Ommegang Aphrodite - Brewery Ommegang

blackie

Virginia

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

draft at Granville Moore, DC

a: served in a GM logo glass, tall chalice, raspberry red in color - not shockingly so - this still looks like beer, with a slight yeasty milkiness, head low

s: nose of tart raspberry, clean pils malts, generally fruity, aged hops, and a nice balance of mild brett funk

m: carbonation moderate-high, lively, light bodied and crisp

t: a clean pils malt base holds a modest but obvious flavor of fresh raspberry, nicely tart with a slightly sweet edge quickly spirited away, papery hop flavors, nice brett flavor that's only lightly funky, and adds a nice clean sour

o: enjoyed this beer but the fruity side could wear after awhile, all told an interesting, well-crafted beer

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 04:57:47 | More by blackie

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml caged and corked bottle, bottle stamp says packaged on 06/09/11, best before 6/2014. Served in a Unibroue tulip, the beer pours a reddish/pink color with about an inch light pink head that stayed around a little while. There's a small amount of lacing. Aroma is nice and fruity, it smells like raspberries, pears, light tart berries and some brett. Taste is mostly like the aroma, but there's more balance between the sweet and tart flavors (at first anyway, then it gets sweeter), and there's also a yeasty/herbal flavor noticeable too. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's a bit slick and smooth, and also easy to drink with a good amount of carbonation. I think it's a good brew, I enjoyed it. $11.49 a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2012 22:30:59 | More by bluejacket74

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from Steve (?), 750ml into a tulip. Packaged June 9, 2011, best by June 2014.

Reddish mahogany with a cream head. Great retention and lace. Nose has light bretty, raspberry, pear skins fruity and lightly tart. Tastes of tart raspberry juice, fruits, light brett and subtle acetic character. Medium feel, light tartness puckers for a moment. Higher medium carbonation. A good bretty, fruity Belgian - I'd welcome this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 01:17:38 | More by liamt07

JayQue

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Something different from Ommegang. Still pretty good. This beer provides a little bit of "fruit lambic light", "sour light" as well as a nice refreshing fruity/malty beer.

Pours a light red/dark pink color with a delicately bubbly light pink head. At first, it resembles the dreaded Bud Chelada in color. Of course the aroma dissipates any hint of that foul concoction. The initial aroma is fresh raspberies, funky Belgian yeast and a little vinegary sourness.. As the beer warms, it seems that the raspberries and maltiness are the predominant aromas.

Tastes pretty good. Sweet raspberries, funky / wild Belgian yeast, malts and some mild sourness are all part of the flavor experience.

Mouthfeel is rich. The sweetness is contained by the sour aspect and there is a little warming alcohol.

This is a pretty good slow sipping beer, For those without much experience with fruit lambics or sour beers, this is a nice, slow introduction to those styles as well.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2012 00:50:27 | More by JayQue

bigfnjoe

Pennsylvania

4.18/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a corked & caged bottle into a Duvel tulip

A- pouts a cherry red with a two finger pink head. Looks pretty nice and interesting

S- light raspberry aroma coming out of this, but overall, not a whole lot of anything

T- the brett gives the raspberry flavor a nice kick. The flavor isn't overly tart, but there is a definite distinct flavor to this, and I really like it.

M- the champagne yeast used gives the beer a nice effervescent quality, and the body of the beer is on the lighter side of medium, but extremely well balanced

O- how you feel about this beer really depends on your expectations. If you're looking for a tongue-buckling sour, you probably won't enjoy this, and by the same token, you won't like it if you're looking for a fruity, New Glarus style beer. If you go in with an open mind though, you'll probably enjoy this. Fantastic stuff

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 19:42:35 | More by bigfnjoe

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

3.73/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours out a clouded pinkish-orange color with a two finger head of exactly the same color, fairly decent retention time and lacing patterns.

Smells mostly of raspberry glace, with a light undertone of yeast funk and just a whisper of tartness. It could have stood to benefit from more yeast character relative to the raspberry in the nose IMHO.

Flavor is a bit tart at first but mellows down into a white pepper and tea leaf-spiced pear/raspberry blend that never gets cloying nor overly astringent. Brett presence seems to be underplayed on purpose, in order to allow the fruit/tart/spice to take center stage, but again I find myself wishing for just a bit more funk. The Grains of Paradise are expressed as a sort of cinnamon / clove combo to my palate.

Body is well carbonated, light and...fluffy, for lack of a better adjective. (A hybrid texture between fizzy and creamy)

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2012 04:02:26 | More by WastingFreetime

gdkersey

Massachusetts

2.4/5  rDev -35.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Bottle bought back in Feb '12, drank in Aug '12.

A: Pours ruby red with minimal red and no retention; like carbonated cranberry juice. Slight haze.

S: I can't help but think V8 Splash. Extremely sweet berry. Really no hint of brett.

T: Bready malt supplemented with strong, sweet fruits - sweet raspberry/strawberry. Slight tartness, unsure whether it's fruit or brett. Slight bitterness, finishes dry.

M: light body, dry finish, good carbonation

I'm not sure whether I dislike this style of beer (whatever you would call this), but I feel like the juices are overdone. More emphasis on the brett/yeast with the raspberry/pear juice as a supplement may have worked better. I seriously feel like I'm drinking a V8 Splash, not a beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 01:59:11 | More by gdkersey

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.1/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a wellington glass.

Appearance: Pours a dark pink (awkward but nice) to amber color very unique.

Smell: Really nice right off the bat, strong citrus scent. Dark fruit feel that won't leave the nose.

Taste: This beer takes a bit to adapt to it., it is a little sour and a notch bitter. Besides that it is also sweet with cherry and raspberry finishes.

Mouth: Sip after sit this beer gets better and smoother, makes you think of a carbonated Cabernet. After taste is definitely a little dry.

Overall: This is real good beer, takes time to appreciate the effort into this brew. If it had another name it would be called "Acquired Taste". Take my word for it....any Belgian beer fan would agree. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

07-02-2012 03:03:48 | More by BlurryVisi0n

jsanford

Georgia

4.15/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours rosy-red with a dense white head that settles to a thin haze. Nice aromas of raspberry jam, ripe pear, earthy Brettanomyces, and a touch of peppery spice. Quite nice, and it reminds me a bit of Blushing Monk from Founders (definitely a good thing). Taste is similarly raspberry-forward, with more Brett and spice (Grains of Paradise in this case). Great balance between the fruit and the earthy Brett, this beer is a lovely display of balance. Mouthfeel is nice and crisp, with a medium body, spritzy carbonation, and a exquisitely dry finish. This could easily take the place of a dry Rosé as a before or after-dinner cocktail. Overall a very nice brew from Ommegang, on of the best I've had from them!

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2012 00:00:59 | More by jsanford

ngeunit1

California

4.33/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours an almost clear ruby-red with a finger of frothy white head with a touch of pink. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of strong raspberries with some Brett and a bit of funk. There is a bit of wheat and pale malts, and just a hint of vanilla.

T - Starts off with some sweet raspberries with some some wheat and pale malt and a bit of acidity. Through the middle, some more tartness and funky Brett flavors come through. The finish is a mix of raspberries and other berry fruits with some funky Brett and yeast flavors and a bit of pale malts.

M - Medium bodied with moderate-lively carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry, sweet, and tart finish.

D - Very drinkable. Really nice tart raspberry flavors with some good funky flavors from the Brett. Nicely balanced.

Serving type: bottle

06-04-2012 06:34:39 | More by ngeunit1

suspect

New York

3.9/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a corked and caged 750ml bottle into a Dogfish Head Signature glass.

A: Pours a crystal clear reddish purple color. Gentle pour leaves a fluffy 2 finger head that fades to a one-finger head after a few minutes. Lacing is spotty but present.

S: Aroma brings notes of tart wild-raspberries, vinegar, slight leather, straw, and a lovely does of funk.

T: Really yummy sweet-tart of wild raspberries take stage front and center. There is yeasty smell that is in tact with this one, slight grape smell as well as that vinegar/funky flavor that came through with the nose as well.

M: Perfectly carbonated, these kind of beers are easily over carbonated but this one hits the bulls eye. Crisp dry champagne finish that really delivers.

O: This is a really nice beer that's easily drinkable and extremely enjoyable. I would most definitely buy another one of these.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2012 01:19:22 | More by suspect

rfgetz

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours ruby red in color with no head. Scent brings notes of tart raspberry vinaigrette and artificially flavored, sugary drinks, notes of light straw. Taste brings tart raspberry and vinegar, light honey, straw and powdered sugar, some bitter notes contained in the fruit and vinegar. Lighter side of medium bodied, lightly carbonated. Not sure what to make of this one, decent taste, but not much else going on.

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2012 14:51:39 | More by rfgetz

martyl1000

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Cooper's Tavern, tail end of Madison Craft Beer Week. Fabulous lacing, though I still don't know what that represents. A bit cloudy, pinkish. The aroma of a yeasty sour Flanders red. Surprising balsamic vinegar flavor -- was expecting a sweetness more like the fruit beers I've known from New Glarus or ___ -- that cloying sweetness that makes the New Glarus seem gimmicky (though I like the NG "Raspberry Tart" and "Apple Ale", quite a lot). This tasted way more like a Belgian sour than a fruit beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-14-2012 07:12:38 | More by martyl1000

draheim

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -13.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750mL (bottled 6/10/2011) into a Hennepin glass. Pours a clear ruby pink w/ a light pink head, ample carbonation.

Araom is heavy on the raspberry with a slightly vinegary smell, also a slight earthy funk. Not sure if I really like it.

Taste is raspberry-sweet w/ pale malt & yeast way in the background.

Mouthfeel is medium, balanced, dry.

Overall this is a very different beer, tough to pin down or even describe. Just unique. But I'm not sure that makes it good. I wouldn't buy another one, so there's that.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 05:03:02 | More by draheim

drperm

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +15.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle briefly cellared for a few months, poured into a white wine goblet.

Appearance: like a dark rosé wine (or framboise lambic) with an ample light-pink foamy head.

Smell: tart, fruity, and Flemish-sour, with a pleasant grassy finish.

Taste: more up-front sourness and tartness than in the nose, with a pleasant lining of pear and pomegranate, also hinting at cherry, strawberry, and raspberry notes without being too sweet. Incredibly well-balanced.

Mouthfeel: Refreshing and thirst-quenching with a champagne-like spritz. Dangerously quenching, given the 8.9% punch it carries.

Overall: another winner from Ommegang. Different but worth seeking out, especially if you're a fan of Lambik styles or Flemish sours. Try with cheese, or seafood dishes.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2012 20:26:00 | More by drperm

SoonerNY

New York

4.28/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750ml bottle into a chalice

A: Aphrodite poured a dark-pink with a 2+ finger head showing lots of carbonation.

S: The Brett is present but not over the top as you might expect from a bottle speaking of the funk. There is some fruit and maltiness in the nose as well.

T: The taste to me is more fruity and tart than sour. Raspberries and tart cherries are there with good carbonation like maybe a wine spritzer but with the extra Brett and grains of paradise finish.

M: The mouthfeel is light , dry, and tart like champagne.

O: Overall, this is another delicious brew from Ommegang. It's one to share and talk about and convince some wine drinkers that beer is worth the effort. It may not be one to blow you away but it's deliciously complex though not overwhelming .

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 02:54:28 | More by SoonerNY

cvm4

Mississippi

3.48/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours a red-ish hue in color with a pink/white head. No lacing to speak of.

S - The nose is sweet. I can't detect a distinct smell.

T - Raspberry hits you first and then some lingering cherries followed by a tart finish. Malt is present through out.

M - Not heavy but enough carbonation to coat the palette.

O - It's a fruity, tart beer. It's almost like a wine on taste and champagne on carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 03:29:09 | More by cvm4

DIM

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

a: This was a dark cranberry red. It was served to me with a small, short lived fizzy cap.

s: Mildly sweet, musty raspberries dominate. There was fairly pronounced boozy aroma as well.

t: The raspberry flavors came across as fresh and genuine, but also kind of heavy and syrupy. There was a nice lingering tartness.

m: Very heavy feeling overall.

o: I liked this well enough but I think it might have worked better as a smaller beer.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2012 21:00:08 | More by DIM

phishsihq

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aphrodite pours an unusual reddish/pink color with a huge frothy, white head (2-3inches) that leaves some good lace. Raspberry notes intermingle with strong whiffs of Brettacomyces, all the while hints of citrus and grains of paradise linger in the back. Raspberry, citrus and pear fruit flavors are strong and tart out front, with some malty sweetness balanced in there. Lighter in body for the style, this crispy brew is also high in carbonation. Complex, tart and surprisingly refreshing, another GREAT brew from the folks at Brewery Ommegang, and an amazing finish to a great run!

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 01:25:07 | More by phishsihq

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.1/5  rDev -17.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a pint glass. Had at New World Tavern--Plymouth

Appearance: 1/4 inch head, high carbonation, reddish brown in color, clear

Smell: brett, yeast, and dark fruit--not the best of smells

Taste: very juicy, cherry, grape, and pear--especially at the start, hay in the middle, and slight hops at the end. It has some characteristics of a dry rose wine.

Mouthfeel: sweet and slightly funky, dry aftertaste, high carbonation, light bodied

Overall: Very different. Kinda like a cross between a rose wine and a saison..it also has elements of a less sweet Leinie's berry. I would say this is a great beer for wine drinkers, but I have had way better from Ommegang. Not a bad beer, but several of their latest releases have blown me away. This sadly is not one of them.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 14:59:16 | More by tigg924

KajII

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

[Best served in a Flute glass]

The pour was a medium cranberry with an orange hue and had a huge (3-4 finger) fluffy pink head that had great retention, lasting throughout with some good spotty foamy lacing.

The aroma was right up front with a strong funky sweet smell with some grain malts, a moderate scent of Brett yeast, and had notes of raspberry, pears and a touch of grains of paradise.

The taste was at first moderately sweet with a strong effervescence and had a nice soft note of raspberry and then finished sweetly tart and a bit acidic with a wonderful sour fruit note at the end. The flavor stuck around for quite a long while after the swallow with a strong sour fruit taste left to linger on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was a bit light in body an a tad watery yet still dry in texture with champagne like carbonation.

Overall a nice tart and fruity brew with an almost Champagne and Strawberry like quality.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 21:20:44 | More by KajII

tdm168

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Wold of Beer at North Hills 2/16/12.

Pours a faint reddish pink with a thick mountain of soft, pink head that has decent retention. The nose is sweet and fruity. The taste is sweet and fruity, tart with a little bit of raspberry coming through. The mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp.

This is a smooth beer. For the ABV you would have no idea. The flavor is a little one dimensional but it's still enjoyable and tasty. In my opinion it's worth checking out.

Serving type: on-tap

02-16-2012 23:29:43 | More by tdm168

champ103

Texas

4/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a reddish/pink color. A two finger white head forms with good retention. Light lace.
S: Fruits right up front and center. Slightly tart and acidic cherries are dominate. Some Belgian like yeast gives this a nice funk.
T: Follows the nose with cherries dominating. Slightly tart and acidic. Some funk, and finishes on the dry side.
M/D: A medium body that is pretty effervescent. Crisp and dry. Easy to drink, and very enjoyable.

I am not a big fruit beer fan, but when done right I can enjoy a few. This is one. Well balanced and something I want to come back to.

Serving type: on-tap

02-15-2012 06:10:55 | More by champ103

musicforairports

New York

3.4/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Red-pink and bubbly. head sticks around a while.

Smell is heavy on brett, with underlying fresh raspberry and other fruit. Some citrus.

Flavor switches the nose around--strong raspberry and pear, mostly. A bit syrupy in flavor, though the fruit notes are more real than artificial. Some citrus, and light spices. Brett takes a backseat, but keeps the sweetness in check with a bit of dryness. Still kind of sweet, though. ABV is nowhere to be found.

Less bubbly than I thought, medium.

This one is a little heavy on the fruit for me. Perhaps in another year it might be altogether different once the Brett eats up some of that sweetness. This is better and more Brett-heavy than I recall it tasting at Ommegang when it was released, though. The Brett component and the raspberry don't really mesh well, in my opinion.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 04:11:10 | More by musicforairports

chocosushi

Oklahoma

4.03/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Best by 06/14
Hennepin Chalice
A ~ Opens with an extremely sharp pop as expected, the pour is a deep and dark red with a 1/2 inch of slightly pink head descending quickly into a cap. Light webs of lace adorn.

S ~ Sharp brett with long notes of raspberry, and to a lesser extent: pear. Grains of Paradise & dried Lemon peel finish things up.

T ~ Tart Raspberry jam & fresh raspberry follow through with clean citric notes. An inviting tartness midpalette leads into ripe Pear. Slight raisin notes. Fruit flavors are pure & not exaggerated. ("artificial" taste)

M ~ Fruit is central with mellow tartness carrying things through, ending very clean & dry. Carb is fine & smooth.

D ~ Fruitiness in this beer is perfect. Drinkability is high with zero heat. Will buy again. Certainly would evolve for the better later on.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 23:56:40 | More by chocosushi