Ommegang Scythe and Sickle
Scythe & Sickle Harvest Ale is brewed with barley, wheat, oats and rye. Scythe and sickle is a seasonal brew that celebrates the richness of the grain harvest. Brewed with barley, wheat, oats and – in a nod to traditional upstate New York grains – rye, this fine ale is malty and creamy on the palate. The flavors of the grains and earth shine through. Enjoy the refreshment of the season and joys of fine brewing.
3.6
477 reviews
Cooperstown, United States
Community reviews
2014 vintage on tap at HopCat Ann Arbor. Pours a clear brown amber with a white head. Aromas of light bubble gum and slight toastiness. As for the flavor, the age (maybe) seems to give it a light crispness. Toasted malt and fruitiness with that light crispness, overall bubble gum with some earthy aged hops. Not sure quite why, but I find it really enjoyable with the age on it.
12oz bottle (refrigerated) as Grains of Truth, best before 7/20/16, drunk 12/15/15.
Light haziness to the copper-to-light-amber liquid with plentiful carbonation creating a creamy, off-white head that is well-retained.
Balanced blend of Belgian yeast and malts in the nose, displaying fruits (apple, cherry, strawberry), vanilla, light caramel and baked bread. Just a touch of clove and black pepper, as well. No alcohol or flaws.
Very malty, unsurprisingly with notes of sugar cookies, light caramel, vanilla, various grains and lots of breadiness. Definitely vanilla wafers. But it’s all carried-on by a tight carbonation and very softly-malted texture that prevents any hypothetical graininess/astringency from the malt/grains. Sweetness is moderate; perhaps a bit above average for a Belgian ale, but the flavors are enjoyable and the maltiness is obviously part of what the beer’s aiming for. Pepper, clove, light citrus and vanilla linger on the finish.
Hazy golden with a big white head. Aroma is a little peppery with some light notes of bread malt. Flavor is clean and peppery up front with a wheat finish.
Fairly effervescent with a light snap to it.
Signature Ommegang, always doing their due process in regards to Belgian styles. Nice carbonation, esters, rye spice notes.
Grains of Truth (Scythe and Sickle) is a golden brown beer that tastes spicier than it looks. It’s a little hoppy compared to a lot of other Ommegang beers, and it sits on the tongue after you swallow in a way that reminds you of ginger or something similar. It’s a decent beer that’s great for fall, but it’s pretty average compared to the rest of their lineup.
Smells sweet with strong malt and some fruitiness. Cloudy amber brown color. Tastes like a nice hearty ale with the malt and fruitiness present. Has a nice after taste as well
12oz bottle. 07/2017 BB date. Appearance: Deep golden/orange with a light haze, with a large, thick white foam head.
Aroma: Belgian yeast dominates, heavy clove. Light, grainy rye malt undertones.
Taste: Light grainy malt sweetness that turns into citrus and strong clove yeast flavor. At the swallow a touch of rye appears.
Mouthfeel: Medium body with some creaminess and a moderately high carbonation.
Finish: Very dry with rye graininess and some retronasal clove yeast notes.
Overall: Interesting mesh of grainy malt with rye apparent, blended with touches of citrus and a strong clove yeast character. The three flavors all standout differently and don’t seem to intermingle, but overall still a very good beer.
The aroma is grain sacks, banana, orange peel, whole-grain bread, and a hint of clove and pepper. Lots of esters and a bit of phenols. Grains definitely lean clean and crisp. A background of caramelized sugars. Mouthfeel has moderate, elegant carbonation. The taste is lightly sweet and moderately bitter, slightly tangy too. Spices, citrus peel, some grapefruit, and hay come through. The finish leans drier -- mineraly, and a bit inky even. Orange peel and pepper linger. A smoother finish would have gone a long way, but still something I’d like to drink again.
on tap at Crafty’s Taproom in Northeast Phila - Belgiany. Nice amber color. Hoppy and Belgiany aroma.
Poured from a bottle. Translucent medium amber with a thick foamy white head. Foam dissipates quickly to a thin ring that clings to the glass, Pleasant aroma of bready yeast but not over powering. Taste has a hint of cloves and some other spices and is a bit dry. Finish is somewhat dry and harsh. OK but not as good as I had hoped for.
Grassy grain aroma in a cloudy copper pour. Impressively complex flavours with subtle hints of multiple grains.
I poured it from the bottle into a glass. It pours a cloudy copper color with a huge off-white head and lacing. The aroma is yeast, rye, pepper, and spice. The taste is a combination of breads with an emphasis on rye, pepper, and Belgian yeast. The palate is creamy with the carbonation on the back end. This was nice and flavorful.
Taste: complex,grains of rye, barley, and wheat notes. Woody and spices with a hop presence.
Grain rich nose. Mostly clear and dark amber in color.
Medium body and a big foamy head with nice ringed lace.
A solid fall harvest ale.
Hazy , amber color . Big , long-lasting , off-white head. Intense aroma of grains with hint of yeasts. Smooth , malty taste with decent bitterness at the end. Semidry finish , grainy aftertaste.
Pours a cloudy amber, with a long lasting tan head. Aroma of malts. Taste is Marzen-like, malts and grains. Smooth and a bit creamy. A very nice fall brew. Thumbs up.
Insipid orange, mostly clear. Floral perfume and herbal soap aroma, green peppercorns, chlorine. Fragrant mint character, mingling with chemicals, herbal rye components. Zesty, cooling flavor with more florals and peppermint, lemon oils. Softly spicy and distantly sweet, with a fair amount of banana, sweet dough and clove filling in the dense middle. The arduous palate texture highlights the wheat characteristics here, offering a pairing of difficult sweetness and searing carbonation. Soapy house character seems constantly prevalent.
Copper colour, beige head. Nose is hoppy with some yeasty notes. Interesting but underwhelming.
12oz bottle from Xroads. Poured a bright amber with a creamy light beige head. Aroma of dough, yeast, nut shell, banana peel, bubble gum, old oranges. Medium mouthfeel with stronger carbonation. Flavor of grain husks, sweet dough, touch of orange peel, banana peel, bubblegum and yeast. The house yeast really shines through on this one.
Earlier Rating: 9/29/2012 Total Score: 3.3
12 oz bottle from Canal’s Hainesport. Poured a very clear deep amber body with a larger bubbly off white head that leaves spotty lace and pools of foam on the edges. Aroma is odd with lots going on, initial burst is sour wet bread followed by a hint of butter followed buy nut shells, earth some rye spiceness and butter toasted wheat bread along with Belgian yeast. Thin watery body with very strong carbonation that almost stings your throat. Falvor is much like the aroma with lots of grain notes all accented with a touch of butter and some belgian yeast. Odd but good in a weird way.
Hazy copper ale with a white head fading to lace. LIght belgian character: pear and pepper notes. Some spice from the rye and earthy hops to back it up. Very drinkable beer.
On draft at the brewery it is a cloud orange color with a slight head. The aroma is cloves and the taste is a slight bitter orange flavor
On draft at the brewery. Pours a clear copper with an off white head. Light banana nose. Flavors of tropical fruits. Light bitter finish.
Earlier Rating: 9/15/2013 Total Score: 3.7
From a 12 oz bottle. Pours a hazy copper with a thick white head. Yeasty nose. Flavors of bread dough and light citrus. Very tasty.
Bottle. Murky, clouded amber with a tall, fading tan head. Aroma is sweet malt, light hops, yeast and grains. Taste is malty and sweet with grains, light hops, dried fruit notes, spicy rye and yeast. Body is medium with a dense, creamy carbonation on the palate. Ends with more sweet malt, grains, light caramel, light hops, fruit notes and yeast.
Earlier Rating: 9/23/2012 Total Score: 3.3
Bottle. Orange-amber pour with a tall, foamy white head. Aroma is herbal and floral hops, soft grains and fruit notes. Taste is strong herbal hops, light mint, floral notes, tropical fruit, soft citrus, grains, sweet malt, soft spiciness and light caramel. Body is light-medium with a soft bubbly carbonation. Ends with more herbal hops, soft spiciness, caramel, toasted grains, light wheat, fruit notes and hints of toffee.
On tap at Barrels and Bottles. Deep orange and hazy in appearance with a lacy beige head. Aroma of fall spices, toasted grains, rustic yeast, earth, herbs (clove), floral notes and banana. Similar flavor, with a medium body. A bit of a letdown overall.
Earlier Rating: 10/8/2014 Total Score: 3.6
On tap at Falling Rock. Amber-orange and hazy appearance with a white head. Aroma of rye, wheat, light spices, herbs, yeast, bready malts and light hops. Similar flavor, everything comes together well. Medium body with a nicely balanced finish. Pretty tasty overall.
Bottle from Woodmans in Waukesha. Golden orange pour with an orange head leaving lots of streaky lacing. Aroma has tangy spices, citrus and some fruit. Taste is of orange juice, tangy spice, and some other fruits, with some biscuity malt underneath. Light to medium bodied with little alcohol presence, lightly sticky. Finishes fairly well blended between bitter and sweet. An interesting take, subtle belgian-y, but also quite citrus fruity 13.8
Very slightly hazy golden with a thin white ring of foam for head. Sweet blonde biscuity Belgian pale malts and a touch of semisweet Belgian tree fruits on the nose. Wonderful crisp Belgian blonde malty nose with plenty of semisweet tree fruity esters and a light English muffin and tangerine tones, dry semi fruity Belgian finish.
Earlier Rating: 11/13/2012 Total Score: 3.4
Clear golden, with a fluffy white head. Clovey yeasty light fruity aroma with some sweet earthy tones. Smooth up front yeasty fruitiness with some tasty banana and wheat, with a dry subtle finish. Not bad, but not really up my alley.
12 ounce bottle into signature tulip glass; bottled on 7/24/2015. Pours fairly hazy/cloudy orange/amber color with a 2-3 finger dense and fluffy off white head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Nice spotty foamy lacing clings around the glass, with a fair amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of lemon, orange, pear, apple, light banana/bubblegum, pepper, clove, honey, wheat, toasted bread, spicy rye, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Nice and pleasant aromas with good balance and complexity of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malt, and earthy hop notes; with solid strength. Taste of big lemon, orange, pear, apple, light banana/bubblegum, pepper, clove, honey, wheat, toasted bread, spicy rye, herbal, grass, and yeast earthiness. Good amount of earthy yeast spiciness on the finish; with lingering notes of lemon, orange, pear, apple, light banana/bubblegum, pepper, clove, honey, toasted bready, spicy rye, and herbal/yeast earthiness on the finish for a short bit. Fantastic complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malt, and earthy hop flavors; with a great malt/yeast spiciness balance and zero cloying flavors after the finish. Good amount of dryness after the finish from carbonation. Medium-high carbonation and medium bodied; with a very smooth, crisp, and fairly creamy/bready mouthfeel that is great. Alcohol is very well hidden with minimal warming present after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Belgian pale ale style. All around great complexity, robustness, and balance of fruity/spicy yeast, bready malt, and earthy hop flavors; and very smooth and crisp to drink. A very enjoyable offering.
Earlier Rating: 10/16/2012 Total Score: 4.2
12 ounce bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 8/2/2012. Pours a hazy orange copper color with an awesome 3 finger fluffy off white head with fantastic retention, that reduces to a thick cap that lasts. Nice foamy lacing clings to the glass. Aromas of big lemon, orange, pear, grass, pepper, herbal, clove, biscuit, rye, nuttiness, earth, and yeast spiciness. Very nice aromas with great complexity and balance. Taste of pear, apple, lemon, biscuit, rye, herbal, floral, pepper, earth, clove, and yeast spiciness. Light bit of peppery bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of light fruit, herbal, floral, biscuit, rye, pepper, clove, and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Great balance and complexity of flavors; with no cloying on the finish at all. Medium-high carbonation and medium body; with a lightly creamy and very crisp mouthfeel that is very nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an excellent Biere De Garde! Great balance and complexity of flavors; very smooth a crisp to drink. Highly enjoyable offering.
Bottle at home. More speciality grain or bier de garde than APA.gazed brownish orange small white head. Nose is nice orange peel, peppery, and candy. Tastes of oranges, light hops, earthy bitter, grains, peppery, sweet banana candy, straw. Lively palate sweet fruity finish. Interesting nice fall time brew.
Earlier Rating: 10/22/2012 Total Score: 3.7
Tap at the Smith in midtown. Pours copper with one finger tan soapy head. Nose of grains and orange peel. Tastes of rye, grains, oranges, green vegetables, pepper, and earth. creamy and dry one the palate. nice autumnal brew
Aroma: grass, citrus, herbs
Appearance: hazy amber, white head
Taste: light sweetness, lightly bitter, lightly sour,
Palate: medium body, average carbonation, slick feel, long finish,
Delicious
12oz to my belly via a glass - nose is citrus and floral with a saison-y yeast smell. Sip adds belgian ale qualities along with a malty backbone. Tastes exactly like what an Ommegang APA would taste like. Great mouth feel. Decent hop presence on the front end but the taste goes away quickly.
Earlier Rating: 7/21/2013 Total Score: 3.4
12oz bottle - pours amber with off white head and nice lacing. Nose is wheat and floral. Flavor adds caramel and rye. Mildly sweet with light to medium bitterness. Dry and a little gritty. A good brew.
On tap at the Crest in Clintonville: amber pour with frothy thin white. aroma of musty belgian yeast. tastes are belgian yeast and spice also with lemon, grain. even, ok. - 7.0
Earlier Rating: 10/29/2013 Total Score: 3.5
On tap at Fermentation Lounge. Copper pour, white head. Aroma is yeast, banana, clove. Tastes are straw, herbal, pear, rye, yeasty. Ok.