Art Of Darkness - Brewery Ommegang

utopiajane

New York

4.11/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours dark like cola. Really black and opaque with a tan head of soft foam that fell to some streaking lace that actually shimmers as it falls down the glass. Good legs and a thick cap and collar. When held to the light it skims only thinly over the top and gives a reddish hue overall. Beautiful. Nose is smooth chocolate, dates, dark fruits, yeast a small coffee scent, and a light all around floral that really animates this dark beer. This one has a little alcohol on the nose, toasted malt and good bread. First sip is immediately warming, vibrant with smooth cocoa, dark fruits, plum and cola.The malt is a little bit of toast on the palate. Hops take the full and dry finish with a light bitter and more alcohol. A touch of licorice as it warms but that gently offsets the sweet dates and a gentle nutty flavor too. Moderate carbonation that continually refreshes with each turn of the glass.

If you drink Ommegang then you are accustomed to a certain amount of art and this beer has that. It’s dark, looks menacing, tricky with the light and smells tempting and sweet. Drinks smooth and not too spicy . The fruits are so light and so well done. Plum stays plum and never turns to prune. Malt stands up straight and strong with a touch of roast, and plenty of bread to make this a very elegant beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 11:45:30 | More by utopiajane

mjtiernan

New York

3.81/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75

750 poured into a goblet

A: Light brown head....huge lacing....two fingers. Having a tough time getting a read on the body color, but it’s dark. Maybe with some reddish hues around the edge?

S: Smells amazing...very aromatic. Toffee, blackberry jam, raisin, candi sugar, slight clove, vanilla, just a touch of alcohol. Wow.

T: Raisin, dark fruit and Belgian yeasty esters up front. Transitions to acidic (almost salty) tart cherries and dries out quickly from there. Finishes alcoholic with some chocolate and a mild roasted malt aftertaste.

M: Full body with soft carbonation. Very dry finish with forward alcohol. Drinkability is moderate-to-low.

O: Terrific complexity on this one. The alcohol is a little harsh, but this is a really fine American take on a strong dark Belgian ale....especially the aroma.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2013 02:24:11 | More by mjtiernan

RickS95

Indiana

4.39/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 mL bottle

The color is really dark. Mostly black with some lighter brown shades mixed in. The head is a finger thick of offwhite bubbles that eventually forms a light brown film around the perimeter of the beer. A gentle swirl shows spotty lacing.

The bottle mentions flaked oats and it comes across as an oatmeal stout in the nose. Caramel malts are the only thing that comes to mind. If you really stick your nose in there, notes of alcohol come wafting up.

The taste is impressive, borderline spectacular. They've nailed the Belgian style, doing it better than a lot of brewers from across the pond. The caramel malts combine with the house yeast for a toffee taste with a backdrop of cola. It's really impressive.

The mouthfeel is pretty spot on as well. With the carbonation, it gives off a peppery feel. There is alcohol that provides a bit of bite as well. A subtle sweetness starts the sip and the alcohol and carbonation provide a bit of heat in the swallow. It's full bodied, but has a crisp, tangy finish that really coats the tongue.

If I didn't know better, I'd guess this to be a Trappist beer. It's really that good and the taste and feel are world class. Despite the high alcohol, it's an easy beer to drink. It's so good it begs you to take another swig. Really happy with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 01:45:26 | More by RickS95

jmerloni

Massachusetts

4.39/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A - Dark brown body with medium tan head. Velvety looking.

S - Dark fruits: plum, grapes, cherries, dates. Mild oakiness.

T - Dark fruits predominate, followed by a dry, oaky and earthy finish. Very well crafted flavor.

M - Moderately carbonated, medium-bodied.

D - A very solid beer. As usual from Ommegang. I don't think they're capable of putting out anything sub-birdie.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 03:23:09 | More by jmerloni

dar482

New York

4.04/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer comes in a very dark brown color.

The aroma has a bit of Belgian yeast, but more the dark fruits like raisins and plums.

The taste follows. It has a decent amount of the same. To me, it's a bit middle of the road. I generally want this style with bigger fruit flavors. However, it still a really wonderful full maltiness without it being too heavy. There is a bit of an aftertaste that I couldn't pin that. It's a big off, like maybe watered down chalkiness.

Still a wonderful brew. Maybe not worth the price though. There are better options.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 06:38:45 | More by dar482

merc7186

New York

3.99/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mr Goodbar in Buffalo NY, poured into a goblet.

A: Dark Opaque Hue, Passes No Light, Brown Head Ring, Some Lacing

S: Bananas, Apples, Plums

T: Strong Bananas, Plums, Sweet Bread

M: Decent Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Semi Sweet

Overall, a very fruity belgian dark, doesnt have that typical ommegang yeast flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

04-21-2013 03:00:28 | More by merc7186

vfgccp

New York

3.93/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A - Light cola body with nice brown highlights. Fine, bone-white head sits low with ok retention and poor lace.

S - Unfiltered sake, plum wine, white bread, vanilla Charleston Chew, caramel, salt.

T - Strong sake character; rice, pear, booze, fermented plums. Raw almond, toffee, raw sugar. Light tartness. Belgian candy sugar.

M - Medium-light body.

O - Interesting blend of Belgian and Asian flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 01:53:50 | More by vfgccp

Chrysostom

Ohio

3.86/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

As always, I am reviewing to style (ala BJCP), modified by personal taste (contra BJCP), not to personal taste alone, unlike the "hedonic scale" of some beer-review sites. If I rated to taste alone, some beers, poor exemplars of their style, would receive better marks consistently from me than certain other beers, which were perfect exemplars of styles that are not my personal preference.

As always, the review is live, not from notes, as I puzzle out the libation as it is consumed. Without further ado, a review.

Presentation: $13.99 750mL corked and caged bottle (thank you to Blacklick Wine and Spirits in Columbus, OH) served around 45ºF and warming as the review is written, poured in to a Chimay chalice/goblet. The new label (and there is a new label - maybe this wasn't brewed once only after all?) is much cooler than the last one - it grabbed my eye and made me buy it - and is vaguely reminiscent of SPQR (ancient Rome), printed or screened directly on to the bottle, including copious amounts of gold leaf.

A: It looks like a stout porter, thus my marking down for colouring way outside the style. It's a beautiful beer: based on looks alone, a 5. One-finger head on a gentle pour recedes at a moderate rate to leave moderate lacing down the side of the glass. It's a dark, dark, dark (and darker) red bordering on the pitch black, with few to no highlights when held to a source of light. Holding it to a source of light is the only way I can tell that it's not pitch black, as glimmers of red appear and disappear just as quickly from certain angles, like phantoms.

S: Dark fruits, cherries, bready (earthy) Belgian yeast with its attendant funk, a dry character from the yeast and malts, and a damn big wallop of alcohol. (Maybe the breadiness comes from malt, and blends well with the yeast?) A little too much like a stout, and too alcoholic in the nose. Smells like beer-y booze, or boozy beer. It smells like a stout porter when cold, and begins to get a strongly Belgian nose as it warms.

T: The nose prepares you for it. Guess what? Dark fruits, cherries, bready/earthy Belgian yeast with its attendant funk, bready (and maybe a bit toasty) malt, and a slightly smaller, but still large, wallop of warming alcohol. It works quite a bit better on the palate than it does in the nostrils. Some spiciness. Sweet, not dry. Quite sweet indeed. Everything pulls together pretty well, but it's a bit too sweet and boozy: the alcohol kicks in mid-palate and rides all the way down. An absolute malt bomb, fermented by what is quite obviously an authentic yeast from Belgium. Like too many (if not all) of the American Trappist replicas, there's a cloying sweetness which becomes present with warmth.

M: Lively carbonation up front, moderate stickiness in the middle, smoothness in the back. A bit thin, but not bad. Above average.

D: On the high end of low, or the very low end of moderate. Too sweet.

O: As one word has echoed throughout this review, from the appearance to the mouthfeel - the word "moderate" - to this word does my overall rating of the beer return.

For an American imitation of a Belgian beer, it is very good - as I've come to expect from Ommegang, the Belgian-owned American brewers(?) of Duvel, the quintessential Belgian pale. I believe Ommegang is even owned by Duvel Moortgat, which explains why their imitations of Belgians tend to rise above the crowd, whereas other American imitations of Belgians fall flat (and hard) on their faces. The beer doesn't "come together" properly; each part seems that it would be excellent, but the sweetness, combined with the tartness of the cherry and fruits, and the breadiness and earthiness of the yeast and malts, are not held together by a common thread, leading to a pretty complex, and pretty disjointed, beer.

For the style, 75/100. For personal taste, 82/100. Overall, 79/100.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 09:14:41 | More by Chrysostom

champ103

Texas

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

On tap at Queen Vic in Houston.

A: Pours a dark brown, nearly black color. A two finger tan head forms and sticks around for a while. Plenty of lace is left behind.
S: Toasted malts up front. Some light chocolate. Then lots of fruity flavors going on. Cherries, stone fruits. Even a bit tart with some earthy yeast present.
T: Follows the nose with toasted and bready malts. Earthy yeast. Light coco powder. Then that fruity flavor again. Slight tart cherries and stone fruits. It just does not mesh right for me.
M/D: A medium body that is very effervescent. Almost to much carbonation. Very fizzy on the tongue. Not hard to drink. I finished the glass in not time. I am not sure how much I am coming back though.

I do enjoy this. Though the tart fruits just don't mesh well with the toasted and bready malts. I am not sure if that is what it is suppose to taste like, but there you have it. Still, I am glad I tried. Though not one of their better offerings IMO.

Serving type: on-tap

03-16-2013 00:33:32 | More by champ103

micromaniac129

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Pours stoudt like, deep and dark . A never ending head sits on top. Well carb'd brew nowonder the head never fades.
The aroma is sweet, malty with some dark fruits too.
Taste is malty and sweet. There hints of fruits earth and spicy yeast.
Drinks thin and very dry and bitter. A solid alcohol presence almost dominates the beer.
Tastey and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 13:34:25 | More by micromaniac129

ksimons

New York

4.16/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A-dark chestnut with a bit of ruby highlights and two fingers worth of rocky head that sticks to the glass

S-dark fruits, dark bread malt, cocoa, and light roasted notes which develops more as the beer warms

T-lots of sweet dark fruits, dark malt, cocoa, peppery, a bit of roastedness as the beer warms, and light yeast flavor

M-medium body, light to medium carbonation, and peppery finish

Overall this is a pretty decent BSDA, nothing too amazing but for the price I got it at I would definitely have it again

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 23:19:20 | More by ksimons

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Very nice shades of brown in the glass the head was stout and firm.

The taste was nicely diverse with sweet malts, prune, date, dried grape/raisin, and a sugary candy mix.

The taste is in line with scent as raisin and sweet dried fruits dominate. There is a black licorice note at the end and a sugary sweetness. Very easy on the palate with pleasant sweetness. This Belgian Strong is a very good example of the sort.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2013 00:25:21 | More by KYGunner

JackMcAwesome

Florida

3.86/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: A lovely dark pour, with a 1 finger head that lingered until halfway through.

S: A bit of floral, with some chocolate afterthought. It also reminded me of Captain Morgain: Tattoo, which I found interesting.

T: A very small hint of chocolate, but mostly a nutty licorice bite. I think also a bit of cherry.

F: Medium bodied. An even amount of carbonation.

Overall: A fun one to try. I don't know if I'd repurchase any time soon, many things to try, but I'll revisit it for sure. If you like dark ales, then this is an obvious choice to at least try.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2013 02:13:10 | More by JackMcAwesome

beerthulhu

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Rich hersey chocolate pour produces a monster pecan tinted head of 3 finger proportions. Porous, soapy surface leaves a sloppy lacing only after a lengthy retention.

S: Spicy nobel flowers and chocolate come upfront, soft dry coffee beans with a light strength, typical of Ommegang's offerings. The nobel hops are flowery and fresh, bright and at the forefront of the drink and the chocolate malt base, an unusual set of circumstances.

T: Spicy cocoa, fresh bready yeastiness with mentions of green pear and banana come with a light helping of nuttiness. There is a bit of dried honey wheat and sweet chocolate mixture. Spicy flowery chocolate brightness comes on the swallow with a sweet swiss chocolate finish that is eloquent and clean.

M: The body is light to medium in substance with a very relaxed state of carbontion.

O: Overall an exceptionally smooth, clean and very easy to consume offering. The dark malt base is more schwarz then double stout, and is sweet creamy and smooth like swiss chocolate. The noble flowers really shine here while the chocoalte malt is so silky sweet and refined. The yeast brings a good deal to the table too with its pear and banana offering and things finish out as strong as they started. Ommegang is not going to slam you in the face with a bold aggressive nature and flavor, thier beers are shown to be exceptionally clean and polished with a delicate and eloquent balance that shows off the slightest nuances that is to be appreciated. Definitly worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 23:54:55 | More by beerthulhu

puboflyons

New Hampshire

4.48/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From the corked, caged 750 ml. bottle stamped: Pkg on 02/20/12-Best By 02/2015. Sampled on February 25, 2013.

It is a handsome looking deep dark brown to jet black with a silky, beige head that erupts and settles down to a lasting ring.

The aroma has a lot going on with black licorice sticks leading the way along with dark malts, dark plum/prune fruitiness, yeast, spice, and a hint of hops to balance it off.

The body is medium to full and smooth.

The taste, like the aroma, is complex with dark fruits that are more like cherries, black licorice, and even a little coffee. The alcohol can be spotted but it is generally well-integrated into the beer. The hop bite is muted at the end but it builds and lingers with each passing sip. I guess I liked it better than the previous raters.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 19:11:30 | More by puboflyons

denver10

Colorado

3.69/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a deep magenta with a dirty cream colored head. Aroma was of some dark fruits (dark cherries, figs, plum) and somce cocoa. Flavor followed suit with the dark fruits standing out and a nice little underlying of some chocolate and some caramel malt. A medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, not my favorite style but Ommegang did a very nice job with this one allowing me to enjoy it a good deal. Probably not a beer I would have enjoyed as my opener to the night, but a beer that worked well as my closer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2013 02:27:20 | More by denver10

UCLABrewN84

California

3.51/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks, CA.

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to a film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and slight dark fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with a slightly sour fruity flavor on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some interesting aromas and flavors but nothing all that exciting.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2013 08:59:41 | More by UCLABrewN84

Apellonious

North Carolina

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

1 pt 9.4 fl oz bomber pkg 2/22/12

A - black with brown highlights. One finger head dissipates to a thin lace.

S - picking up spice, some yeast, maybe some dark fruit

T - non distinct and hard to place. The dark arts. Plum, fig, pepper. Getting some brown sugars.

M - very sharp. Slightly metallic. Mouthfeel is full.

O - decent if not overly memorable, makes me think a properly cellared version (who knows how long it was on the TWine shelf) may have been smoother and more complex.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2013 23:01:21 | More by Apellonious

jbertsch

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Bottle aged 1 year.

Pitch black appearance, even when held up to light. 1 finger of beige head.

Aroma is not significant. Most notable is the belgian-like yeast. Faint cocao and a hint of cherry.

Rather than distinct flavors, this is really a blend of flavors that are hard to pin down. Some christmas spices sit over dark grains, with a hint of chococlate, leather, and tobacco, and brown sugar... But you really have to search hard for those flavors.

Medium body. Not as belgian-like in the mouthfeel. Almost more brown ale-like.

Overall a decent beer, but it's a bit too non descript, without much character. I've come to expect more from Ommegang.

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 02:45:03 | More by jbertsch

socon67

New York

4.09/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A - Dark brown pour with a mocha foam that retains well. No lacing of note and visible gurgling carbonation.

S - Scents of dark fruits, candy sugar, and chocolate. Smells alot like when you open that box of Russell Stover candy the first time.

T - Sweet notes of dark fruits, candied cherries, cocoa powder, and nutmeg. The Ommegang yeast strain is present and gives the finish a telltale tanginess.

M - Feels like it is on nitro-tap but wasn't. Has a creamy feel and the body masks the ABV well. Feels light and hits hard.

O - An interesting change-up from Ommegang. Not the best of the style by a longshot, but a very enjoyable offering from a local brewery that just nails Belgian styles.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2013 04:49:30 | More by socon67

DMXLOX22

Pennsylvania

3.84/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked up a 22 oz. of this brew at my local establishment. Fully stoked to be drinking this beer. I just had to review this beer.

Appearance: Pours a black, earthy, with a great showing of a nice, white, fluffy head.

Smell: Has a strong aroma of spiced almonds and hints of chocolate. Enjoyed the presence of dark roasted malts.

Taste: The first sips brings a infiltration of dark malts, light flavors of banana and some tangy prunes. Has a moderate alcohol complexion. It did leave me wanting more. Has a clean aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Presents moderate carbonation. Light-bodied for a Belgian Ale.

Overall: Actually a delicious brew. Quite mellow and enjoyable, but also presented a strong-flavored body. Really enjoyed this beer and will have to try again if and when its available.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2013 01:54:57 | More by DMXLOX22

Gmann

New York

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a very deep brown color, almost black. The khaki colored head is moderate bubbled and slowly settles into a light cap.

The aroma is sugary sweet with some dark fruit notes. There is some plum, prune, and cherry notes. There is a light peppery spice from the yeast. Nothing crazy going on here.

Good cherry and prune flavor. Some musty clove notes from the yeast. A bit of woody or char flavors from the roasted malt but not much. Seems to be a dumbed down version of their quad.

The feel is moderate but way fizzy. The carbonation takes away from the flavor as it is hard to pick up some notes with all the fizziness. Sweet on the palate with a light spice offset.

A decent Belgian brew. Well made but not distinct, nothing really stands out and the carbonation is way too strong. Not really sure why they made this beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 03:45:58 | More by Gmann

Kevin73

Washington

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a mostly opaque reddish brown with a thin tan head that disappears quickly. One of the darkest quads I've ever tried. Also one of the driest. A fairly high carbonation is apparent from the first pour. The smell is yeasty and not much else. The taste is rye bread, malts, a hint of hops and very little sweetness of any kind. The beer is a bit boozie a result. Mouthfeel is good, nice carbonation, and not too thin. Basically my only complaint is it needs some sweetness to balance it out. Otherwise worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 21:40:24 | More by Kevin73

ckk527

South Carolina

4.2/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

Last 32 ounces of a keg into growler of same volume. Served in a chalice.

Appearance: Deep brown, almost black. Thin head just forming a brief film. Spotty lacing.

Aroma: Initial hint of a well fermented Christmas pudding. Dark fruits soaked in alcohol, with a subtle sweetness softened by a malty quality. Subtle cinnamon or allspice notes add interest and warmth. Very appealing.

Taste: Supported by the aroma; no surprises here. Reminiscent of a raisiny bread pudding or figgie pudding - but without the Devonshire cream weighing everything down. Pleasant, balanced. Raisins, plums, hint of molasses cookie and alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Medium, really. Surprisingly silky, followed by alcohol warmth. Quite lovely.

Overall: An interesting and very good example of the style. Pleased to have picked this up. Another quality statement from BO.

Serving type: growler

01-13-2013 02:18:09 | More by ckk527

teromous

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: Pitch black with a very thin off-white head on it that disappears into a small ring around the rim of the glass and small islands of bubbles. Small droplets of lacing.

S: Cocoa comes to me immediately. Then alcohol comes through, along with some light candy scents. The candy scent is similar to one of those old fashion root beer barrels...not the root beer scent but that sweet smell that accompanies it. It smells pretty good but I think it could possibly use some aging to get rid of the alcohol scent.

T: I'm approached with a combination of banana and fig flavors. Immediately following is a coffee flavor. I get a slightly iron taste to the beer as well. Some of the alcohol comes through, but there is a burnt character that masks it.

M: The mouthfeel is relatively bright with carbonation. Despite the limited head, there is a fizzy quality to the beer. I'm not overly fond of the carbonation level. It has a full mouthfeel, and has a welcome dryness.

O: I felt that the beer was a little too roasty for a Belgian Strong, and that it was a bit overcarbonated. I wanted more phenolic character, but it was masked behind the roasted flavors. Much of its Belgian yeast character was not brought to the forefront. It's not a bad beer at all. I felt that despite everything, it was a relatively average beer. I will enjoy my beer, but won't be looking for this beer anytime soon.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 01:03:52 | More by teromous