Brew Review: New beers from Ommegang

Ommegang is an East Coast powerhouse of craft brews with a huge lineup of formidably tasty, Belgian-inspired concoctions that have been known to frequently rock many a sock right off. They’ve recently released a few new beers just in time for the much-needed Spring that will deliver us from Polar Vortexes and icicles the size of dalmatians. Two new brews are Glimmerglass Spring Saison and Hop House Dry-Hopped Pale Ale, and the Gnomegang Blonde Ale, which has previously been around only as a summer seasonal, now has the great honor of gracing us year-round.

Gnomegang Blonde Ale

A 9.5% ABV heavy-hitter wrapped up in a bright, summer bow. The initial aroma bloom greets you with that distinctly Belgian cloud of yeasty spice-drop oomph, like bubblegum with a sprinkling of clove. Next up, apple peels and hints of pear slide in on top of gentle malts. After a few moments, a faint essence of cherries arrive for a split-second, adding to the overall fruit, but ensuring things don’t go shandy on us. The aroma is wonderfully bright and full of mild, citrusy sweetness and a subtle tang at the back of each breath. On the tongue, you’ll be greeted with an upfront yeasty brightness, complete with those same Belgian spices to create that distinct bubblegum vibe. But, if you’re expecting a chilled-out lightweight of a Blonde, think again. An edge of alcohol kicks in early, rocking a near 10% ABV and allowing instances of potent booze to emerge here and there. Have no fear, for the sweet malts and yeast ensure the alcohol doesn’t run rampant. Instead, it simply enhances all of the other flavors while delivering a swift, eye-opening kick. After the initial surge, a fruity tide of fresh apples and citrus arrives to mingle with the spiced malts, bringing just a touch of heaviness to the wheat profile before diminishing to a pleasant aftertaste of sweet malts and fruit. Gnomegang is delightfully bright, with an alcohol strength that’ll be sure to leave your mouth tingling.

Glimmerglass Spring Saison

The name of this brew is an affectionate nod to Otesgo Lake, located in the brewery’s hometown. Following the pour, this brew is a bit shy compared to the Gnome. Gentle, vaporous notes of apples laced with a slight cinnamon and clove spicing rise up and diminish against your nose. You’ll have to have a bit of patience with this aroma, but it’s worth it. Eventually, hints of mild citrus and fresh-cut grass follow up behind the initial apple, before ending with wheat and Belgian spices.  The flavors follow the same gentle path, arriving with a sour tang at the back of the tongue. Hints of orange peel skate across the palate, while sweet wheat malts and soft spicing create a familiar Belgian base. Each taste is marked with a slight sour bitterness, brought about by a faint sprinkling of hops as well as tart apple and bitter orange peel. At the back of each drink, fresh grass clippings and sweet apple juice create a refreshing brightness that culminates with a faint puff of pepper spiciness along the sides of the tongue. At 5.4% ABV, the strength of Gnomegang is nowhere in sight, but the juicy tartness and mild fruits that swirl throughout this beer will cure even the wildest of thirsts.

Hop House Dry-Hopped Pale Ale

This new brew is dry-hopped with Styrian Golding hops while still retaining a Belgian base. This mingling of styles is evident the moment you take your first breath, where you’re greeted with luscious pine, passion fruit and grapefruit peel. Next, earthy spice notes of Belgian yeast settle beneath the hops, creating a bouquet that is bright, floral, and fruity with an undercurrent of hoppy bitterness. Additional breaths will reveal a stronger citrus vibe – brought about by notes of sweet orange juice and citrus peel bitterness. The end result is a bitter-sweet cloud of citrusy pine, heavier than most other pale ales because of the Belgian malts and spicing. The flavors arrive with this same duality, washing over the tongue with twin offerings of pale ale and mild Belgian tripel. Hoppy pine mingles with yeast and pale, sweet malts to create a lovely base of bright yet savory strength, while hints of apples and bananas mingle with passion fruit and grapefruit to create a layer of bitter sweetness. The bitter heads to the back of the tongue, while the sweetness sets up shop at the front, creating a complex offering of floral fruitiness, bolstered by towering notes of pine and tropical citrus. The strength of this beer comes from is super charged flavors, not from the 6% ABV, so be prepared for tongue domination.

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “In wine there is Wisdom, in beer there is Freedom, in water there is Bacteria.” If you’re reading this, you’re already quite wise because there ain’t no party like a Drink Up Columbus party. And, well, nothing can help you with the bacteria except a nice dose of broad-spectrum antibiotics. But you can always welcome the loving salvation of craft beer into your hearts, and cast off the shackles of the icy winter months beer of sub-par taste by picking up these new Ommegang offerings. From the potent blonde tide of Gnomegang, to the delightfully tart and refreshing Glimmerglass, to the Belgian supported, citrus-drenched bottle of hops that is Hop House, you’ll have no trouble leaving the chill of Winter behind no matter which you choose (hint, choose all three!)