Ommegang Abbey Ale

(11/6/08) Draught at The Drafting Room in Spring House. Thanks David T! Dark brown color. Aroma of plums, malt, some licorice. Sweet malty flavor with dark fruits, some candi sugar, licorice and a certain spiciness.

I definitely acknowledge that Ommegang makes some of the best Belgian style beer in North America; although this one fell a bit short of my expectations. Compared to the Westmalle dubbel, Chimay, and several others, I thought the comparison to be unfavorable. The beer poured an attractive red-brown haze with good head formation. Aroma was decently intense, with lots of caramel, and with some very under-stated dried fruit. Flavor had a lot of what seemed to me off notes - a weird cerealness and several others I couldn’t quite place. This seemed to improve as I worked my way through the glass. By the end of the glass, the off-notes had subsided (or I’d stopped noticing them), and i was left to enjoy a flavor that was more caramel-y than I would’ve liked, with less the wine, dried fruit, and maltiness that I’ve come to associate with other dubbels. I thought this was OK, and it is one of the few bargains remaining in the craft beer aisle of Discount Liquor, but I’d still be reluctant to recommend.

750ml bottle poured into a shaker. I shared this beer with Brook. OAA pours ruby red with a medium-sized head. The aroma had candy sugar, honey and apriocots. The flavor is sweet with candy but it also has a vinegar under current. There is a touch of wine-soaked wood as well. The finish is carbonated like a seltzer.

Style and Glass: Abbey Dubbel, Trappist ABV, Volume & Calories: 8.5% in 2 fl oz. estimated at 50C Purchased at: Joe Canal’s Lawenceville, NJ for $0 at a tasting event Aroma: Well done Belgian style. Scent of cloves, spices, anise, oak, age, mold, and alcohol. Visuals: Beautiful packaging,nice tan head, sticky lace, and a deep mahogany body. Taste: Well balanced, fruit, oak, wood, anise, great layered flavors. Very well done. Palate: Fruit juice texture, beautiful long lasting deep dark, earthy flavor. Overall: A very well done American version of the style. I’d have it again. Very nice especially for the price. Address : <http://beercritic.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/ommegang-abbey-ale/> Date Visited: Thu Jan 22 2009 23:31:56 GMT-0500 (EST)

Poured dartk brown with a nice rocky head. Nice semi-sweet malt with a little bitter hops. A true Begian double and a good one. Excellent beer.

Bottle with da boys. Thanks to BBB63. Pours a clearish brown with a beige head. Smells ever-so-slightly funghi. Sweet with aromas of candi-sugar, raisins and prunes. Hints of cheese. Dry finish. Medium carbonation. Medium body. Sugary finish with more aromas of raisins.

Delicious. Reddish-brown color. Sweet, rich, fruity flavor with hints of caramel and raisin. Kind of strong alcohol taste. Overall quite good.

Pours light brown with a nice khaki head. Aroma is light fruit, banana, chocolate, raisins, and some yeast. Flavor is fizzy banana, raisin, light fruit, and some chocolate and orange peel. Interesting; sour orange comes out in the flavor as the beer warms.