Rare Vos (Amber Ale) - Brewery Ommegang

jonziefle

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Appearance: Poured a cloudy orange-brown amber color. One finger bubbly that reduces to a thin layer pretty quickly. Plenty of visible carbonation. Some lacing, but a little head remains the whole time.

Smell: Not much of a nose at all. Some roasted and caramel malts, and some apple flavors.

Taste: Mild caramel and nutty malt flavors, but without much in the way of hops. Mild yeast esters. It does have some of that typical Belgian spiciness, but it is also very mild.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a very strong carbonation bite, without being overly filling.

Drinkability: A Belgian dark ale by style, but a Belgian amber ale by name. Definitely on the darker side of amber ales, without much hop flavors/bite to balance it out. Could use some more flavor.

Buy Again? No.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2010 19:34:13 | More by jonziefle

ZEB89

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-24-2013 02:12:36 | More by ZEB89

dennarb

Pennsylvania

4.85/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

It pours a lovely amber with a creamy half inch head.
The aroma is a marvelous combination of french bread just out of the oven, and spices like cloves and nutmeg.
The taste is full and complex like a fine Belgian ale, that combination of a tad of sweetness opening up to an earthy stew of spice and hops.
It is amazing1

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 00:54:23 | More by dennarb

WoodBrew

Illinois

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-23-2013 00:28:04 | More by WoodBrew

puuj

California

3.5/5  rDev -14%

05-22-2013 17:51:19 | More by puuj

fgilbert2

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-22-2013 06:01:50 | More by fgilbert2

johntfox

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-21-2013 00:45:51 | More by johntfox

DIM

Pennsylvania

3.63/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

a: This was a bright, shiny golden copper color. It poured with a mediym sized, firm, fizzy cap that left thick sheets of lace in its wake. Lots of suspended particulate as well.

s: Mellow, musty pot-pourri spiced, stewed dark fruits. Mild banana and some clove.

t: Mineral-y biscuits, strongly spiced dried fruit. All very nice so far. The finish is kind of heavy though; lots of clove, nutmeg, and allspice.

m: All of the spice character makes the same kind of heavy.

o: Good, but among my couple of least favorites from Ommegang.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 20:41:14 | More by DIM

HinghamRick

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-19-2013 16:38:08 | More by HinghamRick

Stalgondo

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-19-2013 16:33:23 | More by Stalgondo

NJB145

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-19-2013 01:54:25 | More by NJB145

timothef

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-18-2013 23:11:46 | More by timothef

Jessenimmo

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-18-2013 04:46:15 | More by Jessenimmo

falconxman

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -7.9%

05-18-2013 03:16:00 | More by falconxman

superspak

Michigan

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 ounce bottle into signature tulip glass, bottled on 11/13/2012. Pours moderately hazy and cloudy orange amber color with a nice 2-3 finger fluffy off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lasts. Spotty foamy lacing clings down the glass, with plenty of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big banana, pear, apple, orange peel, light caramel, clove, pepper, coriander, floral, bread, and yeast earthiness. Fantastic aromas with great balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast notes with malt and spices. Taste of big banana, pear, apple, orange peel, clove, pepper, light caramel, bread, coriander, floral, and yeast earthiness. Lingering notes of light fruits, orange peel, clove, pepper, caramel, bread, coriander, floral, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Fantastic flavor balance and complexity of fruity/spicy esters with malt sweetness and spices; with zero cloying flavors after the finish. High carbonation and medium bodied; with a lightly slick, foamy, and crisp mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with hardly any warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a fantastic Belgian pale ale! Great flavor balance and complexity; and extremely smooth to drink, even at high carbonation. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:13:22 | More by superspak

vmdominguez

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +16.7%

05-16-2013 03:20:13 | More by vmdominguez

MPPHISH

New York

2.75/5  rDev -32.4%

05-15-2013 14:51:52 | More by MPPHISH

Kopfschuss

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-15-2013 07:47:38 | More by Kopfschuss

ElijahRivera

New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-15-2013 03:14:52 | More by ElijahRivera

spencek91

New York

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%

05-14-2013 23:09:04 | More by spencek91

HarmonMW

Michigan

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-14-2013 23:07:20 | More by HarmonMW

RoamingGnome

Wisconsin

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Ommegang Rare Vos Amber Ale

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a shaker pint. Served chilled.

A) Nice looking copper color, with a big slightly off white head. At least 2 fingers. Nice retention, and some spotty lacing.

S) Nicely spiced... A bit of a fruity aroma, mainly orange peel. Belgian yeast definitely noted.

T) Follows the nose quite nicely. Again, a nice blend of spices, coriander, yeast. Finished with a little orange peel and a hint of alcohol. The flavors are well balanced.

M) Medium body, smooth, easy drinking, lighter carbonation, but enough to keep it lively. The spices stuck to my teeth and coated my mouth in a good way.

O) Enjoyed this beer... Sometimes spices in a brew can be a bit much for my tastes, but this was nice. Very well done... Could definitely unwind with a few of these. One of the better Belgian Pale Ales, I've had the pleasure of drinking. Glad to recommend this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 02:43:12 | More by RoamingGnome

Kerrie

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%

05-13-2013 00:57:12 | More by Kerrie

BeerForMuscle

New Jersey

4/5  rDev -1.7%

05-12-2013 20:24:25 | More by BeerForMuscle

bsp77

Minnesota

4.03/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Tulip.

Appearance: Mostly clear copper with a billowing, off-white, sticky head. Persistent with lots of lacing.

Smell: Fruity, floral and spicy with definite banana and clove notes from the yeast.

Taste: Extremely spicy and biscuity, and the added orange peel, grains of paradise and coriander are quite noticeable. Not as yeast-like as the aroma, unless some of the spiciness is from the yeast.

Feel: Moderate carbonation, medium body, fairly dry finish.

Overall: Nice, everyday Belgian Ale, but the 6.5% abv keeps this from being as sessionable as it tastes. However, I guess 6.5% is a session beer for Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 22:06:33 | More by bsp77