Abbey Ale | Brewery Ommegang

4.28/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I love the authenticity of Ommegang ales. They are as authentic/classic as it gets. I'm not sure how many yeast strains they use in their lineup, but they seem to really pull off yeast-centric beers that showcase all of the typical spice an fruitiness of an authentic Belgian strain, without an overly heavy handed usage of specialty malts like many American breweries tend to do. Their spicing is subtle and complimentary as well, which shows their knowledge and expertise in a major way. Had to review their flagship beer as it is a classic in my mind too.

L: Pour is extremely carbonated! glad to see this, it works and is very appropriate for the style. I recommend a wide mouth glass and a slow pour. Color is deep brown/burgundy with reddish highlight and off white fluffy head. clarity is decent but not completely transparent. Little to no yeast sediment.

S: Nice estery-spice combo. aroma of sweet malts and estery yeast character is present. A bit of booze is there too.

T: Extremly flavorful and wonderfully balanced on the palate. There is plenty of dark fruit, estery sweetness, a bit of caramel malt character that is not overwhelming, and spice too. Very complex and and changes as it warms. you can easily quaff this but it is great to sip on and ponder.

F: light, medium body. the high carbonation helps with the smoothness and drinkability.

O: I really don't know of many better "dubbels" out there, American or Belgian. It is rare that I can say this outdoes many Belgian examples. This would be a good one to lay down for verticles, but it is great fresh. Well done Ommegang!

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4.3/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: A beautiful 750ml. bottle with tips on pouring, drinking, and where to find the brewery. The front label also had a brief, but revealing. description of the liquid within. "Ommegang is a Belgian-style Abbey Ale- top fermented and bottle conditioned, yielding a rich, fruity, aromatic, burgundian brew."

Appearance: Rich and dark, with an extremely healthy head comprised of tiny bubbles.

Smell: Malty and sweet with hints of caramelized sugars and honey. Slightly fruity and deep to the nose.

Taste: Complex malt richness and fruit flavours, with hints of spice and a smooth body of dark sweetness. Semi-champagne style carbonation led to it finishing slightly dry and yet again ... more sweetness.

Notes: This is a victory for American Belgian Ale lovers. With a price point of about $5 for a 750ml. bottle, as opposed to the typical $7-$12 for imports, it makes for a very affordable treat.

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4.76/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Whenever I want an affordable, great-tasting Belgian style ale, and I have already had my fill of Three Philosophers for the week, I can always rely on its lighter (yet still fruity) cousin, the Abby Ale. I can nurse a bottle of this in a Duvel tulip for hours. Ommegang just knows what the hell they're doing. Period.

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4.44/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoying this in my Ommegang goblet...
A - Pours a dark reddish brown with 1/2" head of tight bubbles that settles quickly to a tan cap.
S - Aroma is not as strong as you might expect or hope for. A little bit of dark fruit perhaps.
T - Maybe some wine, definitely dark cherry notes. A little bit of spice too.
M - Medium mouth feel and very carbonated.
O - This might be my favorite of the Ommegang offerings. Very enjoyable and reasonably priced. Do yourself a favor and let this one warm up - don't drink it straight out of the fridge.

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4.23/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Unquestionably a great beer, but I have to say that it ages surprisingly poorly for a Belgian-style dubbel on lees. After a year and a half in my cellar, it takes on a slightly cloying, barleywine-like sweetness that tamps down the complexity of the fresher version of this brew. In both old and new bottles, flavors of brown sugar, licorice, strawberries, and other fruity, malty flavors are abundant. It definitely qualifies as the meal-in-a-bottle that a hearty Belgian ale is supposed to be, but leave it around too long and it's more of a rich dessert. Still great, but I prefer it a bit smoother, less sticky.

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5/5  rDev +20.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I don't think I have ever given a beer a 5/5, but this beer absolutely deserves it. I believe that it is not a stretch to say that this is the best beer I have ever had in my life. I can't think of words to adequately describe this beer

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4.62/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Wow. This is an awesome beer. I love Abbey style ales and this has got to be in the top 5 I've ever had.

L - Poured from a 750ml bottle into a tulip I get a 1 finger pillowy head. The color is a deep brown, very cloudy when held to the light, especially if you pour any dregs. Minimal lacing.

S - The smell is very pleasant; fresh bread, sweet malt, dark fruits, slight banana. I may detect the slightest bit of clove in the nose but it may just be my brain tricking me; it's pretty faint if it's there. Nothing particularly interesting.

T - The taste starts with big bready sweet malt, dark fruits, molasses, finishing on a perfect amount of bitterness and a hint of banana. The taste is very clean for a dubbel. I don't really detect any clove or bubblegum from the yeast beyond the slight banana in the finish. I actually enjoy what some may consider a lack of yeast character. In my opinion it makes the flavor of the malt and the hop bitterness more apparent and actually makes a more rounded flavor, start to finish. I believe it to be a very good dubbel to give to someone who's not fond of big banana and clove bombs.

M - This has a fairly full, soft mouthfeel despite being very carbonated. I like the carbonation level being what it is, but it may be off putting for some. I think serving temperature will really affect the mouthfeel though because of the carbonation. I threw this in the fridge for a day and took it out for about 20 minutes before I opened it so it was closer to 50*F when I first poured it.

O - As I said above, this is an awesome beer. One of the best dubbels I've ever had, rivaling the best trappist ales from Belgium. Very well done and extremely enjoyable. The more subtle yeast character in this beer make it unique in that I can really pick out more nuances from the malt.

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4.07/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

This was one of those brews that simply was a pleasure from beginning to end...

A copperish colored brew with a hazy look and a weak tan foam to top it off. The smell was nice blend of yeast, bread, and even a touch of cinnamon...maybe. Anyway, I found this to be very smooth, slightly creamy though carbonated as it was. The taste had hints of caramel, and just enough maltiness to balance out the flavor. For being a boozy beer it doesn't have the overwhelming taste of alcohol that some of the other brews in this category put out. This makes the beer well blended and outstanding in my book.

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4.24/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle bb June 2020 poured into a Ommegang signature glass at fridge temp 8.2% ABV. The beer pours slightly hazy light brown with khaki head. Very little retention and no lacing. The aroma is typical dried fruit (raisin etc) along with sweet bread. The taste is barely tart & semisweet fruit at first settling into a dark bready yeasty finish. Mouthfeel is medium to thin bodied, well carbonated with a prickly feel (would most likely smooth out as it approaches it bb date). The finish is semisweet, but not in an objectionable way, offset by the tartness and carbonation. Overall, very good.

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4.85/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured hazy chestnut color with big head. It smells wonderfully fruity with hints of raisons, plums and other dark fruits. The taste is fantastic malty and yeasty as should be. Great mouth feel and the favorite in my rotation right now.

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4.31/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a very slightly cloudy reddish-brown with a one inch tan head that left little lacing. Smells and tastes of caramel, sweet malts, Belgian yeast, dark fruits, spices and toffee. Light to medium bodied, well carbonated, smooth mouth feel.

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4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Very active pour and immediate foamy head. Two fingers khaki colored head decent lacing of glass while drinking. Color is dark reddish and cloudy. Smell is malty, fruity. Taste is very unique and complex. Upfront tropical fruits orange peel and pine then sweet toffee. Malts and spice come thru as well as warming alcohol. Mouth is medium. Feel is smooth with just the right amount of carbonation. Definitely a first class dubbel.

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4.16/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours an opaque bronze with burnt orange highlights and a a good finger's worth of fine khaki foam--just beautiful to behold. Rich aroma smells of molasses, prunes, cherries, clove, coriander, brown sugar, toasted bread, and a hint of alcohol.

The bold and complex flavor profile features molasses, toasted bread, cherry, and plenty of tangy, vigorous yeast. The spices and robust carbonation do more than enough to balance the malty backbone. The yeast presence pushes the envelope a bit, but manages to remain just under control. The mouthfeel is lush, vibrant, and a solid complement to the taste.

Overall, this is a bold and flavorful brew that isn't as decidedly sweet as most of its peers. Its balance and gorgeous presentation make it one of my preferred dubbels, even though it isn't an archetypal representation of the style.

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4.27/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

For a high point beer this is extremely smooth. Pours a deep brown tea color. The smell has wheat, grape, raisin slightly sour flavor. A little more carbonated than I like but still smooth swallow and little aftertaste. A really good dubbel.

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4.35/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Had the first of my four-pack after exercising..not a good idea. This is a beer that is best sipped slowly. Beautiful orange-brown color. Scent of raisins, taste is wonderful. Cherries, plum, alcohol. Terrific beer to savor on a winters night.

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4.2/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Real nice burgundy in color with a great head,with nice Belgian lace left there.Somewhat medicinal in aroma with a little bit of fruit showing up there.Taste was sweet the some chesnut in there as well incredible smooth,the alcohol showed up fast as well.Became stronger as it warmed,about as authentic as you can get,the know what they are doing up there in Cooperstown.

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3.78/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark brown pour with a rich tan head. Nice liveliness and lacing. The nose mildly sweet with hints of prune and fig and there is an evident pinch of spice in the mix as well. The taste starts lightly earthy and build up towards a semi sweetness that includes dull black licorice, molasses and prune/raisin. On the finish there also seems to be a tart woodiness that creeps in ever so slightly. A good mouthfeel that is lively and medium bodied. A subtle version of a strong dark Belgian that does a good job in remaining well balanced without being over the top.

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4.4/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A great beer, and an amazing value at $3.50 for a 750 ml bottle. Pours a beautiful semi-opaque reddish-brown with a nice fluffy, sticky beige head. Very potent! Smells and tastes of fruit (apples, raisins...). Dangerously good. I just had a whole bottle to myself, and I don't particularly feel like moving!

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4.37/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance – Nice, lively head with a clear but dark brown body.

Smell – Lovely aroma of dark malts with lots of sugar. The dates, plums, ripe apricots, and cherries are just a few of the fruits that came out first. These were complimented with raw and brown sugars and a touch of alcohol.

Taste – Beautiful sweet taste of roasted malts, the ripe, rich fruits from the nose, and tons of sugar. Molasses finds its way in this concoction along with some maple and cane sugar. The alcohol is present but complimentary, not overpowering to the drinker.

Mouthfeel – Medium carbonation and very full in the mouth. This one is bite-sized and chewy.

Drinkability – There was a hint of licorice at the tongue that I didn’t care for, otherwise this was a terrific BSDA.

Update – After having a few of these over the last year I decided to re-review it for 2004. I seem to have gotten used to the light licorice flavor at the finish of this ale so upped the “Drinkability” rating from 4.0 to 4.5.

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3.75/5  rDev -9.9%

4.87/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Ommegang opens like a fine champagne. This is the first great thing about the beer. Popping a bottle of bubbly is always a blast. Sure you can be a wuss and hold a towel over the cork but who doesn’t like to send a little piece of wood flying across the room or straight up in to your vaulted cathedral ceiling.

The next step doesn’t disappoint either. The head is a rich brown color and lasts and lasts and lasts. One thing that I like about Ommegang’s bottles is that they print pouring instructions that are specific to each individual beer. Ommegang is meant to be consumed in a goblet and should be poured carefully because of the richness of the head. I prefer to drink it out of a snifter because it really brings out Ommegang’s best trait, it’s nose.

Aromas of caramel apples and brown sugar instantly fill the room when you open a bottle. A lot of beers can create such poignant aromas but few can make them last longer than a few seconds after opening, and even fewer have a taste that matches their nose. Ommegang’s flavor is just as full as it’s wonderful scent.

The first sip of the sienna colored liquid offers a fruit forward POW to the palate of chocolate-covered cherries, figs, and raisins. Spiced rum and mild anise follow and it finishes with an orange tobacco that grows increasingly more citrus full as the beer warms.

Despite its relative strength (8.5%), and bold flavors, Ommegang is not intimidating like most other Belgians. It’s incredibly smooth and cohesive putting its drinkability right through the roof. Anyone who can enjoy a middle of the road ale like New Castle should be able to tolerate and eventually learn to love not only the Ommegang but other strong Belgians as well. For the seasoned beer drinker, Ommegang’s appeal will be immediate.

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4/5  rDev -3.8%

4.49/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I bought the 12oz bottle version (they also have a 750ml corked bottle version). I served it in a tall wheat beer glass. This beer pours a beautiful reddish brown color. The flavor of this beer is mysterious at times but it is delicious. It is so smooth and the mouth feel is fantastic. The beer itself says that it is brewed with licorice root, star anise, sweet orange peel, coriander, and cumin. Imagine all those flavors then imagine it tasting nothing like that. When I think of licorice root and star anise I think of a very powerful and unique flavor. This beer is so expertly crafted that you can't pinpoint anyone of those flavors. It is balanced so well, everything just meshes together into one pleasant taste. This beer is malted, tastes like dark fruits, it has hardly any detectable bitter hops present at all (its malty), its not overly sweet, but you will taste a slight zing from the alcohol (its 8.2%). The alcohol can be tasted but it is not overwhelming.

Quite frankly this beer is a masterpiece. If you are a hop hater (like I am) you will most likely enjoy this beer. This is a malty beer all the way. It is light and freshening. I see this as a beer that can be enjoyable all year round.

I'm so glad I tried this!

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5/5  rDev +20.2%

3.5/5  rDev -15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5