Sat, 21 Jan 2012

It seemed so far off when we picked a date, but Ommebruch is finally here. Here with snow and ice and all that yucko stuff. The ice and snow and yuck are expected to be just yuck by later this afternoon. So the yuck will remain and the Ommegangs likely will too. So if the weather keeps you away this morning, stop in later today. Even if brunch is gone like the snow and ice, Ommegangs will be around to go with dinner. And there's no yuck about that.

Talking of Ommegangs, here's what we tapped:

Ommegang Witte - The other 5 Ommegangs on tap today are high ABV big beers, so we have a more sessionable Ommegang to lighten things up a little. Witte is Ommegang's Belgian style white, which is a style you would expect from an Belgian/American brewery. It's been a while since I had this one so I'm looking forward to trying it again.

Ommegang 2010 Adoration (sixtel) and Ommegang 2011 Adoration (sixtel) - we have two years of this, Ommegang's Xmas seasonal. I didn't realize it was an Xmas beer when it arrived in 2010 or we have ran it then. But that oversight allows us to have two years of it right now.

Here's the official description "Ale brewed with Spices: Coriander, Cardamon, Mace, Grains of Paradise, Sweet Orange Peel. Adoration is a traditional winter ale, brewed in the Belgian manner, but with the twist of unusual spicing. Sip it on a winter eve sitting before a fire. You’ll understand why we couldn’t name it anything else." When I heard it was an Xmas beer, I thought Adoration had to do with the Nativity... guess not. The ABV on this bad boy is 10%. We have two years, so you can try both and see what a year does to it.

Ommegang Gnomegang (sixtel) - this one if I am correct is collaboration with Achouffe, a really great and not all that old Belgian microbrewery. Turns out I'm right "This delectable blonde ale is a co-creation of two famed farmstead breweries: Brewery Ommegang and Brasserie d’Achouffe. It employs five fine malts, two noble hops, and both of the distinctive Chouffe and Ommegang yeasts. You’ll enjoy the smooth drinkability, fruity aromas and flavors, and warming finish."

Ommegang 2010 Three Philosophers (sixtel) and Ommegang 2011 Three Philosophers (sixtel) - we have two years of this one too. "The essence of wonder is a unique and masterful blend of strong malty ale and authentic Belgian Kriek. Our philosophers deduce that this powerful marriage of cherries, roasted malts, and dark chocolate will only achieve more wisdom and coherence as it broods in the dark recesses of your cellar." One has brooding in our cellar since 2010. The other a little less so. Again, try both if you wish to see the Philosophers change over time.

This week's Beer Season beer of the week, Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, replaced itself. We knew we would 3 kegs of this to get it to last through a whole week. So that's what we got. This is the third and final. Well not final, just until it works its way back into the rotation, which is frequent, because this beer is that good.

Kicked: Dogfish 120 Minute IPA, Cigar City Jai Alai IPA, Lancaster Winter Warmer, Victory Export Lager, Sam Adams Alpine Spring Lager, Victory Smokin Oats Porter.

120 kicked at about 9:30pm, sooner than we expected. For those who missed out, fret not, we'll tap another one next month (watch for details).