Brewery Ommegang
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Don Feinberg, Wendy Littlefield |
| Headquarters | Milford, New York , United States |
Area served | United States (46 states plus DC), Canada, U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, France |
| Products | Belgian-style ales |
| Parent | Duvel Moortgat Brewery |
| Website | www |
Brewery Ommegang is located near Cooperstown, New York and focuses on crafting Belgian-style ales.
History
Established in 1997 by Don Feinberg and Wendy Littlefield—who also own the beer import firm Vanberg & DeWulf along with several Belgian breweries including Duvel Moortgat—Ommegang operates from a facility designed to resemble a traditional Belgian farmhouse. The brewery is situated on a former 136-acre hop farm within the Susquehanna River Valley, approximately 4 miles south of Cooperstown along County Route 33 in Milford, New York.
The company saw rapid expansion and by early 2005 planned to boost its production capacity by 40% in response to growing demand. In 2003, Feinberg and Littlefield sold their shares to Belgian brewer Duvel Moortgat Brewery, famous for its Duvel Golden Ale. Although Duvel Moortgat briefly brewed limited batches for Ommegang in 2006, this arrangement was discontinued afterward.
Ommegang’s distribution reaches 46 states across the U.S. plus the District of Columbia, excluding Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Mississippi. On the international front, its beers are available in Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Mexico, and since 2018, France.
Each summer, Ommegang hosts Belgium Comes to Cooperstown, an event offering unlimited tastings of over 200 Belgian and Belgian-style beers complemented by food and entertainment. Since 2007, the brewery has also sponsored "CX @ Ommegang," a cyclocross race that reflects its Belgian roots and strengthens its presence in sports marketing.
Active
Ommegang’s core lineup includes six flagship ales:
- Ommegang Abbey Ale (traditional Belgian-style abbey double)
- Hennepin Farmhouse Saison (seasonal rustic golden ale; recognized as America’s first Saison)
- Rare Vos Amber Ale (amber ale resembling a café style)
- Ommegang Witte Ale (Belgian-style wheat ale)
- Three Philosophers (Belgian quadrupel blended with authentic Belgian kriek)
- Neon Rainbows (New England IPA)
Both Ommegang Abbey Ale and Three Philosophers are suitable for cellaring; recommended maturation periods are up to three years for Hennepin and up to five years for Abbey Ale and Three Philosophers.
Special Releases
Ommegang also offers limited edition beers with some recurring varieties:
2007-2008:
- Ommegeddon Funkhouse Ale (golden ale featuring Brettanomyces bruxellensis and dry hopping)
- Chocolate Indulgence Stout
- Biere de Mars (amber ale bottle-conditioned with Brettanomyces bruxellensis)
- Ommegang Rouge (Flemish red ale crafted in collaboration with Brouwerij Bockor, 5.5% ABV)
2009-2010:
- Adoration Strong Winter Ale (spiced dark malt at 10% ABV)
- BPA (elevated to regular year-round availability)
- Zuur (Flanders Brown Ale brewed alongside Liefmans of Belgium)
- Tripel Perfection (Belgian tripel infused with spices)
- Cup O' Kyndnes (Belgian-Scotch ale brewed using smoked malt and heather flowers)
2011-2013:
- Gnomegang (Belgian-style Strong Blonde Ale at 9.4% ABV fermented with Chouffe yeast)
- Aphrodite Tart beer
- Belgian Independence Day Saison and Tripel
- Seduction (stout blended with Kriek at 6.8%)
- Biere d'Hougoumont (Biere de Garde aged on white oak and maple staves at 7.3%)
- Scythe & Sickle (harvest ale at 5.8%, now seasonal)
- Duvel Rustica (collaboration brew with Duvel Moortgat at 8.5%)
- XV (Trappist ale commemorating the 15th anniversary at 9.6%)
- Art of Darkness (Belgian dark ale at 8.9%)
- Fleur de Houblon (summer ale at 6.8%)
- Game of Thrones collection: Iron Throne (6.5%), Take the Black Stout (7%)
- Wild at Heart (American wild ale fermented exclusively with Brettanomyces)
These limited releases have contributed significantly to Ommegang’s expansion by broadening its product range and enhancing its standing within the craft beer sector.
Brewer's Obsession Series
- Ommegang Art of Darkness – a Belgian-style dark ale with an 8.9% alcohol by volume
- Ommegang Wild at Heart – an American Wild ale fermented solely with Brettanomyces during primary fermentation, released November 2013
Game of Thrones Series
Beginning in 2013, Ommegang introduced a collection of beers inspired by the HBO Game of Thrones series:
- Iron Throne Blonde Ale (6.5%, March 2013)
- Take The Black Stout (7%, October 2013)
- Fire and Blood Red Ale (6.8%, March 2014)
- Valar Morghulis Dubbel Ale (8%, October 2014)
- Three-Eyed Raven Dark Saison Ale (7.2%, April 2015)
- Seven Kingdoms Hoppy Wheat Ale (6.9%, March 2016)
- Valar Dohaeris Belgian-Style Tripel Ale (9%, September 2016)
- Bend The Knee Belgian Golden Ale (9%, May 2017)
- Winter Is Here Double White Ale (8.3%, Fall 2017)
- Hand of the Queen Barleywine (10.7%, April 2018)
- Queen of the Seven Kingdoms Sour and Blonde Ale Blend (6.5%, June 2018)
- Mother of Dragons Smoked Porter and Kriek Ale Blend (6.6%, September 2018)
- King in the North Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout (10.5%, November 2018)
- For The Throne Strong Golden Ale co-fermented with Pinot Grigio and Viognier grapes (9.5%, March 2019)
- My Watch Has Ended Imperial Brown Ale infused with maple syrup and fenugreek (8%, October 2019)
Seasonal
Ommegang produces four seasonal brews designed to cater to varied tastes:
- Glimmerglass Saison (5.4% ABV), named after the nearby Glimmerglass State Park
- Fleur de Houblon Summer Ale (6.8% ABV)
- Scythe & Sickle Harvest Ale (5.8% ABV)
- Adoration Belgian-style Strong Winter Ale (10% ABV)
In addition, Cooperstown Ale, a Blonde Ale at 5.5% ABV, pays homage to the brewery’s local roots.
Partnerships
Each year, Ommegang partners with the Inn at Cooperstown to provide a "Bed and Brew" experience that combines lodging with curated brewery food pairings, fostering deeper customer engagement.
Awards
Ommegang’s portfolio has been recognized with numerous accolades, highlighting its industry prominence and commitment to quality:
Witte
- Recipient of multiple awards including Gold at the 2011 Great American Beer Festival and Silver at World Beer Cups
BPA
- Earned Bronze Medal at the European Beer Star in 2010
Rare Vos
- Awarded Gold Medal at the 2012 World Beer Cup among other honors
Hennepin
- Achieved Gold at Great American Beer Festival in 2004; Silver at World Beer Cup in 2006; Gold at European Beer Star in 2007
Abbey
- Secured Gold Medal at World Beer Cup 2010; Silver at European Beer Star 2012
Three Philosophers
- Bronze Medalist at World Beer Cup 2006; Silver at European Beer Star 2011; Bronze at Great American Beer Festival 2013
Gnomegang
- Honored with Gold Medal at European Beer Star 2012
XV
- Awarded Silver Medal at European Beer Star in 2012