New brew transports to the Great Beyond.

Tucked between lush hills and alongside a lazy river, beyond the lights and crowds and bustle, is a brewery unlike any other. From this bucolic setting in Cooperstown, NY, comes a very special new craft beer: Great Beyond Double IPA.

More so than any other beer ever crafted at Brewery Ommegang, this beer was designed to be transcendent – to transport drinkers to an idyllic Upstate NY state-of-mind and being. The new brew ships nationally throughout June in six-packs and draft.

The first beer Ommegang has released since it was named Champion Brewery and Brewmaster for mid-sized breweries at the 2016 World Beer Cup, Great Beyond Double IPA is a build upon the highly successful Nirvana IPA. Nirvana debuted almost exactly one-year ago throughout the brewery’s northeast backyard of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. In only 12 months, as reported by IRI in NY Food data, Nirvana is already the #3 selling NY-IPA. Overall, it is the #13 selling IPA 6-pack despite having weighted distribution well below 50%.

“Double IPA is a style we were excited to brew – it’s a further exploration beyond the Belgian-styles we are known for historically,” said Phil Leinhart, Brewmaster for Brewery Ommegang. “Nirvana received such a great reaction, of course we wanted to see if we could take that to another level. And I’m really excited we are sharing this beer nationally – unlike Nirvana which we restrict to our heartland, fans everywhere can enjoy Great Beyond and tell us what they think.”

Great Beyond pours a hazy light copper color with a thick white head. The aroma is intensely fruity thanks to massive hop editions; notes of mango, pineapple, and apricot dominate the nose, with underlying hints of sweet citrus. The flavor is full of juicy, fruity hop character with resinous pine undertones. The body is pleasantly full with a silky mouthfeel and big balanced bitterness. The finish lingers, finally resolving to a pleasant hop presence.

Great Beyond is 8.8% ABV and 83 IBUs, a true palate-wrecker. Brewed with pilsner and Munich 20 malts, along with additions of flaked oats, and dextrose, Great Beyond has a beautifully smooth mouthfeel. Hopping is done throughout the brewing process with a blend of Columbus, Cascade, Centennial, Mosaic, Calypso, and Mandarina Bavaria hops, and the beer is fermented with American ale yeast.

Great Beyond pairs with big bold flavors like smoked and cured meats, barbeque, curries, and all manner of spicy food such as Thai stir fry. Bold rich chesses like extra-sharp cheddar and bleu cheese are excellent as well. Find Great Beyond in June throughout Ommegang’s distribution area in 12 oz. six-packs and on draft.

Brewery Ommegang opened in 1997 to craft-brew fine Belgian-style ales. Ommegang brews eight ales year-round, as well as an extensive and imaginative range of seasonal and specialty ales. The beers have won a national following by connoisseurs of fine beer and are distributed in 45 states and internationally. Ommegang is located on a 136-acre farmstead in Cooperstown, New York and offers free daily tours and inexpensive tastings as well as a 100-seat café, a well-stocked brewery store, and an annual calendar of public events. Ommegang is open every day of the year except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Ommegang is a member of the Duvel family of fine beers.