Brewery: Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, NY

Brewery Description: “As you pour this rich golden ale into your glass, consider your surroundings. Are you in a restaurant? Outside on the deck? Is it hot and humid? Cold and brisk? Take a drink. Feel the way Hennepin is bright and lively in your mouth with a warming mix of spicy gingersnap and citrusy hops. Refreshing. Relaxing. It’s true: no matter where you are, Hennepin is the perfect ale for all seasons.”

Brew Style: Saison, 7.7% ABV

Recommended Glassware: Pint glass, Tulip, Oversized wine glass

The Ugly Truth: First off, serious thanks to whatever person at Boston.com threw the Jolly Scot up on the front page.  That was pretty damn cool.  Alright, on to this installment of the beer roster: Hennepin Saison sytle ale.  For those not familiar with the style, myself being one up until a year ago here’s the description via BeerAdvocate:

“Saisons are sturdy farmhouse ale that was traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Not so long ago it was close to being an endangered style, but over recent years there’s been a massive revival; especially in the US.  This is a very complex style, many are very fruit in the aroma and flavor. Look for earthy yeast tones, mild to moderate tartness. Lot of spice and with a medium bitterness. They tend to be semi-dry with many only having touch of sweetness.”

Quite different than your typical stouts, golden ales and lagers.  A really excellent brew style in my opinion, and no one has really done it better than Brewery Ommegang on this one.  Pours a straw gold in color with a frothy, almost meringue -like, head on it that leaves a good amount of lace on the glass at it goes down.  Presentation is clear with some mild carbonation bubbles rising to the top.  The aroma is light, with strong floral and spice notes in it.  The taste is really quite interesting, especially if you’ve never had a saison or strong floral beer before.  The body and mouthfeel are light, which makes this not only a great year round brew but also a fantastic summer drink.  The taste is light on the bitterness, with a mild hop overtones to it.  There’s a heavy floral and spice taste on the palette with notes of honey, fruity tones and cloves readily apparent.  The finish is clean with a lingering aftertaste to it that I found to be tart and quite enjoyable.  This beer reminds me a little of Froach Heather Ale in that it shares similiar floral tones.  However, Hennepin differs in its incorporation of malt and hops flavors into the overall experience.  Overall, Hennepin is a very unique beer and a fantastic taste experience if you’ve never had it before.  I highly recommend it.

Verdict: Hennepin grabs a rare 10 out of 10 bottlecaps.

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