Rare Vos Amber Ale
Brewery Ommegang

Rare Vos Amber AleRare Vos Amber Ale
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From:
Brewery Ommegang
 
New York, United States
Style:
Belgian Pale Ale
Ranked #2
ABV:
6.5%
Score:
91
Ranked #7,366
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 10.81%
Reviews:
1,209
Ratings:
3,519
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 24, 2024
Added:
Sep 24, 2000
Wants:
  237
Gots:
  740
Rare Vos Amber Ale is styled after the smooth, drinkable beers popular in Belgian cafés. It pours a light copper hue, contrasting beautifully with a big, creamy white head. The nose offers orange blossoms and slight spice.

On the palate, the caramel maltiness shines strongly but with little sweetness. The profile leans toward dry fruity (yeast-affiliated), slightly fruity/hoppy with a beguiling spiciness. This complex, medium-bodied beer has a smooth mid-palate and moderate dry finish.

Well-balanced in all elements, it's a mild, mellow brew.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by gunpwdr:
Photo of gunpwdr
Rated by gunpwdr from Virginia

3/5  rDev -26.3%

Apr 10, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of walser
Reviewed by walser from New York

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
19 oz can from Wegmans. Not initially impressed but having let it sit in the glass and taking with dinner, liver and onions, totally different taste profile. Very good. With food or after it resting all the nose and mouth feel come out. Floral, spice, citrus but evened with hops and malt. Very very good with liver and onions. I am impressed how good this pairs with food.
Feb 24, 2024
 
Rated: 4.52 by rrella

Feb 06, 2024
 
Rated: 3.99 by mickyge from Massachusetts

Nov 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.99 by craigbelly from Iowa

Sep 24, 2023
Photo of Shiredave
Reviewed by Shiredave from New York

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This beer is under rated and appreciated.
Medium-dark amber color with a pale cream head that shows good legs.
Aroma is malt and subtle hop spice of leather and lavender.
Flavor is a balanced blend of bready malt flavors with warm figs and braised spruce tips.
Medium bodied, perfect food beer with red meat, game or fowl.
Sep 16, 2023
 
Rated: 3.88 by bschmidt_37 from Illinois

Jul 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.63 by BeerWasp from Germany

Apr 14, 2023
 
Rated: 4.21 by rpmello81 from California

Mar 18, 2023
 
Rated: 3.9 by QuintusHorace from California

Mar 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by trickynicky from Maryland

Feb 13, 2023
Photo of BitteNochEinWeissbier
Reviewed by BitteNochEinWeissbier from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On Draft
Glass: Belgian Tulip Snifter
ABV: 6.5%

Look:
Hazy and somewhat opaque dark copper. Minimal off white head, likely due to a very full pour.

Aroma:
Nice estery yeastiness. Vague ripe banana and some other fruits. Some citrus. Sweet but not cloying malts. Some coriander, cloves, and other spices.

Taste:
Similar to the nose with the malts more prominent and front and center. Orange peel can be detected. The sip dries out as it moves along and finishes dry and a bit spicy.

Feel:
Mostly smooth but a touch prickly. Also a tad dry. The body is pretty much medium.

Overall:
A very good amber Belgian Ale. Tasty and enjoyable.
Feb 09, 2023
Photo of TurboMon_911
Reviewed by TurboMon_911 from New Jersey

4.14/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
12 oz. bottle, (Best by 05/11/23); Poured a cloudy dull copper color into a Samuel Smith Imperial pint glass with a frothy white head that dissipated quickly leaving minimal to no lacing with loads of carbonation present throughout. Aroma is malty with hints of orange peel, coriander and spice from the Belgian yeast, (not overly sweet as it has an earthiness to it that's unique). Flavor has definite Belgian character but is not overstated with the mouth being a little thin. Body is light to medium with a slight tingle on the tongue and a semi dry finish. This was from a mixed 6 gift pack from my brother who though I might like it. He was correct, well done Ommegang!
Jan 12, 2023
Photo of Davidstan
Reviewed by Davidstan from Alabama

4.39/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Just now becoming a Belgian fan. This beer cuts down the middle of high ABV and belgian macro beer. I would think this was a import so 3 cheers to Ommegang
Jan 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by Patches826 from Massachusetts

Dec 17, 2022
Photo of Bluerabbitbell
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Enjoyed at home, 12/1/22, from a Kroger pick 6.

Beautiful foamy head and gorgeous copper color. Bitey in the mouth, we definitely get coriander, pepper, caramel and fruity apple and orange maltiness with little sweetness. A bit thin in the mouth, but overall a really curious and delicious offering!
Dec 01, 2022
 
Rated: 4.05 by FunkyPolak from New Jersey

Nov 13, 2022
Photo of BubbleBobble
Reviewed by BubbleBobble from New York

4.02/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark, ruby amber, big 2" tan head that settles out with little lacing. Lacks the same big, cloud-like head formation of, say, Orval. Nose is dark fruit, roasted pears, brown sugar, red apple, cloves. Taste is extremely clear with more dark fruit, brown sugar, fresh baked brown bread, a earthy spice. Mouthfeel is crisp and clean as well. Extremely clean and unmuddled.
Nov 06, 2022
Photo of JZH1000
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado

4.01/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Had on tap at Murphys Tap House in Louisville CO

On arrival a nice fine 1 finger off white head with good retention is present. Body is a moderately hazy solid amber. It's hard to see much carbonation. No lacing is left.

Aroma is traditionally belgian. A distinct esterty yeastiness is present before a light malt sweetness from amber malts. Not the most hoppy beer, but overall this is a dry belgian slightly darker aroma.

Taste is quite similar to the aroma but the yeast esters are even more present. There is a light hop bitterness, but the yeast largely overwhelms that on the palate. There is a light roasted malty note on the very back but again this is a very dry beer. Very belgian, but also amber, quite nice.

Feel is just as big as any belgian strong with a nice effervescence as well. Despite the color the beer is quite refreshing and is a nice substitute for vienna lager, as long as you enjoy belgian beers. Very dry on the palate as well with only a medium finish.

Overall, despite never seeing a belgian lower abv amber, this would have me fooled. If I didn't know this was from New York I'd believe it us an authentic belgian amber beer, and it's damn tasty too.
Aug 11, 2022
 
Rated: 4.05 by newcastlemike from Connecticut

Aug 06, 2022
Rare Vos Amber Ale from Brewery Ommegang
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 3519 ratings