Ommegang Abbey Ale

Brewed by Brewery Ommegang (Moortgat)
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Cooperstown, New York USA

6/9/06: Brown sugar and bready aroma, caramelly, and with a sweetness I asscociate with De Dolle. Kind of beety but sharp, alcoholic and slightly fruity but a very unique smell. The pour is a thick, dark brown with a nice head that fades into a wet foam cap. The taste is bitterly pungent, alcoholic up front, with that same yeasty sweetness mentioned before. It is vegetably and smooth, with a gushy, green, obtuse zucchini finish (I don’t know how else to describe it!). Really, the taste is kind of bland and one-dimensional, which is funny as when I first rated this as only my 15th or so ratings I thought the flavor was great. It’s interesting how things change and how much one’s palate grows. 6/6/05: Malt, maybe a little caramel in the aroma. Pours a nice full head that quickly deteriorates, but is wonderful and creamy in the mouth. The beer itself is full and enveloping. Chocolaty, dark malt, a bit of citrusy bitterness at the finish, maybe a touch of cherry, with a subtle but lingering warm, malty aftertaste. 5/3/9/5/17

Re-Rate 10/18/02: The pour an opaque dark cherry red, the head adequate, but dissipates quickly, leaving skimpy lace. ’Ah! That nose’, malt, bubble gummy, sweet, plummish, quite delectable. Front is sweet, malt laden, the top is moderate, the finish parched, alcohol bitter, masterfully hopped, intensely acidic, but a most drinkable beer that deserves a sample. Ranks #224 on my current 1000 beer master list.

One of the finest glasses of American beer that I’ve ever had. Bronze ale with a ruddy foam head. Inviting malty, peppery aroma. Malted ale flavor with tart plum/peach/cherry fruit middle and pepper-alcohol finish. Palate was very good, but missed the 5 rating slightly.

Bottle pours a cloudy burgundy, large foamy off-white head, good carbonation, with slick lacing.   Bubblegum, bread, and some dark pitted fruit on the nose.   Slight dry wood notes as well.   Black cherry, figs, toffee, and light alcohol on the tongue.   Wonderful body, smooth mouthfeel.   Finishes wet, slightly sweet, with subtle dark pitted fruit.   Quite a treat this one is!   Thanks goes out to slob for the trade!

Pours a sky high foamy light brown head on a deep amber colored body with a fine orange gleam. Very heavy and penetrating sweet aroma of fruit, raisins, plum, apricot and oranges. Spices and cake tones also. Very nice, it really draws out the mouth water. Flavor is also heavy sweet fruity and citrusy with a bitter/harsh end and some alcohol present. Nut, toffee and spices notes. An extreme beer, very interesting, but too harsh in the end.

Bottle. Reddish brown with a long-lasting tan head. Sweet caramel aroma with some dark fruit. Flavour of more dark fruit with some chocolate. Very enjoyable.

[745-20071008] 750mL (w/ jerc, tuqueboy). Toasted chocolate aroma with some alcohol and anise. Hazy, dark brown red body with a long-lasting foamy light tan head. Toasted Belgian yeast flavour has some chocolate notes and licorice anise. Medium-full body. Very nice, goes well with yummy pork roast.

Small bottle. Dark brown/red, murky thick beige head - looks great. Nice slightly sweet, fruity, and spicy aroma. Strong taste at first - some alcohol, some hops, much sweetness and some fruit (plum, cherry). A hint of spice. Full bodied, rich mouthfeel. Short dry finish, the first half of this beer is incredible, the second half ends too soon with little flavour. But overall, a great Belgian Strong, this warming liquid treat was perfect after a long day at work.