GFB: 4.5 – My god. That is such a ‘blonde ale’ it’s almost painful how average it is. It’s fine, I mean there’s little to complain about, but it is about as forgettable as – wait what were we talking about again? Honestly this is the worst kind of beer for us, not because it’s bad – but because it’s so boring and average.
Price Average: $9 for 6-pack
Website: https://www.greenflashbrew.com/
King in the North: 6.0 – The barrel aging here adds some sweetness but does not override everything. At least it’s not ruined, but add that to the chocolate and this is a dessert in the glass. Overall could be better, but it is a solid beer as usual from Ommegang and this line of beers.
Price Average: $25 for 4-pack with glass
Website: http://www.ommegang.com/
The Conversion: 6.0 – It’s a sour. About as basic a sour as you can get, and the spare point is because it’s well executed enough to not have any glaring issues. There’s nothing too crazy or extremely flavorful going on here sadly.
Price Average: $16
Website: http://www.farmhousebeer.com/
Queen of the Seven Kingdoms: 7.0 – Now we are a more long form review site, very rarely paying attention to hip new things, but we have fallen into the Game of Thrones Marketing trap with this purchase. (Being from Ommegang helps immensely) We will be continuing this 4-pack for the next 3 weeks because we already reviewed one.
As for the beer itself as a sour it’s not too crazy, but as a blonde it’s quite unique. The citrus is lovely and overall it’s simply a well executed beer as expected from Ommegang.
Price Average: $25 for 4-pack with glass
Website: http://www.ommegang.com/
DMD Target Bond: 3.25 – This is an odd one. It is not as actively hated as other beers, and there are certainly those that are far worse. The uniqueness also implies that for someone this is exactly as desired. That’s because the closest way to describe this beer is a mix of birch beer and stale cigarettes, with more cig than birch. It’s unclear why this is, but at least it’s distinctive we guess?
Price Average: $10
Website: http://www.fantome.be/
Scotch Silly: 1.5 – It is gross and sickenginly sweet, almost like a bourbon barrel aged, but also not. Overall it’s less reflective on a scotch style ale, and more just some hot sugar mess. Not worth buying or enjoying at all, but good for deglazing onions.
Price Average: $9
Website: http://silly-beer.com/en/
Orval Trappist Ale: 6.0 – There’s a nice hoppy aspect to this, but it’s not gone crazy with it, and most of that is just a small lingering aftertaste for what is otherwise an easy to drink beer. Beyond that bit of flavor though there’s not much going on and it feels rather ‘short’ and near tasteless, which could be a boon to not realize how much you’ve had.
Price Average: $8
Website: http://www.orval.be/
Grain Reaper: 4.0 – The barley wine style certainly has an input here but that barrel aging just overrides so much. It’s just an awkward blend of sugar and malt
Price Average: $12
Website: https://springdalebeer.com/
Working Man’s Porter: 6.0 – There’s a sort of rosemary/thyme aspect to this, but it’s a nice dark ale/porter. It’s not too heavy and the roasted flavors are there. They mention using this with Oysters or a Shepard’s pie – and that’s agreeable, but for the end of the day – no way. Maybe long after the day is over with a meal. The other problem this has it’s hard to take this a working man’s porter, when the Berkshire equivalent is half the price.
Price Average: $11
Website: http://hennikerbrewing.com/
Ola Dubh Special Reserve 16: 1.0 – Well if Highland Park (the most baseline scotch) is what’s used – how does that affect this beer? Well it removed all head. However we’re sad to report that as for aging a beer in whiskey falling on the side of sweet or successfuly, this is far too sweet. There are some nice flavors there, but it’s all so overshadowed, and quite frankly the rest of this beer was poured out.
Price Average: $10
Website: https://harviestoun.com/