Ommegang BPA Belgian Style Pale Ale mixes it up with Karl, who loves Cheese

Karl's here and he loves Cheeeeeese, in case you were wondering. Instead of Karl Thursday Night beer, we're doing it tonight, Tuesday. Karl is going to Europe in May and laying out the details to the recently finalized, which includes a wine festival in the Ron Burgundy area, known for their wine and blueberry colored suits, and then cavorting through Germany with more festivals. He also plans to visit a Belgian Abbey at some point. I hate Karl.

Just kidding, how can I hate a face like that?

The last of Karl's New York brothers Ommegang package, he originally purchased it believing it was the Double Belgian Ale (DBA), rather than the Belgian Pale Ale (BPA). Who said Dyslexia wasn't a real condition?

Ommegang is mixing styles here and the result is just as advertised. The BPA is super carbonated with a bready and malty taste that is also light and sweet, like a pale ale. The unfamiliar style mix took me by surprise initially, but I really enjoyed it after a few sips. David hates his beer, but Karl and I like it. TRANSFORMERS rating.  This beer is similar to a 'diet' drink, which promises the same taste without the calories or sugar. This beer tastes like a Belgian but is as light and smooth as an American Pale Ale.

Karl's take on the beer is, "BPA is a pale that's not real wimpy. It has a Belgian Golden taste but it's softer on the palette." He is always more eloquent than me. I really hate Karl.

Ommegang Cup O' Kyndness Belgian Style Scotch Ale is all sorts of mixed up

Karl is here for his weekly Thursday brew and for the next couple weeks we'll be drinking beers from a brewery in his native state of New York - Ommegang.

Hail New York State!

Karl let us know that this style of beer started during WW2 when Scottish troops were stationed in Belgium and local bars began catering to the soldiers' tastes. I find it amusing to learn that several styles of beers, including IPA's, evolved out of military personnel's experience abroad. I wonder if that's still the case now.

Kyndness is a Belgian Style Scotch Ale full of toasty malts and it's an odd mix of styles. It's interesting but I won't drink it again; it's just not my cup o' tee.

Karl says it best: "Thank you for exposing me to Belgian/Scotch Ale, but kindly sir, give me a Belgian Golden (post-haste!)." Word Big Bird. ARMAGEDDON rating.

Ommegang Chocolate Indulgence Stout

Well thanks to advertisers who pimp out the word for feminine beauty, clothing or nutritional ad campaigns, 'indulgence' exudes an determinedly feminine quality. I never hear it used during a Chevrolet truck ad. Even those shirtless douchenozzles at Abercrombie & Fitch won't utter it (but please, make my day).

But in the beer world? Apples and Oranges my friend. Horse of a different color. Priest of a different frock. Now, I didn't race home after purchasing and instead kept it for over a week, waiting for a night when I felt like drinking my dessert. This is the way I see it: 80-90% of the beer market is dominated by your big companies, Budweiser/Coors/Miller, leaving a tiny fraction for brews with originality and specialty. There are still A LOT of micro-brews within that small group but of that percentage, how many dessert beers do you think there are? Not that many. I figure this beer is an indulgence even before tasting.

Snapshot: essentially the Indulgence is a Belgian Dark Ale, however, at 7% alcohol it's technically labeled a Stout. It's also made with Belgian Dark Chocolate. Point being, it's a sipping beverage.

Speaking of indulgence, Lindsey A. makes her MIFB debut via Skype. Thanks for being the vanilla between our chocolate stout

Poured with a beautiful head. The taste is heavy on chocolate but not as rich as I'd imagined, more like a Ghirardelli quality light mousse. It's well crafted, indulging but not overwhelming. Props to Ommegnang because I think they accomplished what they set out to do. However, my glass emptied, and I was left slightly unsatisfied. I would've liked a dessert beer to have a fuller body (it finished too quickly) as well as a more complex character - hints of coffee, nuts, etc. This is a specialty beer meant for special occasions and within its specific mission it delivers. TRANSFORMERS rating.

Group Review! Hennepin by Ommegang

This is Duvel's American little brother. It's clean, balanced and delicious. A little less crispness, less alcohol and a little less sweetness. Some of the complex spice notes are missing as well, but if you like Duvel you'll like this, and if you like light, crisp, Belgians, makes moves. Pick up a Hennepin.

Joining Walker and I were some distinguished and excited beer friends. Their thoughts:

Sarah: "Oooo I like this! I think that it's crisp, sour, citrus, but like a day old citrus, not fresh citrus, (takes big sip) definitely something you should eat with. It needs to go with a white fish. But my favorite part of the beer is how the bottle looks."
Baseman: "Kinda reminds me of Duvel! (Continues playing PS3...)"
Blake: "Mmmm, pleasantly... ok hold on I need another sip, it's pleasantly citrusy, I guess that's kinda redundant. Pleasantly citrus; I would say serve with a slice of orange (!) and you have a perfect Sunday afternoon.
Jay: "I'm just gonna say nutty, but it's not nutty, it's not nutty at all."

Hey Ommegang, thanks for the great evening. Also, we all agreed that this beer could be well represented by Cate Blanchett.

Oh my gosh, Ommegang , Hennepin delivers

The last beer from Ommegang we drank last Friday, Three Philosophers, and was no good. However, the New York brewery rebounded with a beer chosen celebrate our first official group tasting with Blake L, Jay S, Sara P and Aaron B.

Hennepin is a 'Farmhouse Saison' and has a beautiful golden body with a sweet and floral and slightly spicy taste. It's crisp and delicious. I could say more, but in researching this beer, I found a comment on the Ommegang website that makes a very powerful statement which I'd like to share with you. Thank you everyone at the tasting, that night was a blast! BAD BOYS rating.

(posted 12/11/2007) "How sad that we learn some very important things at the late stages of our lives. I have spent a lifetime, well at least from about 16 to 85 looking for the perfect beer. Eureka, today I found it. I have no stock in the company, no vested interest, no axe to grind, but today I had a bottle of Hennepin Beer from the Ommegang Brewery. It has an alcohol content of 7.7% and a superb body and taste. Since I love you all, I am passing on my discovery." Robert (85 years old)

We appreciate your sentiment Robert.

Ommegang Three Philosophers May Be Wise But You Taste Barf

David and I bought a three pack of Belgian style beers Saturday at the Toys R' Us of alcohol, Beverage Warehouse in Marina del Rey. Beers came with a free glass (always a sucker for novelty glassware).

David warned me that Three Philosophers was not his favorite of beers. I always liked the label and for whatever reason, doubted him. He warned me...

A Picture Says A Thousand Words

Online, everyone loves this beer. A, A-, B+. It's like a nerd's report card (nerds always get B+ in gym class, duh). We brought it over to a nearby party with all sorts of fun people and were 'generous' enough to let the group taste. 1 out of 6 girls liked the beer. Wow. I bequeathed the rest to the sole fan, Taylor. Biggest issue? It has a pervasive Cherry flavor. Three Philosophers is a "blend of Belgian dark strong ale and Lindeman's Kriek (a classic cherry lambic directly from Belgium."  I just really didn't enjoy this and I wrote some inappropriate notes which I won't share but I will say this - your nice label and free smallish beer glass fooled me like a true sucker. You are my first but not last PEARL HARBOR rating