The Brü Revü – Ommegang Abbey Ale

Another Ommegang beer, this time their excellent Abbey Ale. I love the Belgian Style beers and the dubbels can be a tricky style to get right. Ommegang has done the style well with their Abbey Ale. It poured a dark ruby brown with a substantial head that remained throughout my tasting. The aroma was full of Belgian yeast notes, cherries, and dark fruits that emanated from my glass as I allowed the beer to warm. There is a lot going on in this one and many different flavors revealed themselves with each taste. Hints of cherries, chocolate, dark fruits and caramel along with a slight Belgian yeast flavor melded themselves with a smooth creamy mouthfeel to create a magnificent tasting experience. This may be the be the best Ommegang beer that shows a depth and character in their brewing that is evident in all of their brews.

Ommegang Abbey Ale

Weihenstephaner Korbinian

The Korbinian was my second foray into the Weihenstephaner lineup and again I was blown away by their version of the classic German doppelbock. It poured a dark brown with a thick tan head that smelled of heavy malts and coffee. The first taste was heavy on the burnt malts and chocolate, and definitely stood apart from the doppelbocks I was familiar. The slightly sweet malts and coffee flavors come through on this nicely balanced beer. The Korbinian was deep and rich with a thick mouthfeel that stuck with the heavy bready brew. This is not a beer you drink quickly, but rather one you sit back and allow to consume you. The Korbinian was one of the best doppelbocks I have ever had and one you should seek out for yourself.

Weihenstephaner Korbinian

The Brü Revü – Ommegang Gnomegang

The Gnomegang is the final beer from my Christmas gift pack. It’s a collaboration beer between Ommegang and Brasserie d’Achouffe. I still have yet to try a d’Achouffe beer so this was my first, although not technically fully theirs. The Gnomegang was a Belgian Golden Ale in the same vein as Duvel. It poured a golden color with a generous fizzy head. There was plenty of sweet malts in the aroma balance by their trademark yeasts. The taste was bright and sweet with a hint of honey and plenty of that farmhouse flavor. I was really digging this one and was taking it down quickly. It hides its high alcohol content well and maintains its excellence as it warms. The Gnomegang may have been the best beer of the bunch and that is saying a lot. All of the Ommegang beers set very high standards and should be highly sought after.

Ommegang Gnomegang

 

 

 

Pint Glass Nights - April 2012

Misc. pint glass nights around Austin for April. Buy the beer, keep the glass.


Gingerman – Mondays, at 6 PM
Apr. 02 Widmer Spiced IPA
Apr. 09 Brooklyn Brewmasters Reserve
Apr. 16 Kona Koko Brown
Apr. 23 Adelbert’s Scratchin Hippo
Apr. 30 De Koninck


Draft Pick – Tuesdays, at 6:30 PM
Check their calendar for glass updates


The Tavern – Tuesdays
Check their facebook page for glass updates


Zax Pints and Plates – Wednesdays, at 6 PM
Apr. 04 New Belgium Shift
Apr. 11 Alaskan Brewing
Apr. 18 St. Arnold Spring Bock
Apr. 25 TBD


Flying Saucer - Wednesdays, at 7 PM
Apr. 04 Adelbert’s Brewery
Apr. 11 Harpoon
Apr. 18 420 glass night w/ Sierra Nevada Torpedo
Apr. 25 La Chouffe


Draught House – Wednesdays
Check their twitter page for glass updates

The Brü Revü – Unibroue Trois Pistoles

Ah Unibroue. A great brewery from Canada that signifies itself by bottle refermenting all of their ales in the true Belgian Trappist style. While I haven't tried all of their brews I have yet to be disappointed by any of them and the Trois Pistoles is no exception. It is a Belgian Style Strong Ale that pours a dark opaque brown with aromas of Belgian yeast and dark fruits. This is a beer you have to allow to warm a bit for all of the complex flavors and aromas to completely reveal themselves. Once it warms its deep rich dark fruit and roasted malt flavors come through the Belgian yeast tones. The very smooth and mellow flavors mask the high alcohol content and make this an easily quaffable brew. The Trois Pistoles is a great example of the Unibroue quality and an excellent beer.

Unibroue Trois Pistoles