Ommegang Adoration

Brewed by Brewery Ommegang (Moortgat)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Cooperstown, New York USA

Bottle. Pours a rich mahogany with a very nice head. No lacing. Nose is primarily a spice bomb - cardamon, ginger, peppery, some leafy herbalness (not DMS - but leafy). In some ways the spicing is reminiscent of a few of the Unibroue Anniversary beers. Past the spice blast is alcohol, cherries and caramel. Its nice - but that spice is really overwhelming - if the spices were half as intense this would have gotten an 8 for aroma. Flavor is more of those same spices, though cardamon is more present than in the aroma. Some toffee notes come out, along with plum and fig. Finish has a lot (too much, really) of booze which is joined by plums. Overbearing cardamon continues here. Overdone in general.

Bottle shared by Marcus. Pours ruby brown with a beige head. Aromas of christmas berries and spices. Full bodied with firm, prickly c arbonation. Flavor is dark malt with evergreen, cinnamon and othe spice Maybe allspice? citrus? Smooth. Not at all harsh. Really good dark ale.

Poured dark brown with a decent tan head and a sweet honey and fruit aroma. This is a dark malt beer with ingredients normally associated with a witbier, such as coriander and orange peel. However, it works really well. I love this beer.

750ml bottle. Pours a lightly hazy, reddish chestnut color. A small, foamy, khaki colored head leaves wet, foamy arches of lacing on the glass. The aroma is based in dark caramel malt, light on earthy hop character, with notes of cherries, fig, clove, and various winter spices. A yeasty bubblegum overtone seems odd and out of place. Flavors are similar, again sweet from the caramel and brown sugar malts, earthy from the clove, and peppery with spicy citrus peel. Again, some ethery bubblegum is an unwelcomed element. The palate falls on the thin side for a 10% beer, seeming a little papery and weak, showing some alcohol burn. Decent brew, but nothing to get excited about.

Magnum at the rip and run, not a usual selection from the Patel’s. Intense nose of musty spice as the cork is pulled. This isn’t absolutely bad but...... Pours a lovely translucent ruby with some brown tones in center. A hefty head that settles rapidly to a quarter inch. First and second tastes are almost all spice.....Bert you were right again! (actually translated as"Damn Ceciltuckian") The spice was followed by spice and the finish was slowly descending spice. I felt like I was back in the seaport inspecting.....you guessed it....spice. Pass

750ml bottle. Rating #76. Murky, dark brown with a touch of orange, the head was light tan and clung to the glass for only a moment. Sweet spice aroma, coriander and orange peels. Flavor is a little boozy, more spicy sweetness and a little thin, but smooth as well. Not bad, but not my thing. (1090)

750ml caged and corked bottle. Poured a deeper reddish/ copper color with a large sized off white head. Aromas of spices, dried orange peels, and just all around spices. Tastes of spices, orange peels, caramel, and fruity.

750 ml bottle from bev4less. Pours a cloudy brown color with a medium beige head that has fair retention. The aroma The aroma is sweet with berries, vanill and cardamon. The flavor is fruity with berries, plums, pears, vanilla and a good mix of spices. The palate is full and satisfying. The finish is long with lingering spices. Overall: A very tasty winter brew.