Belgian-Style Ale
Re-fermented with Brettanomyces Bruxellensis
Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY
Batch #3, November 2008
ALC/VOL - 6.5%
Picked up this beer today. I've been trying to branch out more. I used to live by good brown ales. I've always liked a beer with a lot of character. Something tasty that i didn't have to defend. However, in recent months, i've tried to expand a little. This beer, along with many others, have certainly surprised me.
On first glance, i was skeptical because i could see a small film of debris that had settled at the bottom of the bottle. I'm not usually a fan of unfiltered beers, but I had higher hopes for this brand. It is re-fermented with a rare yeast, Brettanomyces Bruxellensis, which apparently adds some tartness and extra zing to the batch.
After popping the cork top and pouring myself a tall pint, to which a nice head formed, I could already tell that I was in for a treat. The fresh crisp bouquet of the beer being poured jumped up into my nose without even me having to lean down. It didn't smell that complex; simple and pure; a hint of sweet citrus and tartness.
While many beers for me taste differently throughout the full pint, this one stayed true from first sip till last. It truly did have a little extra zing that you don't find in most brews. The crispness almost felt stale, but in a good way. As if the beer had matured right to the point where fermentation was literally happening as i drank it. I struggled to understand the cool bite of the beer in my mouth, even after the beer had cleared my palette, especially since unfiltered beers in the past have left me unsatisfied.
This ones a keeper for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment