Adoration (Ommegang)

Ommegang is one of those breweries that I take for granted. I know that they consistently brew enjoyable beverages, so I bypass them in the sake of  something new. I had to purchase this holiday brew to make sure I had a full taste this season.

General Thoughts

Look and Smell: This reddish-brown ale had a white frothy head. It smelled mulled and sweetly malty. I could smell fruit...pears. Funny, you usually smell red fruit or citrus in beers, especially holiday ones. This pear smell was refreshing. I know from the description on the bottle (and site) that it was supposed to have all of these wonderful spices. My smell isn't refined enough to pick them out...I can just say that it smelled like mulled wine.

Taste: It was creamy and complemented the chocolate stout tart I was eating. I drank this one for a while though, so I got a good taste of it aside from the food I was eating it with. It was warming and tart, with the creamy consistency of a milk stout. The aftertaste was pear.

From the Ommegang site:

"Ommegang announces our first Strong Winter Ale, named Adoration, becoming available from mid-October through December, all across the US.

Ommegang Adoration, brewed in the authentic style of Belgian winter, or noel beer, is dark, strong, malty and assertively spiced.

At 10% abv Adoration is not a lightweight beer, and is best sipped before a roaring fire, or on a sleigh ride over the hills to Grandma’s house. (But let someone else drive.) It would also be a tasty accompaniment to dark roasts and wild game.  Even at the strong abv, the beer is well-balanced and not at all hot or fiery. The dark malts give it lush, malty flavors and aromas, strongly complemented by the five spices, including coriander, cumin, mace, cardamom and grains of paradise. Hopping is modest, as befits such a beer."