Brewery Ommegang Fleur de Houblon
Any time I have the chance to pick up something new from Brewery Ommegang, I’m going to do it. It’s a pretty safe bet that whatever style of beer it may be, it’s going to be good. And so that streak continues with a four pack of Fleur de Houblon (hop flower) that I picked up the other week.
This latest seasonal release from the Cooperstown brewery is a 6.8% ABV Belgian Pale Ale that is brewed with whole cone Bravo hops. It’s sort of like an earthier, more hop-forward version of their tasty BPA. The brew also carries with it some refreshing, saison-like characteristics from the company’s house yeast. The end result is a lively beer that’s just right for the hotter months of Summer soon to be upon us.
Appearance
Fleur de Houblon pours pale straw yellow with a full and frothy stack of white foam.
Aroma
While the hops certainly present themselves with an herbal and spicy character, there’s a good amount of saison traits at work here, as well. A light, earthy funk flows along with grains, lightly toasted bread and yeast.
Taste
This is a tasty brew. The brewery’s yeast arrives quickly with herbal hop notes, light barnyard funkiness, lemony citrus, grains and freshly cut grass. The beer’s crisp mouthfeel refreshes the palate nicely and would more than be able to handle 90 degree Summer days no problem. The finish is slightly drying and appropriate for a beer of this style.
Overall
I’m a big fan of Ommegang’s pale ales and this limited seasonal release keeps pace with them just fine. Carrying a blend of Belgian pale ale and saison characteristics, the beer is refreshingly tasty and has just enough of a hop zing to tease the tastebuds and reinvigorate the soul. I will most certainly be buying more of this before it disappears from the shelves until next year.
Rating: 4.25/5
