Soothsayer
Brewery Ommegang

SoothsayerSoothsayer
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From:
Brewery Ommegang
 
New York, United States
Style:
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
ABV:
8.9%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.98 | pDev: 7.54%
Reviews:
38
Ratings:
132
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 02, 2022
Added:
Dec 24, 2015
Wants:
  10
Gots:
  37
The Soothsayer sees in the shadows a glass of black vision, indeed. A dark future that’s all in the making. Tempting good folks to share in the deed. What he sees is the old way of brewing with no spices, no voodoo, no spells. Just the grains and the yeast and the ancient black art. Can’t you feel how it darkly compels?

With Soothsayer, we forgo any spicing to explore the art of dark brewing. Simple grains and Ommegang yeast alone portend notes of licorice, coffee and chocolate under a thick tan head.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mwilbur:
Photo of mwilbur
Reviewed by mwilbur from Minnesota

4.01/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured from 750 mL bottle into snifter.
A: Pours a very dark brown with 2-3 inch tan head with tight bubble formation producing a foam-like head. Excellent retention. Nice thick lacing.
S: Dark caramel malt, spearmint, clove, and other earthy spices.
T: Dark caramel malt, candi sugar, clove, brown sugar, spearmint, and a hint of cinnamon.
M: Light-medium body. Darkly sweet. Wish there was a bit more here.
D: A decent example of style, but certainly not outstanding. A step below the usual Ommegang brew (which is excellent).
Jul 03, 2016
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.68 by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

Dec 02, 2022
Photo of stortore
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois

4.02/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
750 ml bottle into an Ommegang Belgian glass. Had 3/8/19.

Pours near black with a two inch head of thick foam with good retention and lots of foamy lacing. Aromas of malt, Belgian yeast, spices- cloves, coriander, black pepper as it warms, raisins, molasses, chocolate, dates, light smoke. The taste is mostly similar- malt, Belgian yeast, raisins, dates, chocolate, some cola, spices- lots of cloves, molasses, light licorice. Smooth, a little creamy, a very good medium body, well carbonated on the high side.

A pretty classic BSDA, maybe a little heavier on the darker fruit. Very good aroma and flavor, very enjoyable.
Feb 28, 2020
Photo of Suds
Reviewed by Suds from Missouri

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
From a tall, thick, corked, Belgain-style bottle, this brew is dark brownish in color with a thick, tight-bubbled tan head. The aroma is of dark bread, candied fruit, and brown sugar. The taste is similar, with some alcohol warming and deep malt notes. Spice and fruit. The body is full and the taste is very Belgian. Approachable and enjoyable.
Jan 01, 2020
 
Rated: 4.28 by Beerasaurus from Virginia

Oct 24, 2019
 
Rated: 4.02 by GracelandII from Virginia

Aug 04, 2019
 
Rated: 4.13 by Jstarr2517 from Connecticut

Jul 18, 2019
Photo of Tony210
Reviewed by Tony210 from New Jersey

3.73/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
***aged 3 years***
Pours pretty dark with foamy head. Very yeasty aroma. Flavor is yeasty, dark malt, raisins. Typical Belgian micro carbonation. Overall an ok dark Belgian, not my favorite

4/13/19
Bomber, no date, purchased 3 years ago.
3.75 rating
Apr 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4.01 by golf4collet from West Virginia

Mar 12, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Mar 10, 2019
Photo of LifesAnesthesia
Reviewed by LifesAnesthesia from Virginia

4.31/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L - Deep brown with mahogany highlights and a medium tan head that dissipates somewhat quickly leaving behind minimal lacing
S - bready yeast, dark malts, caramel, dark fruits - the smell is pretty faint though
T - follows the nose with dark, slightly roasted malts and bready yeast along with a lot of caramel and dark fruits - figs particularly - as well as some chocolate, brown sugar, licorice, and some vanilla notes
F - Medium to full bodied with a moderate among of carbonation. Smooth but fizzy with a lot of microbubbles
O - A really nice belgian dark ale that hits all the right notes - I really enjoy the rich caramel and figs that stand out in the flavor profile
Mar 02, 2019
 
Rated: 3.98 by RBorsato from Virginia

Feb 26, 2019
 
Rated: 4.13 by Whitemanshuffle from Pennsylvania

Feb 01, 2019
 
Rated: 4.1 by BrewMaven from New York

Jan 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.87 by GuitarIPA from Connecticut

Jan 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.93 by JamieDuncan from Maryland

Nov 14, 2018
 
Rated: 4.75 by RochefortChris from North Carolina

Nov 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by 1971bernat from Virginia

Oct 29, 2018
Photo of VABA
Reviewed by VABA from Virginia

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-Pours a very dark opaque color with a slight head and lacing
A-Aroma has chocolate and licorice hints
T-The taste follows the nose with chocolate and licorice flavors
M-A medium bodied moderately carbonated beer
O-A nice Belgian Dark Ale
Oct 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.98 by foghornleghorn22 from Virginia

Sep 23, 2018
Soothsayer from Brewery Ommegang
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 132 ratings