Scythe & Sickle
Brewery Ommegang

RB transfer

 

Hazy, amber color . Big , long-lasting, off-white head. Intense aroma of grains with a hint of yeasts. Smooth, malty taste with decent bitterness at the end. Semidry finish, grainy aftertaste.

 

 

 

 

 

The appearance was a hazy bronzed to heavy burnt orange color with a large rocky foamy white head that dissipated within less than about two minutes. The smell had some Belgian spices, slight yeastiness, some lemon/citrusy notes, slight dry savory grassiness, all combining really nice. The taste took all of those flavors and combined in a sticky sweet fashion. The aftertaste was semi-sweet through slight grassy and citrusy goodness. It’s got a dry finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a good sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly light, feels good, slightly sticky. Overall, as a Belgian Pale ale, it works, I’d have again.

 

 

 

 

 

I've been going thru BO's Retired brews (which are more than I expected, even given their propensity to experiment.) And I wish I could understand the logic behind not brewing Scythe & Sickle. Most likely, the recipe has come out in some other form. But that is just a hope... a hope that includes knowing that this French farmhouse style will probably need to be saved in the United States since it has largely been abandoned in Europe.

I often praise BO's parent (Duval-Morrtgat) for its hands-off management style that seems to work splendidly among its family of Belgian-inspired breweries. In the case of S&S and its sister (Grains Of Truth) I wish the parent would intervene and preserve the Biere De Garde here. Whatever is leftover from the harvest goes into the grist. Such a practical principle that brewing should return to.