New Beer Review 3/16/14: Ommegang Glimmerglass
During a brief window of mild weather during the tail end of an abusive Syracuse winter, I popped open this new offering from Cooperstown's Brewery Ommegang. It's is described as a "Spring Saison" with sweet orange peel and pink peppercorns that weighs in at 5.4% alcohol, suitable for this style. It pours a hazy straw brassy color with a large fluffy white head. It took awhile to pour the whole bottle due to the high carbonation. The orange peel is the first thing my nose detects followed by the fruity/herbal esters from the Belgian yeast. I also detect the smell of fresh cut grass. The first taste reveals light bready malt and soft marmalade base with floral hops, grass, and a touch of bitterness. The peppercorn makes an appearance in the finish and is a welcome addition. The mouthfeel is light and bubbly and helps to give this ale crisp and refreshing deniability that is perfect for the upcoming thaw. On the whole, this is a fine addition to the Ommegang portfolio and hopefully a beer that show up on the shelves every spring. I am looking forward to enjoying a bottle of this on the back porch after mowing the lawn. It would go well with seafood or a cold Greek salad. Cheers!