroma has a lot of crisp, slightly sweet fruits to it with some notes of apple along with a touch of grape. The earthy yeast spice is very noticeable, but complimenting. It comes together well.

The taste follows through with more of the crisp, fruit flavors. I get a little more of a caramel sweetness mixing in though. The yeast spice is pretty bold, especially in the finish. I get a hint of chocolate in the finish as well.

The mouthfeel is a little on the heavier side of the style with carbonation being high but delicate. Overall, it's a great version of the style. It comes together very well and is very flavorful. Great beer overall, a classic.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 20:35:50 | More by billab914

acevenom

Louisiana

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

Poured into a chalice. Pours deep caramel brown with a biege head. The head dissipates slowly, leaving no lace. A cap of head retains forever and leaves some on the side of the glass during consumption. The beer has the typical Belgian dubbel smell. It has the smell of dark candi sugar, Belgian yeast, malt, and dark fruits. The beer tastes like an authentic Belgian dubbel. There are the bready malts, dark candi sugar, dark fruits (prune and raisin), and Belgian yeast flavors that really come through without tasting too heavy. This is superb. The alcohol is well hidden in the taste as well. The body is full with adequate carbonation. The beer is smooth and dry in the finish. This is an excellent beer and the best American made dubbel I've ever tried.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 01:14:16 | More by acevenom