Part 3 in a 4 part series
Two weeks ago, we discussed the Cooperstown Beverage Trail, and made a visit to our first stop, The Bear Pond Winery. Last week, we visited the Cooperstown Brewery. This week, we are stopping by the Brewery Ommegang.
As we headed out of Milford, we turned up on County Highway 33. After a short drive through the beautiful countryside, we came upon the large, 
Belgium farmhouse styled building on an 136 acre property. Turning up the driveway, you bring your car through the archway in the center of the building to the parking lot in the rear. From here we could see people relaxing at picnic tables outside the tasting room.
We went inside for our tour, and were greeted by a friendly host, who informed us that the next tour would start in about ten minutes. As we milled around, we ran into our new friends from Texas. They had met their son, who is living in the Cooperstown area, and were going to do the tour together.
As we headed off on our tour, we entered the brew room, getting a brief history of the area, and how the property the brewery is on was part of the largest hop producing farm in the area. Walking through the stainless steel tanks, we learn the art of Belgium brewing, and the specific hops, variety of yeast strains, spices, grains, and artisanal methods used.
Walking over the tanks on the suspended walkway, we get a peek in the windows and observe the yeast strains being used, some from the original brews from back when the brewery first opened.
At the end of the tour, we wind up in the tasting room. Decorated with pictures of ales and Belgium art, it more resembles a dining or living area of an old Belgium house, with the lineup of brews on the mantle of the fireplace. Behind the bar is another host, with the five full-time ales produced here:
* Ommegang Abbey Ale (a classic Belgian-style abbey double)
* Hennepin Farmhouse Saison (a Saison or seasonal Belgian-style rustic golden ale)
* Rare Vos Amber Ale (a cafe-style amber ale)
* Ommegang Witte Ale (a Belgian-style wheat ale)
* Three Philosophers (a Belgian-style quadrupel with authentic Belgian kriek blended in)
On the bar is also some mini-pretzels and cheese spreads, each of which is produced with genuine Ommegang Ales.
We get a brief description of each ale as we receive our samples. It’s real casual, like hanging out at your local pub. We meet 3 girls who were on the tour, one from Poughkeepsie, and two from England. They were doing the tour from North to South (the opposite of our trek), before her guests from England headed to the West Coast to visit LA, before returning home to England. We exchange tips and must-see spots of LA and England.
We briefly visit the gift shop, picking up a couple of ales, some ale cheese spreads, and our free coasters, using the coupon from the Quench Magazine. We looked at the signature Belgian glassware specifically designed to maximize the experience of each ale. They also have T-shirts, cookbooks, jerseys, bar-towels, bottle openers, stickers, and coasters.
We bid farewell to our new friends from England, and met up in the parking lot with our friends from Texas, who decided to follow us to our final stop, The Fly Creek Cider Mill.
Next week, part 4, The Fly Creek Cider Mill.
Tags: Beverage trail, Cooperstown, Hennepin, Mohawk Valley, Ommegang, Rare Vos, Three Philosophers, Witte
