Art Of Darkness - Brewery Ommegang

rlee1390

Indiana

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

A-Black in the glass, clear brown around the edges, one finger tan head.

S-Mainly darker fruits with some spice, not much else.

T-Sweet dark fruits, plums and raisins, not much bitterness nor spices.

M-Light lots of carbonation but a tad watery.

O-A nice beer but it doesn't have anything that stands out, had it with some age on it, maybe fresh it would be better.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 00:18:58 | More by rlee1390

Suds

Pennsylvania

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

This beer is a deep, nearly black, brown color. It reveals slight red highlights when held to the light. The head is fizzy and short-lived. The aroma is of brown sugar and candied fruit, dark malt and Belgian yeast, pepper and a distant, fleeting smoke-scent. Nice. The taste is sharp with alcohol and carbonation. Warming and malty, with dark fruit and yeast. It seems highly attenuated, yet is sugary on the lips. Full and satisfying body.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 21:10:39 | More by Suds

SLeffler27

New York

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

Pours dark chocolate brown with clear ruby highlights. A thick, beige head reaches a dense, creamy three inches with golden flashes. The head is long lasting while dispersing a complex web of lace on an Ommegang tulip glass.

Opens with aromas similar to cherry cordial and a molasses background. Some notes of light pine and yeast open with warmth.

The flavor profile generally follows the nose while adding light coffee and cognac. Warmth brings out a roasted character with earthy fruits such as fig. Tartness is slightly off style but is well balanced against bitterness and sweetness. The complex progression with warmth is consistently followed with a long, chocolate finish.

This is a full-bodied, satin-textured beer with fine effervescent carbonation and lightly warming alcohol.

Well-suited for sipping while reading on a cold, wet autumn day. This is an interesting rendition of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2012 12:28:49 | More by SLeffler27

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

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

Beer is black with a large light tan head. Pretty good retention. A bit of lace.

Smell is light and malty. Some dark fruit, primarily raisin and grape. A bit of yeast.

Taste contains malt, some chocolate, some dark fruit, but not as noticeable as in the nose. A bit of roasted malt. Mildly sweet. Strikes me as closer to a stout than a BSDA - I guess Belgian Stout is the closest description.

Medium bodied, lighter than expected. Moderate carbonation.

Overall, disappointing. A decent beer but nothing exciting. Not something I would go for again.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 23:29:11 | More by jrenihan

MattyG85

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 750 ml corked bottle into a Duvel tulip glass. Bottled on 02/20/12.

Appearance: Pours a very dark blackish brown with a slight hint of ruby at the bottom. Moderate bubbles and a big four finger light tan head which slowly recedes into a thin patchy layer. Leaves a good amount of lacing on the glass.

Smell: Aroma leaps out from the glass with dark fruits and yeast. Belgian yeast with hints of clove and black pepper. Dark roasted malts with hints of burnt toast, biscuit, bitter dark chocolate, caramel, toffee, and coffee.A very lively and big mix of dark fruits including raisin, dark grapes, berries, fig, and prune. Light hints of anise and smoke. Subtle earthy hop presence. The dark grapes really stand out. Pretty nice smell.

Taste: As fruity, spicy, and complex as it smells. Belgian yeast along with a taste of cloves, black pepper, and other spices. Very roasty dark malts with a taste of dark chocolate, toast, biscuit, coffee, burnt caramel, and toffee. Big taste of dark fruits with notes of dark grapes, raisin, fig, prunes, and berries. A little burnt candied sugar and subtle notes of anise and smoke. Some earthy hops add a little drying bitterness towards the finish. A really nice taste.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a medium to high level of carbonation. Creamy, spicy, and drying. Alcohol heat is subdued.

Overall: A really good take on a dark Belgian ale. It has the fruit esters and spices of a Dubbel and the roasted characteristics of a Stout. Really nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 08:02:42 | More by MattyG85

fx20736

New York

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

Poured from a 750ml wired and corked bottle into a chalice, served at cellar temp.

Onyx black which permits no light to pass through. Thick, souffle like sandy colored head that leaves spectral lacing.

aroma of dark fruit and molasses

slippery mouthfeel

Dark prunes and raisins with a treacle like bittersweetness riding atop a tidal wave of malt.

Notes: outstanding, tasty, yummy.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2012 00:53:21 | More by fx20736

Ryan011235

Ohio

4/5  rDev +1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an Orval chalice on 11/19/12

Medium, ruddy sort of brown that settles much darker. The head is fizzy, reaching 1/3rd of an inch before settling down to a fraction of that. Some lace.

The aroma has an interesting culmination of goings-on: rum soaked raisins, figs, black licorice, clove, toasted grain and overtones of Dr. Pepper and RC Cola.

The flavor has a lot of dark fruit - raisins, plum, maybe even some prune. Dark grains and spice, too. It has a slight cola bent, as suggested by the nose. Yeast tones throughout. The finish is dry and quite bitter with notes of earthy hops, unsweetened cocoa and perhaps a touch of coffee.

Art of Darkness has a smooth, rolling medium body with granular undercurrents. Carbonation tapers off over time, leaving a pillowy, plush feel. Very nice.

I worked on Art of Darkness for over two hours and I enjoyed it more with each sip. One to let warm. An easy recommendation.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2012 04:44:30 | More by Ryan011235

Brant

4.15/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

BLUF: A very well balanced dark ale, great for dessert or cold winter nights. A subtle and tasty mix of dark fruits and sweet malty alcohol.

A - Right out of the bottle it's a nice chocolaty brown with a hint of deep amber. In the glass it looks black. Nice head that fades a little too fast.

S - Sweet, hints of raisins and figs, mildly alcoholic scent.

T - Incredibly well-balanced. No one flavor stands out, but there's chocolate, raisins or figs, malt, and a slight alcohol tang (that by no means detracts from the experience!). Very nice.

M - Medium bodied, creamy but not overly so. Was not as heavy or syrupy as I expected it to be.

O - I bought two bottles of this because they both stated "Limited Addition" on the label. Glad I did! I'll drink one myself and save the other to share with my family over Christmas, and will certainly grab more if I see it. It has a very well balanced taste, nothing overwhelming, everything working in concert to yield a fantastic, warming ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 22:21:22 | More by Brant

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottled on 2/27/12. Poured in to CBS snifter.

A - Very dark brown with some deep amber present during the pour. Completely opaque. Half a finger of light brown head.

S - Belgian yeast, dark fruit, roast, spice and hints of chocolate.

T - Belgian yeast and some clove notes present up front that are well complimented by chocolate, spice, cherry, raisin, brown sugar and fig flavours. No one flavour dominates.

M - Medium body; creamy. Moderate carbonation. A little too much carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 18:36:23 | More by TheSevenDuffs

chinchill

South Carolina

4.3/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark, murky brown color with a tan head.

S: nicely balanced array of roasted grain, dark fruits, baked bread, vague spices and caramel.

T: Plenty of dark fruit mid-taste and in the aftertaste, with a kick of dark chocolate in the finish. A trace of light smoke.

M: superb -- full body and very creamy.

O: exceptionally enjoyable and better than expected, even from a premier American producer of Belgian style beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 23:35:55 | More by chinchill

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from Champagne bottle into a Duvel glass. Pours dark black with full thick head of 1/2 inch brown foam. The laye remains. Dark fruit smell. Oats. Plums, subtle raisin nose. Taste is fruity blend, mostly dark fruit - plums. Strong Belgian yeast. Some chocolate notes. Much happening - all good.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 11:37:21 | More by KTCamm

KajII

North Carolina

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

[Suggested Glassware: Trappist Glass]

The pour was a murky dark brown with some maroon highlights and an average (1-2 finger) creamy beige head that was mostly lasting and had excellent sheets of sticky lacing.

The aroma was nice and rich with a dark grain malt and a doughy Belgian yeast and possessed notes of dark chocolate, coffee, vanilla, dark fruit (raisons and dates) and a mild medicinal alcohol scent.

The taste was lightly sweet, rather malty and a tad acidic with hints of dark chocolate and dark fruit from the beginning, but quickly became roasty with a strong yeast presence and a note of roasted coffee and a touch of vanilla towards the finish. The flavor lasted a long good time with a roasty, wheat alcohol taste left to linger on the taste buds.

Mouthfeel was just a hair below medium in body with a semi-dry creamy texture and a moderate carbonation.

Overall a good strong boldly robust brew with tons of flavor, which is quite amazing as it all comes from the grains and yeast (nothing else was added). Basically a simply fantastic beer...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2012 21:47:26 | More by KajII

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

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

pkalix

California

4.5/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A- beautiful thick, black with a tan head and hexagonal lacing down the sides.
S- definite belgium-type aroma; i've not been able to pin that down in a vocabularistic manner.
T- dark fruit flavors, some bitterness, some alcohol; but when it leaves it seems as if it might have been a lighter brew.
M- as someone else pointed out,some carbonation, but "silky".
O- easy to drink at a 8.9 clip. tasty, the bitterness is not too bad at all. someone mentioned he allowed some of the yeasty sediment to pour into the glass and it seemed "smoother". the little bit of yeast i tried with it came out a bit tangy but i dont think it was meant to be poured in as a hefe weizen is. i'm flashing back to the days of the Thomas Hardy Ales . . . . back then, THAT was the WORST of all the beers on the DER BARON's list to finish in Las Vegas... does anybody remember DER BARON's???

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2012 23:37:53 | More by pkalix

scootny

New York

4.05/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A Lovely thick head atop a very dark clear but opaque black brow fluid. Some lace here and there. Smell is sweet with dark fruits. Raisins and figs, brown bread and yeasty esters of banana. Taste is complex with a firm sweet malt body and notes of licorice and anise. Some chocolate and cocoa/mocha. There is a very faint alcoholic edge in the finish and that quickly faded to a sweet warmth. Bitterness is low but adding the yeast by agitating did seem to all a bit of light chalkiness to the finish while at the same time adding a smoothness. Curious. Feel is quad like in its thickness but a touch lighter and well carbonated with a gentle creaminess. A very deep and delightful brew. Much to enjoy and savor and I hope I find some more to cellar.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2012 01:29:41 | More by scootny

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

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

Pencible

Virginia

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

A: This poured a nearly opaque dark mahogany with lots of fluffy light tan head.
S: It smelled like banana and clove and raisin, with some milk chocolate and cream, and a bit of maple and candi sugar.
T: It tasted like banana and clove and cocoa powder, with some sweet raisin and candi sugar and sour Belgian yeast. It had a clean and mild aftertaste that was sweet and sour.
M: It was oily and smooth with lots of fine natural carbonation. Beautiful slick body.
D: This was one of the sweeter Belgian dark ales I've had, with nice delicate scent and taste. The body was great, the alcohol was well hidden, and the finish was very mellow. So it was quite easy to drink, but sippable too. It could probably age quite well, but it was nice fresh also. Solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2012 19:30:23 | More by Pencible

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.3/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A-dark rustic brown with a light brown head

S-dark Belgian Malts, sweet caramels, and soaps...boozy almost. 

T-comes in with mild dark grains and faint dark fruits. Its somewhat syrupy and leaves a faint smokey after-taste. A forgettable beer.

M-watery medium carbonation with a watery finish

O-This was just a mild and boring dark Belgian ale. Definitely doesn't deserved to be bottled. Not bad tasting though! And it does go down fairly easy.

Serving type: on-tap

07-17-2012 16:23:14 | More by AdamBear

impending

California

3.53/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

B

750ml into a tulip. Pours a very deep copper mahogany, dense tan head with an encouraging pour, nice initial lacing.

Aroma is sweet, spicy and yeasty with a dab of camphor rounding the finish.

Never sweet never bitter. Little dark semi sweet chocolate, little cherry raisin vanilla. Mild phenolic backbone. Roasty, belgian stoutish. Medium rich bodied mouthfeel.
tasty with warmth but no outstanding components
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2012 05:22:12 | More by impending

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle into Lefft goblet

A- Heavy, opaque, super dark brown almost black pour with brown around the edges. Sitting on top is a long lived light tan head. Lacing is good.

S- Dark stone fruits, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and cloves. The oat adds a new aroma to this, almost oatmeal stout like.

T- Figs and dates, brown sugar, cloves, a touch of banana. Roasted char in the finish adds a bitter taste in the back end.
The oats again add a different taste in the finish but seems more "same old, same old"

M- Medium bodied, good carbonation, slightly chewy. Alcohol is very minimal.

O- I get the difference with this beer, but it just seems to be very similar to almost every other BSDA out there. Maybe it's just me... who knows?

Serving type: bottle

07-13-2012 23:14:42 | More by korguy123

Stinger80OH

Ohio

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

A: Poured into a standard 12oz mug, AOD is dark with a 1-2 finger head with good retention throughout as some lacing.

S: Dark fruits such as fig, grapes, and dates as well as a slightness of orange are abundant on the nose. Slight booziness too but not overwhelming for a BSDA.

T: As above, dark fruits dominant with a small touch of dark suger/burnt caramel on the back of the palate. Minimal booziness.

M: Soft, not too sweet given its fruity characteristics.

O: This is an average BSDA and given its price point, I probably wouldn't be inclined to buy it again. If you like this style of beer though and you like Ommegang, then its worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 15:36:29 | More by Stinger80OH

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

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

750ml bottles shared by Steve. Packaged February 7, 2012, best before February 2015.

Dark brown, mahogany highlights. Tan head, mild retention and some lace. Nose has dark fruits and grapes are dominant. Mildly sweet, almost floral in quality. Vanilla and cookie dough as well. Dark malt flavours, oats are evident, yeasty and dried fruits. Medium body, high effervescence. A really nice BSDA.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2012 00:32:36 | More by liamt07

confer

Pennsylvania

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

Got this after a few friends tried it in Cooperstown. We split a case several ways still came to 15 a bottle.
Pours dark brown and almost completely opaque. Nice tan 1/2 finger head hangs around for a short time.
Smell is on the boozy side.
No booziness in the taste. Slight bitterness with a sweet finish.
Overall another interesting beer from Ommegang. Due to the price I'm glad it was a one time offer.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 21:53:14 | More by confer