The first selection is from the Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, NY. This brewery specializes in Belgian-style ales, but gives their releases enough variety to differentiate them from the rest of their product line. I just assumed that their beers would become hackneyed, and, eventually, the difference in their beers would be non-existent. I was dead wrong. They keep putting new spins to this familiar style of beer and keep the masses satisfied.
This particular selection has a light orange, hazy appearance and a head that has a little bit of staying power. Its a pretty carbonated beer, which is par for the course with this brewery. The taste is very tart with lots of citrus and even a touch of vegetation, possibly wheat grass. Much like the Ommegeddon, it has a funky, almost dusty, umami flavor, due to the use of the Brettonymices yeast. Thanks to Ommegang for continually pushing the envelope for American Belgian-style brewers. -8/10-
The next is the Dogfishhead Brewery's Sah'tea. This is definitely in my pantheon of amazing beers. It also takes the innovator accolade, because I have never seen a beer blended with tea flavors.
It pours a yellow-orange color and has a quickly vanishing head. It has a medium body and a 9% ABV, but due to the veritable cornucopia of flavors you can't taste the alcohol. The taste is of coriander, chai tea, cloves, and a hint of fresh juniper. The flavors are easily individually defined, but combined, create a great beer that tastes like a tea. Spicy, sweet, and milky, this beer has it all.
I really enjoy trying a beer that never would have occurred to me. Maybe tea-flavored beers are a varietal that need to be further explored. A chamomile Belgian, a plum-passion dessert stout, an orange-Ceylon IPA... I'm just throwing gas on the fire, here. -9.5/10-
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