Quick Sips: Ommegang Hennepin

It sounds ridiculous to someone who has never had the experience, but there are beers that can capture places and times in ways that few others things can.

Ever step out onto a grassy field or fresh farmland and been invigorated by the lush, clean, Earthy smell of the air? That’s Hennepin (a beer I have touched on before). It’s made by Ommegang, America’s best brewers of Belgian styles – though that’s kind of cheating, what with being owned by Duval and all – and it is one of the definitive examples of the elusive saison style. Saison is a broad category, but the basics are that they tend to be pale, musty, and have some herbal spice kick. This beer is exactly that to perfection. Hennepin is effervescent but complex, easy drinking but strong (7.7%), and so good it will leaving you pining for the glorious taste of horse blanket … which sounds gross to most, but those of you who get it, get it. And if you’re a city dweller who has never gotten out to the country and can’t understand why “fresh farmland” is awesome, I’m sorry for your loss 

Almost all of this review was taken from the Philadelphia Weekly and is used here with permission.