by Shawn Connelly

Created on: November 14, 2007   Last Updated: November 07, 2008

It's finally happened Armageddon has come upon America! The only thing I'm surprised about is that it's in the form of a beer from Cooperstown, NY. I really expected something a tad more calamitous. No global deluge, fire from heaven or global warming-induced catastrophe (my condolences to Al Gore). The beer is called Ommegeddon and if it turns out that it does mark the end of all things, I'm not sweating it at all in fact, I'm kind of stoked about the whole prospect!

Brewery Ommegang has been producing world-class Belgian-style beers for years now and this wild child of a Belgian blonde farmhouse ale is the brewery's latest, and maybe greatest, creation. A dry hopped harbinger of destruction at 8% ABV, this ale unleashes it's eschatological funk on unsuspecting beer drinkers everywhere with the full force of brettanomyces.

No, brettanomyces isn't the Greek god of world destruction or one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse that is, unless you ask your typical wine maker. Brettanomyces is a wild yeast strain originating in the Senne Valley region of Belgium (near Brussels). This yeast is notorious for ruining an otherwise good batch of wine and is avoided by most vintners at all costs. Rather than being the bane of the beer world, however, the boys at Brewery Ommegang know that this little bug can be a powerful beer booster adding a micro-organic world of complexity, sourness and character to a choice ale.

Make no mistake; this isn't your father's beer. As a matter of fact, it might not be your beer either. As with any apocalyptic beverage, use caution. Beers like Ommegeddon are not meant for all tastes. They're challenging in an oh so glorious way. Expect intensely tart and fruity notes on the palate accompanied by an earthy, musty bouquet in the nose. Much like the authentic Belgian gueuze, also produced using "brett," this beer will tend to evoke a polarity of adherents and opponents, depending on where you stand.

Do you know where you stand? Do you know where you'll be when Ommegeddon arrives? If you're smart, you'll be at your local beer retailer in eager anticipation of this new brew to end all brews! Ommegeddon is packaged in 750ml bottles, caged and corked.

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