By Kevin Burns, Beer Columnist
After this week's very beer heavy edition of "What We Drank", I decided to review Brewery Ommegang's Hennepin.
Hennepin is a Saison-style beer, which is a Belgian style that is also referred to as a farmhouse ale. This is a complex style that is meant to be drank primarily in the summer, but can really be enjoyed year round. I have found that wine lovers take a particular liking to the Saison style, as the nose and body have wine-like earthy tones.
Hennepin poured a hazy, golden yellow color with a huge, frothy, white head. The aroma has ripe green apples, a lot of yeast, and a little funkiness.
The body is crisp, with some light spices, and bananas. There are a noticeable amount of hops that give the beer a nice dryness to complement the abundance of flavors. There is a lot of carbonation in this beer and the alcohol is faintly noticeable.
The finish has a lingering tanginess and the carbonation dies out which is a nice touch. There is some hanging lace left on the glass.
Overall, this is a phenomenal beer. The aroma and finish are nice and the body is light on the palate, yet is complex and has a nice profile. This is a must try for anyone who truly loves beer.
The diversity of this beer allows it match flavors with a wide variety of dishes. The texture is light and crisp but the body is sturdy enough to support its strong ABV and the spices beg for a dish that is bold enough to match. At an upcoming beer dinner I will be pairing Hennepin with a chicken, apple and leek roulade with a potato puree.
Producer: Brewery Ommegang
ABV: 7.5%
Price: $6.99 (25.4 oz. Bottle)
Rating: 
(4 out of 5 | Delicious, Distinctive )