Art Of Darkness - Brewery Ommegang

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Soapy head on thick dark brown body, with a lace sheet. yeasty aroma, I like their yeast. Smooth drinker, above average mouthfeel. Sweetish,and yet a little earthy, some malted milk, chocolate malt,touch of anise, not that complex still nicely drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 19:49:15 | More by northyorksammy

brentk56

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Arrives pitch black, with a nice head that leaves a boatload of lacing behind

Smell: Roasty, with black bread and fruit elements

Taste: Black cherry and fig along with a roasty character, up front; some chocolate arrives at mid-palate, along with a tart cherry aspect; after the swallow, the fruity elements dominate though there is a slight tartness on the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Interesting fruit flavors with a touch of tartness; I would prefer more depth, however

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2012 01:43:27 | More by brentk56

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

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Part Belgian Strong Dark Ale, part Belgian Stout- Ommegang delivers a complex beer of roast and fruit flavor, and doing so with a surprisingly simplified palate.

Pouring with a voluptuous and billowing tan head, the beer carries the bubbly nature of champagnes but with the dark brown (almost black) color of hearty stouts. A mild garnet highlight plays through the modest haze in uncanny clear fashion. High level of foam retention and lace speaks volumes to the quality for which Brewery Ommegang is known.

Somewhat mild aromas tackle the olfactories with balanced elements of roasted barley, charred fruits, biscuit, and peppercorn- all wrapped in a thin envelope of caramel and light bread.

Malty sweetness hits the taste buds with the taste of fresh baked bread, bread crust, starch, and underlying caramel sweetness. The roasty char of grains play on the tongue with the taste of coffee, cocoa powder, and burnt embers at mid palate that seem to overshadow sweetness and bridge into the mild fruity flavors of burnt berries, currants, red grapes, and apples. Although esters are mild, their fruity effect is varying and command just enough attention to keep the beer interesting beyond the simple flavor spread.

Medium bodied throughout, the ale's sparkling carbonation prevents fuller texture and ushers in a highly drinkable and zesty bite that ushers in a finish of roasty-dryness, alcohol warmth, and peppery bite.

Where the Art of Darkness doesn't portray the breadth, earthy boldness, or assertive complex sweetness as many darker strong Belgian ales, it's relies on a simplified palate that's exquisitely balanced, more yeast-neutral, and somewhat subdued to celebrate its shear drinkability in understated fashion.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2012 16:26:59 | More by BEERchitect

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

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

Darkness incarnate in color, with crimson highlights shining through the bottom, under a lush, creamy cocoa-toned head. Lookin' good.

Aroma: soft, with notes of cocoa and cream, balanced and understated.

Taste: on the tongue, rich, full, dark and smooth. Lightly spicy, just enough wicked deliciousness from the yeast. A little bit of peppery heat. Lots of lush dark malts, but nothing too big, too sweet, too anything. This is Goldilocks' favorite beer, just right.
Some dark fruits, some fig and date, but completely utterly even, balanced, and dry. The nearly 9% alcohol doesn't stand out in the least.

Tasty stuff, this, but I so wish the yeast would contribute a bit more to the character. I want to really taste it.
But this one really does come close to impersonating a great Belgian strong dark ale. Kudos, Ommegang!

Serving type: on-tap

05-22-2012 04:55:50 | More by feloniousmonk

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Big Texas Beer Fest.

The beer pours a very dark brown to black color with a tan head. The aroma is has some roasted malt, as well as some dark fruit, chocolate and Belgian yeast notes. The flavor is similar, with the chocolate and dark fruit notes going very well with the yeast and roasted malt notes. Tastes a lot like a Belgian imperial stout. Medium to thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2012 02:57:57 | More by Mora2000

russpowell

Oklahoma

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours mahogany with 2 fingers of tan head. Average head retention & lacing

S: Dark fruit, plums & raisins, some phenolic notes

T: Plums & figs with phenolic twang & some boozeyness up front, a bit of dark chocolate too. Green apple skin as this warms, a bit of figs & carob, along with black currants as this warms & more dark chocolate. Finishes dry & boozey with more apple skin, figs & carob

MF: Medium bodied, firm carbonation Booze warmth & dryness throughout this sampling

An alright Belgian Dark, perhaps too young to sample. To me this bottle looks to be a year or 2 from optimum. The last few beers from Ommegang haven't really wowed me. Pretty good, not great

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2012 03:01:48 | More by russpowell

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

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

This poured out as a nice looking deep brown color, the head was creamy looking and tan in color. The smell of the beer is sweet and a little yeasty. There are some slight dark fruit aromas in there too. The taste is a slight blend of the candi sugar, the fruits and the malts. No real noticeable bitterness in this one too much. The mouthfeel was smooth, gently carbonated and silky. Overall I thought this was a very nice release from Ommegang.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 03:15:39 | More by Knapp85

Halcyondays

California

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

On-tap at Beachwood I,

A: Pours black with some mahogany highlights. Nice creamy off-white head. Some lace.

S: Plum, some dark chocolate, molasses, inviting.

T: Classic dark fruit flavour, prune, some date sugar, light hints of dark chocolate. Some mild sweetness. Yeast character is minor.

M: Off-dry, maybe a tad too much sugar which keeps it a bit off-balanced, but should dry out through time. A minor quibble, I've seen a lot worse in American made BSDAs. Creamy mouthfeel, soft carbonation, light and crisp on the palate.

O: A very solid effort, not the best I've had from Ommegang, but well made for sure. Just hoping the bottles aren't over $10, otherwise it'd be a good QPR.

Serving type: on-tap

03-30-2012 23:15:15 | More by Halcyondays

jwc215

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +19.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours pitch black with a thick tan head. Lacing covers the glass.

The smell is spicy with anise, candy, chocolate. Robust and inviting!

The taste is spicy and sweet, Earthy/hoppy notes blend with chocolate, anise and espresso. Wonderfully balanced and delicious! It has a taste similar to Duval but dark. Some alcohol is noticeable, but enough to add to the complexity rather than detract. It has a long finish.

It is velvety smooth. Rich and full-bodied with soft carbonation.

This is a great dessert brew. Aptly named, this is truly a work of art!

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 15:44:15 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Deep pitch black body this is the Art of Darkness, okay we get it, there's also a light tan head forming thick, with Belgian inspired lacing. Aromatics offer up with dark cocoa, spicy aromatics inspired by the yeasts fermentation process. Dark malts give off a solid roasted malt aspect that I can relate to anyday, also a dark toasted nut quality coming out with the bier I'm sippin' on. Floral spicy yeast base, with dark roasted malts slightly creamy acidity almost yogurt like. Especially tasty dark beer, hybrid Belgian American dark ale, with even flowing carbonation and a medium bodied ale that I really enjoy. Overall impressive offering, that is tasty and satisfying for the beer drinker's palate.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2012 06:23:27 | More by WVbeergeek

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into my Ommegang tulip with a decent fizzy 1 finger darker mocha colored head that wants to fade quickly but doesn't, fades fairly slowly with some marks of lacing, over very dark molasses brown colored beer with hints of murky ruby light sneaking through.

Nose has some dark malts, dark crystal malts with some caramel and light molasses aromas, plenty of biscuity malts, a bit of flaked oats, a nutty malt that also seems to bring a hint of earthiness, and hint of a root beer like cola aroma. A bit of booze comes through there as well, with hints yeast spice and touch earthy hop.

Taste starts fluffy with plenty of carbonation coming through making the mouth foamy. Dark malts course through, with some earthy nutty malts, light root beer like earthiness again, as well as some biscuity light toasty malts, more darker brown malts, hint of caramel molasses like sugars. Light flaked oats bring a hint of creaminess and fluffy feel, and I think the wheat adds a light textured flavor. The yeast brings more of the earthy spicy flavors, as well as some light earthy hops and a hint of grassy hops, with a light bitterness that almost seems more to come from the yeast than the hops. A bit of booze finds its way through, but still seems to drink fairly well. The finish dries a bit but not a lot, plenty of lingering earthy nutty malts and root spices with the yeast, light syrupy flavors, and even a hint of cocoa.

Mouth is a bit fuller bodied, textured and smooth at the same time, with tons of carbonation.

overall an interesting beer, not sure if I would pay that much for it again, but at least a nice one to try. Decent malts, hops are a bit too far away on teh back end though, booze is about right, nice carbonation and body, decent all around beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2012 21:20:05 | More by jlindros

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mahaffey's the other day.

The beer pours a fairly dark brown color with good head retention and lacing. The nose is very attrative, as I get rootbeer, cherry, chocolate, a hint of brownn sugar and considerable underlying spice. The flavor profile replicates the nose in this fairly sweet beer, with dark fruits and prunes seeming to dominate otherwise. There is some licorice as well, but it's not excessive, and seemed to blend in well to the flavor profile. The finish is really well done in this beer, and there was sort of sweet, creamy aspect that I liked. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, which I think works well for this beer. Alcohol is well integrated into the flavor profile.... it could have been anything from 7% up to 12% and I wouldn't have been any the wiser.

I thought this was a pretty nice beer from the folks at Ommegang.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2012 18:39:01 | More by johnmichaelsen

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Prohibition Pig, Waterbury, VT

Served in a mini-snifter, a dark brown nearly black beer, with a small cap of eggshell head; not much retention, but it did leave some nice soapy lacing while it lasted. Roasty malt aroma, dark sugars, a bit of dark fruit, bready. Taste is woody, malty, pumpernickel, caramel, with notes of figs, prunes, and licorice. Mouthfeel was about medium, would've been thin for a porter, but about right for a strong ale. Pretty nice overall, but nothing that I'd go out of my way for.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2012 20:02:31 | More by Rifugium

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

kojevergas

California

3.2/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

750ml brown glass bottle with hood-and-wire cap over a cork served into me Guinness goblet in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given the brewery - with which I've been fairly impressed so far.

Served refrigerator cold and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured slowly per the label's instructions.

A: Pours a 2 finger head of slight tan hue, good cream, good thickness, and great retention for the high ABV. Colour is a predictable solid black. No yeast particles are visible, likely due to its nontransparency. No bubble show. Opaque. A healthy appearance that encourages me to try it.

Sm: Dark malts, pleasant biscuity yeast, cream, slight roasted barley, and oats (when I look for them). A pleasant aroma that suits the style. Mild in strength.

T: Slight cream on the open gives way to the dark malt body with smooth rolled oats, out-of-place wheat, light chocolate malt, and vague slight hints of roasted barley - though nowhere near enough. Interestingly built. The wheat in particular sticks out, negatively impacting the balance. Except for that, the balance is nice. The beer isn't as complex as I'd expect from Ommegang, but I'd hardly call it simple. Some subtlety is apparent, but it's not impressive. Some layering is going on. I don't detect any hops. The yeast is also surprisingly restrained, but I'll keep tabs on it as I approach the bottom of the bottle.

Mf: Smooth and wet, but surprisingly sparse in terms of cream. It could use far more; the creamy quality that is there is nice. Good thickness and carbonation. Suits the flavours nicely.

Dr: Drinkable but not Ommegang's best beer. I have nothing against it, but for the price it's something of a disappointment. It's not yeast enough for the style, and wheat malt was just a poor addition outright. I do like it, but I wouldn't have it again or recommend it to friends. Probably best only for hardcore Ommegang fanatics. To its credit, it hides its ABV quite well. I don't know that I really look forward to consuming the whole bottle meself, but c'est la vie.

High C+

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2012 06:09:45 | More by kojevergas

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into Trappe Door tulip. Poured a massively dark reddish brown with a two finger light khaki colored head that subsided to a minimal amount very slowly. Maintained phenomenal lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, dark fruit, bread, earth, and sweet alcohol. The flavor was of sweet amlt, dark fruit, bread, earth, and very subtle sweet alcohol. It had a medium feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a fairly decent brew. While the flavor and aroma on this one was fairly complex, it just left a little to be desired if I am completely honest. All of the right aspects for the style were definitely present, but I just wish they would have come across a little more balanced. Worth trying if you get the chance though.

Serving type: on-tap

04-02-2012 12:23:22 | More by thagr81us

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep, opaque, brownish sable with a very thick and somewhat persistent light tan head. The sample I got fizzed quite a bit, so I recommend having a towel handy when you crack open a bottle. Aroma has notes of caramel and molasses plus hints of licorice and pear. Superb flavor has a malty core and fruity, caramel and molasses tones, hints of horehound, licorice and honey. Smooth, firm-bodied texture does not have a lot of fizz, but it still pleases. Let this "dark side" seduce you while you have the opportunity.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 18:51:45 | More by Cyberkedi

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Art Of Darkness
Brewery Ommegang
Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale
ABV: 8.90 %

LOOK: Dark brown, with a deep amber hint. Off white mocha head forms and leaves plenty of lace down the glass.

SMELL: Dark fruits of raisin, fig, plum and date are all upfront with mocha undertones. Belgian yeast spiciness and a subtle sweet smell. Nice.

TASTE: Dark chocolates and coffee, notice how all three descriptions I have given all start with the word DARK. More fig and raisin flavor with a nice robust roasted malt profile. Little bitterness but an even balance. Well disguised alcohol, and everything is screaming belgian strong dark mixed with stout.

FEEL/IMPRESSION: Medium to full bodied, smooth, creamy and well carbonated. Overall I thought this was yet another very good offering from brewery Ommegang. Aging this in whiskey barrels is the next logical step.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 00:14:04 | More by Stinkypuss

avalon07

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a tulip glass. Had a jet black color and a thick texture. There was a huge, off white, creamy, long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: A big aroma of malt, yeast, dark fruit, and a hint of chocolate.

T: Tasted of Belgian yeast, dark fruit (plums), a little bit of chocolate, and a hint of coffee. Not exactly a typical BDA flavor, but still complex and tasty.

M: A highly carbonated beer with a smooth, crisp finish. Medium-bodied.

O: A very well made, drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 12:35:31 | More by avalon07

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep amber to black in color with a big tan head. In the aroma, dark fruits and a sweeter roast. In the taste, dark fruits, a small dryness of alcohol, and a mix of small caramel and somewhat grape like. A boozy bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry small alcohol and dark fruit, to a clean aftertaste. A bit boozy, fruity, caramel like, and Belgian like, almost feels like a quad.

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2012 14:48:51 | More by OWSLEY069

kylehay2004

Florida

4.13/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: two finger thick tan head with nice lacing on a dark brown with little light getting through body.

S: lots of dark fruit, mostly cherry, plum and raisin. 

T: a lot more malty than others in the genre. The fruitiness is mild. Caramel and mild toffee notes to the finish.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation. Dry finish.

Overall: malt heavy beer for the genre. Glad I tried this one, nice and unique

Serving type: on-tap

04-20-2012 23:36:03 | More by kylehay2004

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

tdm168

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - very dark brown with a huge, thick, brown head that has great retention

S - sweet, a bit of chocolate, some yeast, some dark fruit

T - chocolate, fruity, cherry, plum, medicine

M - medium to full bodied, smooth, well carbonated

I really enjoy this beer. The flavor is rich and complex. The fruit is a nice balance to the big malt bill. The yeast comes through but doesn't take over. Overall, very enjoyable and worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 19:07:47 | More by tdm168

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