Ommegang Hennepin 4Pk

Ommegang Hennepin 4-Pack is a Belgian-style farmhouse ale (saison) at 7.7% ABV, sold in four 12 oz bottle-conditioned servings. This gold medal winner at the 2007 European Beer Star stands out for its use of four distinct spices — coriander, ginger, orange peel, and grains of paradise — delivering champagne-like effervescence rarely matched in American-brewed saisons.

Quick Facts: ABV: 7.7%  |  Origin: Cooperstown, New York  |  Style: Belgian-Style Farmhouse Ale (Saison)  |  Brewery: Ommegang (Duvel Moortgat)

Production & Heritage

Brewery Ommegang operates out of Cooperstown, New York, and is owned by the Belgian brewing group Duvel Moortgat — a lineage that gives Hennepin genuine Belgian DNA despite its American birthplace. The grain bill combines pilsner malt and flaked corn, hopped with Styrian Golding and Spalter Select varieties, then fermented with Ommegang's proprietary house yeast. What truly distinguishes Hennepin from other farmhouse ales is its layered spice program — coriander, sweet orange peel, ginger, and grains of paradise, a peppery West African seed that remains uncommon in American saisons — followed by bottle conditioning that creates its signature sparkling carbonation.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Spicy yeast leads the nose, followed by honey sweetness and a bright lift of fresh citrus and tropical fruit. Ginger and coriander emerge as the glass warms, adding herbal complexity.

Taste: The entry is sweet and bready with a soft malt foundation. At mid-palate, the spice program takes over — ginger, white pepper, coriander, and a suggestion of clove weave through notes of green banana and pear. The finish leans dry and crisp, with herbal qualities reminiscent of celery and flat-leaf parsley adding savory depth.

Finish: Medium in length with sparkling carbonation carrying a pleasant lingering spice. The dry close invites the next sip, leaving peppery warmth and a hint of toasted grain on the tongue.

How to Drink Hennepin

Hennepin is best poured into a tulip glass or Belgian chalice at 45–50°F to let the carbonation and aromatics fully express. Drink it on its own to appreciate the spice layering, or use it as a food-pairing workhorse. A Saison Shandy — half Hennepin, half fresh lemonade — tempers the ABV for warm-weather sessions. A Farmhouse Michelada built on Hennepin's peppery spine pairs naturally with tomato juice, lime, and hot sauce. For a simple highball approach, a Ginger Radler combining Hennepin with ginger beer and a squeeze of orange amplifies its existing spice character.

Best For

• Hosting a summer dinner party with grilled seafood or charcuterie
• Introducing craft beer drinkers to the farmhouse ale tradition
• Pairing alongside spicy Thai or Mexican cuisine
• Gifting to a beer enthusiast exploring Belgian-style ales

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Hennepin taste like? Hennepin leads with sweet bready malt and honey, then shifts into a complex spice profile of ginger, coriander, white pepper, and clove, finishing dry and crisp with sparkling carbonation.

How does Hennepin compare to Boulevard Tank 7? Both are American-brewed farmhouse ales in the 7–8% ABV range, but Hennepin leans more heavily on its four-spice blend and bottle conditioning for a drier, more effervescent character, while Tank 7 tends toward a fruitier, hoppier profile with a fuller body.

Is Hennepin good for beginners? Its approachable honey sweetness and refreshing carbonation make it a strong gateway into Belgian-style ales, though the 7.7% ABV and complex spice notes reward some attention — pour it slowly into a glass rather than drinking from the bottle.

Where is Hennepin made? Hennepin is brewed at Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York, a facility owned by the Belgian brewing group Duvel Moortgat.

What foods pair well with Hennepin? Grilled shrimp or scallops benefit from the ale's citrus and ginger notes. Soft-ripened cheeses like Brie or Camembert complement its bready malt. Thai green curry mirrors and extends the peppery spice. Charcuterie boards with cured meats play off the dry finish. Lemon tart echoes the citrus aromatics while contrasting the saison's dryness.

What sizes does Hennepin come in? Hennepin is commonly available as a 4-pack of 12 oz bottles, with 750 ml cork-finished bottles also part of the Ommegang range in some markets.

Is Hennepin worth the price? Hennepin positions as a mid-premium craft saison, and its bottle conditioning, complex four-spice recipe, and gold-medal pedigree deliver strong value relative to comparably priced Belgian imports and domestic farmhouse ales.

Why Hennepin?

Few American-brewed saisons can claim a gold medal at the European Beer Star — a competition judged primarily by European brewmasters evaluating traditional style fidelity. The inclusion of grains of paradise, a spice still underused in domestic farmhouse ales, gives Hennepin a peppery complexity that sets it apart from the hop-forward approach many American breweries take with the style. Bottle conditioning adds a living, evolving quality that flat-carbonated alternatives cannot replicate. Backed by Duvel Moortgat's Belgian brewing heritage and brewed in Cooperstown with a deliberate grain bill of pilsner malt and flaked corn, Hennepin earns its reputation as one of the benchmark American saisons.