Here’s a new beer from Ommegang that I’m excited about: Ommegang Pale Sour. I tried it at Taco Mac when I saw it on the draft menu, but it’s available in bottles, too. It’s a year-round brew from this Cooperstown, New York staple of American craft brewing, and that’s a good thing, too. I can easily see enjoying it any time of year.

Ommegang Pale Sour is more than just your average sour ale, having more complexity and the appetizing dryness of a white wine. This is a relatively new beer, launched about a year ago in April of 2017.

Ommegang says about the beer on their website:

Pale Sour is a….mixed fermentation sour beer developed by our brewmaster Phil Leinhart, and the master blenders at our sister brewery, Liefmans, in Oudenaarde, Belgium.

Pale Sour begins with a mixed culture fermentation in open copper vats. Aged over several months in stainless tanks, master blenders blend new batches with older ones until the optimal balance of flavors is reached.

Ommegang Pale Sour has an alcohol content of 6.9% by volume and I paid $7 for an 11-ounce glass at Taco Mac. It will cost you $10.99 for four 11.2 ounce bottles at Total Wine.

My glass of Ommegang Pale Sour arrived a bright orange amber color with a light head of foam and white wine and intense sourness in the nose. Taking a sip, I got  more vinous notes and tart wheat and funk and green apple sweet and sour notes in the palate. All of this is rounded out by a puckering tart finish.

This beer is outstanding. Ommegang is one of America’s best breweries if you ask me (and you did, or you wouldn’t be reading this). Ommegang Pale Sour is another reason why. Try it and see if you don’t agree with me.



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