#221: Brewery Ommegang » Adoration Ale (Belgian Strong Ale)

Winter cherishing...

The Brewery: Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY)
The Brew:  Adoration Ale (Belgian Strong Ale)
Availability:  Bottles, draft (Seasonal, Limited)
ABV: 10.0%
Rating: 9.2/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

Looks like this one got a write-up this winter, but never made it to the blog. I was on a single-bottle kick early in the winter, wanting to pack as much various flavors into our limited space as possible (now no longer an issue with the a dedicated beer fridge!).

While Ommegang has become a pinnacle of Upstate New York brewing, I can be a bit hot / cold with their releases. I either love them or am underwhelmed. I recalled enjoying Adoration from a case a group of friends picked up for me a few years back, but hadn't seen the limited ale in a while, so I snagged a bottle to see if my palate still concurred.

Adoration starts off with a malty, spiced nose with hints of juicy orange. A deep amber body topped with fizzy, off-white head adds to the dignified setting.

The taste is beautiful and elegant - not too carbonated, perfectly malty, backed by a wonderful blend of spices. Smooth orange and tangerine flavors are augmented amidst a plethora of spices - mace, coriander, grains of paridice. It's sweet, a little sticky, and fairly wet. I'd love to see how this one ages.

Overall, a fantastic winter alternative to the tired all-spiced ales, that is beautifully boozy and smooth.

#134: Brewery Ommegang » Art Of Darkness (Belgian Strong Ale)

10 months later...

The Brewery: Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY)
The Brew:  Art Of Darkness
Availability:  Bottles, draft (limited)
ABV: 8.9%
Rating: 9/10
Location: Home

The Story? It was around this time last year that I started actively aging beers. Thus, it seemed an appropriate time to start breaking into some that have been maturing since early this year and late last.

Art Of Darkness is a limited edition Belgian Strong Ale that gains all of it's flavor from barley, wheat malts, flaked oats, hops, and Ommegang's proprietary house yeast. No spices, fruit, nor secret ingredients here. Just pure beer experience.

Brewed in 2012 and released in January of 2013, this one has been hanging out for a good 10 months since release.

The Beer? Darkness kicks off with a lacy finger of mocha head and opaque, black body. The nose is alluring with inviting hops, green apple and lime aromas, and a thread of Muscat grape.

This Ommegang is quite wet up front, interesting for a Strong Ale, with a gradual mouth coat, and medium carbonation - just lively enough to allow all sorts of interesting flavors and aromas to breath.

Flavors of cola, sarsaparilla, and cherry weave through a firm body of yeast, oats, and dark, roasted malts. There's a touch of juicy, sourness to it. Just a bit, enough to provide an on-going wetness. The finish is quite boozy (and delicious), sufficient enough to add some faint vodka qualities to the flavor further through.

Overall, a great ride and worth the wait. I'm looking forward to more of Ommegang's limited line. Pick this early 2013 up if you still find it hanging around.

#123: Brewery Ommegang » Take The Black Stout

Second in Ommegang's Game Of Thrones series...

The Brewery: Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY)
The Brew:  Take The Black Stout
Availability:  Bottles, draft (limited)
ABV: 7.0%
Rating: 8/10
Location: Home
Found: Nathaniel Square Corner Store

The Story? Like many, my partners and I are fans of Game of Thrones, enough so where if you brand a series of beer after it, we're probably going to want to buy all of them. Iron Throne was subtle, clean, and bit unremarkable initially, but its beauty bloomed with the richness of grains of paradise, which shown through as we headed towards the dredge of the bottle.

Initially, I thought I missed the boat on Take The Black as locally, it sold out. Luckily, I stumbled across a handful of bottles remaining in my adventures in Rochester. This one is brewed with licorice root and star anise.

The Beer? Take The Black pours out with a deep, dark brown body and light brown head. The nose is rich and offers an herbal coolness, along with roasted qualities and distinct milk notes.

I'd recommend letting this one settle a moment after pouring, there's a high, Champagne-level of carbonation present - too much for my palate, where it physically explodes the beer in your mouth before enjoying the full taste experience.

After letting the carbonation calm, the depth and complexity of this brew are revealed. It begins with a mild sweetness, a slight sting of anise in the finish, and an herbal exhale that reveal ester notes.

Smooth and creamy gives way to a growing dryness with chocolate; evolving further into bitter anise and clean hops, with a distinct spice heat. The finish was a stand out for me - herbal with biscuit notes that slowly dries and bitters.

Recommended for adventurous enthusiasts. I'd be interested to see how this one ages to see if the carbonation settles out at all, which was the main pitfall for me. Not your average stout by far and major points for creativity and balance of very complex flavors.