CulturAle Press

Cellaring Beers: Ommegang (Belgian style abbey ale)  At 8 Years From our “Vault”

Date:  February 25, 2018

The Story—  A pair of beer distributors opened Ommegang Brewery in 1997 in Cooperstown, New York, with an ambitious plan of bringing Belgian beer to America without a ship.  They received critical advice from the Moortgat brewery in Breedonk, Belgium.  By 2006 it had grown to the point at which Moortgat (Duvel) took it over.   The Moortgat empire has since grown to include Boulevard in Kansas City and Firestone Walker in California.  Even before Mootgat’s actual ownership, the brewery brewed very Belgian tasting beers at a faction of the cost of imports.

The Beer—  Ommegang’s first beer, the Belgian Abbey is a double style strong dark ale featuring a blend of spices that are on a pretty short leash.  Deep dark fruits in aroma and taste.   The taste includes berry fruit and hints of chocolate.  It’s certainly aged, but it’s interesting and still viable.   The brewery says to drink it fresh, but also provides instructions on how to lay it down. Belgian Monks we’ve talked to said that a good dubbel can improve for at least three years and be very good at five.  The 8 years here is a stretch.  I’d like to try this at half the age, but still,  it’s pretty remarkable for 8 years in a warm room. Ellie’s notes – drier (attenuated sugars), dark fruit juices, some woody tang shows age.

Value —  Good to very good.  Ommegang was one of the best bargains in the country it its early years, but the price has edged up.  It’s still a bargain if you can find a retail outlet that doesn’t put a “Belgian” premium on its markup.

Values:  “fair” is a good beer at an above market price, “good” is worth the money, “very good” is a bargain, and “excellent” is a steal.

 In February, we’re digging into our legendary “vault” where we’ve been storing hundreds of bottles of beer waiting for the right time to taste them (or sell them for charity).   The charity market has slowed, so we’re working through them in front of a fire and finding some disappointments, but more very surprising delights.   You can find the full list –eventually– here on this “index post.”

 We’re often asked to share our tasting notes on over 33,000 beers; this blog is in answer to those requests.   Not all our notes, though.  The great beer writer Michael Jackson admirably followed the Thumper Rule, and we’ll try to do the same.  (“If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nuthin’ at all.”)   All the beers we post are from the top half of our ratings and most are from the top quarter.   Of greater value, we think, are the stories behind the beers,   and we try to give you enough about the brewery, the style and the places to find great beer to help you on your own beer journeys.   At CulturAle Press we try to write books and publish posts that will help you “Drink Well and Travel Safely.”