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Ommegang
Rated 8.85 by 33 Beer Drinkers.
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Ommegang Brewery
By Big Belly Brian Bailey
Late this past summer a buddy and I ventured into central New York State to make our hegira to a shrine to masculinity everywhere… a place where every blue-blooded American male needs to bring his son. My buddy and I visited Cooperstown. Yeah, we went to Hall of Fame. Saw some ballplayers. Cried over how little New York Met stuff there is. Yada, yada, yada. But the real star of Cooperstown has nothing to do with the major leagues. It has to do with beer.
As we traveled along a narrow back road outside the village we came across a peculiar little (and I mean little) building that could only be European in origin. You can imagine the ecstasy we felt upon discovering it was a brewery! The Brewery Ommegang to be precise, the only true Belgian-style bottle conditioned brewery in the U.S. After a short tour of the super microbrewery we had the opportunity to taste each of the three varieties of beer brewed at the facility. They make only three, but quality is always better than quantity, unless we are talking about sex, right? Right? Anyway, immediately after the taste test I dropped my credit card and purchased a case of the stuff.
The easy drinking Rare Vos is the lightest and smoothest of the three. The tour guide described it as the beer to drink, "…after mowing the lawn." Well I wouldn’t go that far. It certainly ain’t Pabst Blue Ribbon. This is a serious beer, heavy with hops and spices that the brewery uses, but it finishes quite lightly. You’d be able to drink a few of these sublime brews but don’t expect to pound them all night on a bender.
Hennepin is probably the best known beer of the Ommegang trilogy. This is heavier than the Rare Vos, both in body and hoppiness. This beer is caramel-like but not oppressive. It takes a serious beer drinker to slam a few of these, but for a pleasant sipping experience, Hennepin is awesome. It should be said that Hennepin isn’t meant to be served ice cold. Cool is the key. This beer is meant to be enjoyed in place of wine as an accompaniment to foods of all kind.
The big ole Ommegang beer is the third in the threesome. The eponymous brew is as close to wine as you can get without killing a grape. It should be served cellar temperature and one could get away with serving it in an aperitif glass. It could precede, follow or accompany sweet or spicy foods, but I prefer it along with a big hunk of hard mellow cheese, like asiago or even the unappreciated cheddar.
This beer packs a punch. The alcoholic content can compete with and even exceeds many wines on the market. Be aware, Ommegang is only for the serious beer connoisseur. It can be rough to take at first with its bitter flavor, but as you get used to it you’ll find the chocolatey overtones can be nicely rewarding.
If you want more information on this truly undiscovered treasure visit their website ommegang.com. You will find much more on the history of the area and the brewery. You can also buy the beer online- how's that for convenience?
Rated 8.85 by 33 Beer Drinkers.
Add Your Own Comment There are 10 Drinker Comments - Last 10 Displayed
0Beer Lover» Just tasted this on a trip. Way too expensive and tasted like a sweaty sock. 9Scrappy» They should rename it to OMG. Because that was the reaction of every connoisseur at the table. It does come out with a big bite, and it does taste heavy at the end of #2 but wow, what an experience. Great beer. 9SteveO» Great example of Belgian style beer. Almost makes you forget to go to the Hall of Fame 9Opie» Ommegang is without a doubt a great brewery, and are expanding their line to more cave aged beers. Try the Three Philospohers, it's worth the extra $ they ask for it. If your at the brewery stop down the road to the Milford Brewery, another excellent 10Zubra» One of the finest brews I have ever placed to my lips. I have to have it shipped in 900 miles! Very complex. More than 2 become a little heavy. 9Tom» I just wanted a less expensive alternative to Chimay, I found it in Ommegang at half the price. 10Bill R.» Ommegang is without a doubt the best beer that I have ever had. Whoooey!! 11Dino» This is the best beer in the whole world. Served with cajun shrimp pasta, it makes my whole month (and the 9.5% alcohol really packs a punch) 11JFK» Hennepen is the most satisfying beer I have had. The only thing that comes close is Paulaner Hefe Wiesen. 10Chris» Had this up in Portland, Maine at a dinner party. The host had three big bottles and poured them into wine glasses, it was fantastic!
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Late this past summer a buddy and I ventured into central New York State to make our hegira to a shrine to masculinity everywhere… a place where every blue-blooded American male needs to bring his son. My buddy and I visited Cooperstown. Yeah, we went to Hall of Fame. Saw some ballplayers. Cried over how little New York Met stuff there is. Yada, yada, yada. But the real star of Cooperstown has nothing to do with the major leagues. It has to do with beer.
The easy drinking Rare Vos is the lightest and smoothest of the three. The tour guide described it as the beer to drink, "…after mowing the lawn." Well I wouldn’t go that far. It certainly ain’t Pabst Blue Ribbon. This is a serious beer, heavy with hops and spices that the brewery uses, but it finishes quite lightly. You’d be able to drink a few of these sublime brews but don’t expect to pound them all night on a bender.
The big ole Ommegang beer is the third in the threesome. The eponymous brew is as close to wine as you can get without killing a grape. It should be served cellar temperature and one could get away with serving it in an aperitif glass. It could precede, follow or accompany sweet or spicy foods, but I prefer it along with a big hunk of hard mellow cheese, like asiago or even the unappreciated cheddar.
