Brewery Ommegang

Cooperstown, NY

Hennepin Farmhouse Saison

7.7% ABV

Continuing the trend of reviewing some of Ommegang’s year-round offerings - hey, I got a variety pack at a recent wedding shower - up next is Hennepin, the brewery’s saison/farmhouse-style ale. I love saisons, especially with this summer-like weather South Carolina has had lately, and Hennepin really hits the spot. It’s brewed with grains of paradise, coriander, ginger and orange peel, giving the usually crisp, light style a fuller flavor.

Hennepin pours a very hazy straw-yellow color. It’s topped with two fingers of a really foamy head that look like bubbles from a bubble bath. The lacing slips away pretty quickly and there really aren’t any alcohol legs.

The nose is a very light, crisp, grassy smell. There’s a very slight barnyard funk, but just barely, and not in an offensive way. There are notes of lemon peel, citrus and floral hop aromas, and a slight hint of that expected Belgian yeast along with the accompanying spices.

There’s a big bite of carbonation on the front of the tongue, followed by a huge wash of carbonation that scrubs the inside of your cheeks. Once that dies down, there’s a big taste of lemon and oranges that come through. That’s coupled with a big herbal and grassy quality. The Belgian yeast is quite strong on the back of the tongue after it settles. Only a very slight tartness, but it lingers for a while. The body is lighter, but there’s a full mouthfeel and taste.

It’s not as crisp or light as I prefer saisons to be, but Hennepin is still a nice American twist on the classic spring seasonal.