Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend (Quadrupel) - Brewery Ommegang

lordredsnake

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Served in a Chimay goblet at the Terrace Taproom. Cloudy deep reddish amber color, without much head. Leaves a fair amount of lacing.

S: Malty, yeasty, slightly fruity.

T: Definitely malty, I could not taste any cherry as hard as I tried, but it did have more of a sweet caramel flavor than the bottle I had before.

M: Carbonated but still smooth and creamy.

D: I tried this on tap a few days after being quite disappointed by a bottle serving. I usually prefer the taste of bottle-conditioned beers being served from the bottle, but this seemed quite a bit more appealing to me on tap. I'll give the bottle a re-review some day. The draft serving lacked the carbonation and alcohol burn that turned me off from the bottled serving and seemed maltier which I enjoyed. It seemed also to have lost the slight cherry taste it had from the bottle, but this could be due to the bar serving it too cold. I tried to let it warm up but had a hard time resisting. All in all an enjoyable quad but unlikely to be a regular choice for me.

Serving type: on-tap

01-10-2011 17:44:02 | More by lordredsnake

dahlen22

New Jersey

4.68/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Dark brown with a decent head (if poured correctly).

Aroma: Candied fruits, cherries, mint, and malts.

Taste: Very smooth and creamy with some fruits, a slight bit of tart cherries, and deep malts and cloves.

Overall: Had this on tap at a sports bar (it was the only thing worth while on tap) and am very happy I did. Easy to sip, but the alcohol is deceiving, so I suggest pairing with some cheese or pizza (that is what I did), because 3 of these bad boys went down very easily, and the alcohol content caught me off guard in a good way. Cheers!!

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2010 01:48:40 | More by dahlen22

nickfl

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A - Pours with one finger of off white foam on top of a slightly hazy, amber brown body. The head settles quickly and leaves nice lace.

S - An aroma of tart cherries and spicy caramel malt.

T - Tart pie cherries up front with some sweet caramel. The caramel is joined in the middle by toasted grain and spicy yeast. Clove and coriander notes remain though the finish with some increasingly medicinal cherry.

M - medium body, moderate carbonation, and a balanced finish.

D - This certainly isn't a drain pour, but I am kind of disappointed. I hadn't had this beer in a couple of years and I remembered it being much better than this. The aroma is spot on, but the flavor is dissonant and unpleasant. The spicy yeast character seems inappropriate for a dark belgian and it clashes with the cherry. Maybe it its just that this beer is better in the bottle or maybe it has lost something in the last couple of years, but it seems like a shadow of what I remember it as.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2010 04:55:36 | More by nickfl

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Reviewed from notes.

Pours a nice reddish brown with a light tan head that stays around at about half a finger and leaves some good lacing. Nose brings forward subtle hints of cherries along with some light caramel and dark fruits. Hints of molasses. The taste really doesn't bring much cherry flavor at all. Really, I can't detect it, and it was faint enough in the nose. The taste does bring some Belgian yeasty esters and some caramel. Good, sturdy body that is slightly creamy. Not nearly as complex as I'd like to see, but pretty good overall.

Serving type: on-tap

10-19-2010 11:16:22 | More by Thorpe429

Imsothirsty

New Jersey

4.18/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at the Pour House

Dark slightly reddish, with a slim tan head.

Smell is pretty solid, malty and a little fruity, couldn't detect much alcohol but I know it's there.

Taste is a moce blend of flavors which has quite a long finish. First thing I taste is like Molasses, followed by bourbon notes and then some fruit and slightly bitter towards the finish followed by BAM lots of alcohol.

Mouthfeel is much smoother than I expected, just a little tingly carbonation. Right down the middle neither heavy nor light.

Drinkability wise, the alcohol was hitting me a little too hard for me to want more than 1 additional serving.

Serving type: on-tap

04-08-2010 21:28:33 | More by Imsothirsty

david18

New York

4.18/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm not the biggest quadrupel fan, preferring the paler belgian ales like strong pale, blonde, tripel, etc. But this is one of my favorite dark belgians. Very good malty aroma without too much dark fruit, extremely drinkable for 10%. This is the ultimate winter beer for me.

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2010 23:34:44 | More by david18

jeepboy76

Michigan

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap into a tulip glass. Deep, rich amber color with a medium head. Smell had a lot of fruity undertones. Nice lacing on the glass. Good mouth presence; doesn't scream of the 9.8% ABV like some brews. Very drinkable beer for a casual evening out (well, anytime really). I have had Three Philosophers in bottle form several times.

I was very excited to have the opportunity to sample this on tap, as I currently reside half way across the country from Brewery Ommegang. I was not disappointed. I am a believer in Belgian style brews, and while Ommegang is not in Belgium, I believe they have represented the style well.

Serving type: on-tap

12-07-2009 23:36:07 | More by jeepboy76

Cakanator

Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Ommefest on tap. I've ever only had this on tap but can't wait to open my 07 at home. Pours dark with a malty cheery chocolate nose and follows straight up on the pallet. Very complex and a great desert beer with dark chocolates. It's one of those beers I can't wait to see in 5 years. So damn great, my favorite ommegang.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2009 04:51:24 | More by Cakanator

cbutova

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap at the Sierra Grille, amazing beers and prices. Pours a dark blood red with a half finger head that leaves almost no lacing. A nice cloud coats the beer. Smells of dark fruits, malts, and an alcohol bite. Taste is dark fruits, malts, citrus, raisins, alcohol and cherries keep coming to mind. Mouth feel is moderate bodied, low carbonation, a good warming and a real nice oily coat of flavor on the tongue. Drinkability is good, good taste, decent price, alcohol may kill this one over time, a very nice twist on a quad.

Serving type: on-tap

10-11-2009 04:40:29 | More by cbutova

SShelly

California

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at verdugo, first pour off of a new keg (whoohoo?)

dark mahogany, with 2" white foam (wall behind me is dark wood so who knows what color the beer really is...)

Dark and malty with a hint of fruit, possibly the cherries in the nose.

Malt forward with a slightly tart finish, I feel like the cherries have blunted my favorite part of a quad, the malty sweet finish, and left it slightly tart.

overall very tasty but probably not something I would have all of the time.

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2009 05:48:24 | More by SShelly

RichT73

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Had this on tap at Andy's Corner Tavern in Northern Jersey, one of my favorite places to go for great beer. While I'm not usually a fan of this type of beer, I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. For the amount of alcohol in this beer, it was very drinkable. There was a strong aroma of cherry on every sip, which I really wasn't crazy about, but I could have definitely knocked back a couple more easily. Would love to have this one again, but wouldn't rush back for it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2009 22:28:17 | More by RichT73

midnite2sixman

Michigan

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had this one as a special edition draft at Butch's in Holland, Michigan. Kudos to Lance for pulling in 2 sixth barrels from Ommegang!

Nice reddish brown color.

Big cherry smell on the nose. Not big in a bad way. Also some brown sugar.

Cherry on the tongue, nice smoothness. Black cherries, smooth, quad style.

Quite a wonderful beer!

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2009 19:32:11 | More by midnite2sixman

dpuia

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Drank from a Ommegang anniversary glass, out of a home keg. Has a dark amber color, with little head. Smell is over the top very rich with fruity overtones. Taste is a full flavor and can clearly tell is of a higher ABV, but yet still suttle.

I would reccommend this beer over and over again.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2009 04:21:20 | More by dpuia

SLeffler27

New York

4.43/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A fine, creamy texture, heavy head leaves a coating of lace over this hazy red amber Quad. A ruby-red halo is apparent when the Ommegang Flute is put to the light.

The aroma is that of brandy soaked figs, raisins, plums and cherries. Very complex.

Three Philosophers' flavor follows its aroma, adding a long, dry finish and some musty earthiness. This one warms to reveal even more complexity and depth as it mellows.

Lively carbonation compliments the smooth, medium body of this beer with pleasant alcohol.

Sip or gulp as you please, Three Philosophers will reward any connoisseur. If you like the bottled version, seek out the draft as it is clearly superior.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2009 21:35:23 | More by SLeffler27

eewhiz

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap at the Taco Mac at John's Creek. Always seen it at the liquor store, and decided to give it a try.

Poured a deep garnet color with some persistent lacing.

Wow, I was very impressed with the deep cherries and light malts molasses flavors. Very drinkable, I thought it was a cherry-porter, until I went to BA, and saw that it was a quadrupel with 9.8% ABV. Never would have guessed it, It felt more like a 6~7%, which goes more to the smoothness and drinkability.

I could have easily had another. I thought the ABV was well hidden, due to the richness of the other flavors.
Very nice, I was pleasantly surprised!

Serving type: on-tap

01-19-2009 19:02:55 | More by eewhiz

indiapaleale

Massachusetts

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first experience with Three Philosophers.

Presented in a small Three Philosophers goblet. Beautiful little glass, proof that great things can come in small packages.

Pours a clean, clear deep cherry/mahogany color with a small head. This is a great looking beer.

Smell is of melted brown sugar, alcohol and faint tart cherry.

Taste is lots of sweet sugary goodness. This one has that quad taste that keeps brining us back for more. The cherry blend adds some tart back to the very sweet, but not cloying, tones.

This is a smooth, easy sipping beer. I absolutely loved it. On a freezing cold night, this was very warming. I'll be getting a bottle soon!

Serving type: on-tap

01-18-2009 14:33:20 | More by indiapaleale

lhaqq

California

3.73/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours with a dark ruby-colored body and a large, dense, creamy white head. Almost looks like a nitro pour.
S: Smells like yeast and caramelized malts.
T: Tastes like a fruit lambic on one half. Cherries/sour cherries. On the other half it is sweeter like a dubbel or a dull quad; figs, dark fruit and molasses.
M: Kind of dull and uninteresting but fine.
D: Hides abv, but too much in flavor to make it great in the capacity of drinkability.

Serving type: on-tap

11-29-2008 06:59:43 | More by lhaqq

Stinkypuss

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served on tap at Bocktown.

Snifter glass, mahogony in color with a large off white head that kept well and had a fine lace.

Nose was of ripe fruit, apples and malts. Bourbon like booziness.
Drinks very smooth and is a sipper for sure. Nice apple and malt, with a nice roasted edge. Alcohal is certainly present, and I believe this to be a fresh batch, so that is to be expected.

Very tasty and glad I got to try this, especially on tap. Would love to try cellaring this. Reccommended.

Serving type: on-tap

11-27-2008 01:30:11 | More by Stinkypuss

stace

Illinois

4.88/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Wonderful, all-around.

A strong beer, no question, but with a complex flavor, smooth and light mouth feel, extremely pleasant aroma, and very drinkable, provided you know how to appreciate a beer of this strength and style.

It's strong, which is evident in every aspect, but the flavors do not let the alcohol take over. Reddish-brown in color, with a minimal head and carbonation make this a fine sipping beer.

This particular bar serves it in its official glass, which is a small 9 oz. wine glass. All aspects of drinking this fine brew are a treat, without question.

If you have the opportunity to enjoy this beer on tap, by all means take it. It's worth it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-14-2008 01:12:09 | More by stace

callmemickey

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Copperish and somewhat clear with an eggshell white head which fades quickly

S: Citrus and caramel/toffee malts hints of alcohol (surprise!)

T: The malty characteristics predominate... caramel powering though with some spice and alcohol giving it a bit of heat... nice... smooth finish

M: Medium bodied with healthy carbonation... clean and crisp flavors pass shortly after finishing the sip

D: For a quad, this is good.. its no St. Bernardus 12... but its a good alternative

Serving type: on-tap

03-06-2008 19:52:10 | More by callmemickey

Asher1982

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

The beer was a nice cloudy brown in color with a strong earthy fruit smell. The taste of cherries is very subtle yet still notable. Mildly sweet with a slight bitterness, possibly from the almost herbal notes. You can definitely pick up on the alcohol but it is not out of place for this beer. It provides a nice warmth in the sip. This is a very enjoyable beer as I've come to expect from the Ommegang Brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

03-01-2008 01:52:21 | More by Asher1982

aerozeppl

New York

4.4/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at Mahar's. 1/2 pint

A: Pours a wonderful red color with a finger of head in a 1/2 pint glass. Lacing from the top to the bottom.

S: Cherries. Honey and other assorted sweetness. Some yeast smell as well. Very complex and very nice.

T: I have had this from the bottle many times over the years and this tasted like an aged bottle. All the complexity came out and drank very nicely.

M: Again very smooth. I was sad when I was done with this beer. Wonderful feel on the mouth without being too thick or to thin. Just about perfect.

D: In the bottle the drinkability is probably a 4 but on tap this was amazing. This is actually better than quite a few Belgian quads I have tasted. Good job Ommegang/Duvel.

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2008 00:02:37 | More by aerozeppl

emerge077

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Recently put on tap at Four Moon Tavern in Chicago.

Attractive argyle-pattern tap handle is recognized immediately as Ommegang, a slightly different color scheme than Hennepin, very classy. Pours with a small head into a tiny 3 Philosophers chalice. I'm guessing 10 oz., but wouldn't be surprised if it was 8 oz. Color glints ruby red through a chestnut body. Some lacing as this kiddie goblet is drained.

Aroma of Belgian yeast, malt, and stewed cherries. Kind of funky, it's restrained but nice enough.

Caramel toffee flavors, black cherry, low bitterness in the finish is the only indication of hops in the finish. Medium bodied with perceivable drying alcohol. It's about what I remember from the bottle I had a year or so ago. Not my favorite from Ommegang, but worth trying if you find it on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-24-2007 01:42:11 | More by emerge077

blakesell

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured off the tap into a belgian tulip.

Appearance- Beer pours a dark red brown with a large head that rises all the way to the top of the glass. Lacing clings to the glass throughout.

Smell- Cherry upfront, then raspberry and candi sugar. Almost no hop presence whatsoever. A slight earthiness that I can only assume is hop.

Taste- Belgian sour cherries with candi sugar and lingering bittering hops. A slight hint of chocolate ties the beer together. I'm on the fence at this point on weather this or the bottle is better. Sugar content seems a bit more subdued in the bottle, but there is more freshness and hop on the tap.

Mouthfeel- Slightly sticky, creamy, full-bodied, slightly sour and fully carbonated. Suprisingly not warming considering the high gravity.

Drinkability- For me the drinkability on this one is high. I give it a 4.5 on these grounds. I'm not sure that others can handle all the belgian qualities of this beer, but I like it.

Serving type: on-tap

11-07-2007 02:56:05 | More by blakesell

perfectkaos

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

had this one the other day while waiting for my food at Mad Mex in Monroeville. Served in a wine glass... lemme dig out my cell phone so i can read my notes

poured a dark ruby color with very little, if any, head. not much aroma to it either... i could detect the alcohol, but not much else.

balanced flavor with malt up front and hops and alcohol on the back.

a heavy beer, not very drinkable in large quantities. reminds me of the Sprecher scotch ale i had in vegas in terms of heaviness. tasty, though and Id probably have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2007 02:28:05 | More by perfectkaos