Biere d'Hougoumont
Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York, United States 🇺🇸
Farmhouse - Bière de Garde Rotating Out of Production|
Score
7.24
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Our Limited Edition Biere d’ Hougoumont is brewed with traditional French ale yeast, eight malts, French Strisselspalt hops, and aged on white oak and hard maple wooden staves. A traditional Biere De Garde style, this malty French-style farmhouse ale is brewed to be aged. The name honors the Hougoumont farmstead at the pivotal center of the Waterloo battlefield. Napoleon repeatedly failed to take the fortification, he then lost the battle and “met his Waterloo.”
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7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Big bottle. Medium amber por. Sticky head. Yeast and malt. Hops finish. A good bdg.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 May 2025
at 01:22
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Sample at the "Post Beer Week Bottle Share" on 06/06/16. This brew pours a dark orange color with a medium thick white head that diminishes steadily to a film. The aroma consists of yeast, cloves and malt. Medium body with flavors of yeast, oak, grainy malt and mild floral hops. The finish is sweet with a malty aftertaste. Decent overall.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Jun 2016
at 15:11
7.9/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Shared bomber cellared 3 years. Amber color, clear appearance with big head. Malty, caramel nose. Earthy, woody, malty, mellow. Enjoyed my first of this style.
Tried
on 30 Jun 2015
at 20:05
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Very well done for a biere de garde. There’s a light taste of Ommegang yeast, which is generally light floral anyway. Light sweetness, with some citrus. Tap at Smoke and Barrel.
Tried
from Draft
on 19 Jun 2014
at 08:28
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Reviewed from notes.
The appearance had a dark orange/brown body yielding a two and a half finger head in the chalice and closer to a one and a half finger head in the tulip, lightly clingy lacing in the chalice eventually spiderwebs after a good three minutes, closer to a minute of lacing spider-webbing in the tulip.
The smell had clove, subdued Belgian yeast/banana thing goin’ on, fruit, spice, combined maple/wood/syrup thing goin’ on startin’ to come out as the beer warms, noticeable pear as it continues to warm, honey - hmmm... unsure, alcohol not noted.
The taste was mainly sweet through previously mentioned flavors, slightly oaky and floral at different times, slightly bready as well.
The palate sits about a medium, slightly sessionable - mostly smooth, sticky sweet aftertaste and finish, adequate carbonation is felt, alcohol not felt.
Overall, though I’ve had some Biere de gardes before I don’t have much to compare to - as I continue to explore this style, very complex smell.
The appearance had a dark orange/brown body yielding a two and a half finger head in the chalice and closer to a one and a half finger head in the tulip, lightly clingy lacing in the chalice eventually spiderwebs after a good three minutes, closer to a minute of lacing spider-webbing in the tulip.
The smell had clove, subdued Belgian yeast/banana thing goin’ on, fruit, spice, combined maple/wood/syrup thing goin’ on startin’ to come out as the beer warms, noticeable pear as it continues to warm, honey - hmmm... unsure, alcohol not noted.
The taste was mainly sweet through previously mentioned flavors, slightly oaky and floral at different times, slightly bready as well.
The palate sits about a medium, slightly sessionable - mostly smooth, sticky sweet aftertaste and finish, adequate carbonation is felt, alcohol not felt.
Overall, though I’ve had some Biere de gardes before I don’t have much to compare to - as I continue to explore this style, very complex smell.
Tried
on 23 Mar 2014
at 18:04
7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7
750 ml bottle. Pours a hazy copper color with moderate head. Aromas of stoned fruit, honey and light malts. Flavours of peach /apricot, dough and golden raisins. A little watery.
Tried
from Bottle
on 02 Nov 2013
at 12:22
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Draught @ Rattle & Hum, NYC. Pours hazy amber with small off-white head. Clear aroma of fruit and malt with notes of caramel. Sweetish, malty flavour with fruity notes. Sour-sweetish aftertaste. Nice.
Tried
on 08 Oct 2013
at 22:47
6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Tap at Sugar Maple. Unfiltered brown-tan. Interesting beer, the oak and malt go together in an odd way. Not really an improvement on the style, just an odd tweak. Caramel amber, some buttery, fruity offness. Old school feel. The oak gives it a sugary, buttery toffee feel that isn’t so great. Quite underwhelming and not so well made, a disappointment, especially at the pricepoint.
Tried
from Draft
on 04 Oct 2013
at 22:39
6.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
31st July 2013
Tasting at Bruce’s pad. Light haze on this amber beer. Little pale cream coloured head. Light fruity mango nose. Light softish palate, semi dry. Fine carbonation. Fruit follows the nose but unfortunately thinner. Very light touch of spices. Touch of light wood and vanilla. Dry finish. It’s fine but all a bit light and wimpy.
Tasting at Bruce’s pad. Light haze on this amber beer. Little pale cream coloured head. Light fruity mango nose. Light softish palate, semi dry. Fine carbonation. Fruit follows the nose but unfortunately thinner. Very light touch of spices. Touch of light wood and vanilla. Dry finish. It’s fine but all a bit light and wimpy.
Tried
on 24 Aug 2013
at 10:24
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bottle at Bruce’s, thanks to Ken! It pours hazy amber with a medium off-white head. The nose is orange sponge cake, sugar, candyfloss, bubblegum, vanilla and toasted coconut. The taste is earthy, sponge cake, light spice, dough, straw, metal, light bitterness and warming alcohol with a dry, clean finish. Medium body and moderate+ carbonation. Not a whole lot of depth, but pretty tasty and well-integrated flavour.
Tried
from Bottle
on 04 Aug 2013
at 09:02