Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend (Quadrupel) - Brewery Ommegang

BeerNemesis

New York

4.6/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Three Philosophers | 750 ml. | 9.8% ABV | 2008 vintage

Brewer: Brewery Ommegang
Style: Quadrupel
Glass: Ommegang chalice

Presentation:
After a year of cellaring, I popped this bottle out. A line of sediment has settled at the bottom.

Appearance:
Coca cola brown with a lackluster mocha head and a lot of bubbles. Subpar lacing. Much of this is due to the aging I think.

Aroma:
Dark fruits--raisins, plums, and cherries--drenched in sweet alcohol. There's an ominous musty, earthy smell as well.

Taste:
Mon dieu, this is delightful. I wasn't sure what aging would do to it, but there's an inexplicable brightness to the earthy flavors. The dark fruit tastes recede a bit, and while the alcohol is definitely prominent, its saccharine quality is less evident with age. Sweet finish. Very nice.

Mouthfeel:
Amazingly prickly carbonation after all this time--a nice counterpoint to its velvety body.

Harmony:
Aging was a success!

Would I cellar it again?:
Yes. It is a better beer with 2-3 years on it.

Bottled: 2008
Served: November 26, 2010

Serving type: cask

11-26-2010 19:01:18 | More by BeerNemesis

Jarod

Pennsylvania

4.9/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Learned that this batch was over 1 ½ years old. She aged beautifully. Connoisseur tasting, Kennett Square

This beer poured a dark ruby/mahogany color that was cloudy in appearance. The head that was produced was minimal and short lived, just a thin covering that was tan/beige colored. No lace. The aromas were intense and bold! Smells of bourbon, port wine, wooden aging barrels, big dark fruits (raisins, plums, black cherries), sweet dark caramel malts, and alcohol. After I took my first of many whiffs I hoped that the flavors would and had to be as good as the nose. And they absolutely were. Tastes of rich dark sweet malts, dark fruits, fruits macerated in alcohol, port wine and the barrels that they were aged in, caramel, spice (hints), alcohol and a wisp of granny smith apple tartness at the end. Aftertaste was filled with port wine and fruit. Heavy bodied, and thick. Big complex flavors that are rich and heavenly and the warmth from the alcohol were truly inviting. Wow what a beer truly amazing how all the flavors compliment each other so well. Glad I had the chance to experience it, several times in one day.

Serving type: cask

09-09-2003 15:30:05 | More by Jarod

KYGunner

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

What a beautiful ale in both color and body. Deep ruby color, reminiscent of cherry, this quad has varying hues in different light. The head is light and fizzy and collars thickly around the edge. The effervescent bubbling keeps that collaring alive.

The scent is weaker than most quads but somewhat varied. Plum like aroma is at the front with a touch of crabapple. Hints of malt and cherry can be found amongst weaker scents of molasses and prune.

The feel is strong and thick and is certainly a sipper. There appears to be no alcohol tinnieness but there is a brief harshness at the swallow.

A bit of cherry, malt, sugary sweetness, date or prune, and a touch more cherry can all be found on the tongue. A bit tart and a touch of fig comes near the end. Overall, it's very good and with some minor tweaks to the flavor and feel it could be great.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 22:28:48 | More by KYGunner

JohnG190

New York

4.66/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Served in snifter at 50 degrees.

Appearance - hazy chestnut brown with two finger tan head that dissipates quickly. Nice lacing.

Aroma - cherries, caramel and sweet malt waft from the snifter.

Taste - hint of funk. Cherries, malt, and toffee finish off sweet.

Mouthfeel - smooth, medium body with lively carbonation.

Overall - well crafted ale that makes a perfect after dinner digestive.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 23:07:00 | More by JohnG190

curasowa

New York

4.55/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazy, dark copper/reddish color with two fingers of off-white head that fades with a thick curtain of lace.

Aroma: Thick, syrupy sweetness, with molasses. raisin, ripe fruit and roasted malt in the background. Some estery alcohol mixes in and out.

Taste: Thick, creamy and sweet up front, with lots of ripe fruit and some yeastyness. The malt presence builds, with a nice toasted, nutty taste leading to the finish, where there's more cherry-syrup sweetness and a lingering caramel candy aftertaste.

The Rest: De-li-cious. A bomber of this is the perfect evening companion to relax and enjoy life.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 22:54:21 | More by curasowa

MikeB20

Delaware

3.95/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

P: 750ml corked bottle into a tulip glass. 2012 bottling date.

A: Pours a beautiful, clean ruby red with a two finger off-white head. Lacing is generous and sticks all the way down the glass. First impressions in the glass are great.

S: Sweet malt, cherries, Belgian yeast and some slight medicinal aromas. A little alcohol and some caramel as well, more of both as the beer warms. No hop aroma.

T: Sweet, sweet caramel malt up front with some tartness in the finish. Mostly caramel and dark malt flavors. The cherries come through as a dark stone fruit but in my opinion wouldn't be immediately recognizable as cherries on the tongue. Hops are virtually no where to be found.

M: Heavy on the palate with moderate carbonation. This beer really coats your mouth and the sweet sugary flavors linger.

O: A solid beer overall but perhaps a bit too sweet for my tastes. The sweetness makes drinking a second glass a little tougher than I'd prefer Pairing this beer with something slightly bitter would be really nice. I feel like this beer would age nicely after a few years.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 19:29:09 | More by MikeB20

Roguer

Connecticut

4.55/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - Absolutely beautiful beer. Completely opaque, dark, with a hint of red.

S - Smells like a quad. Slightest hint of malts and cherries. Slightly sweeter, and less overwhelming, than other quads and Dubbels. Good, two-finger head; extremely mild lacing.

T - Oh wow. Lovely, absolutely lovely. There are three distinct phases of flavor: the initial taste, a false aftertaste, and then the real aftertaste. The first taste is mildly sweet and a bit sharp with alcohol; the second hit is where the cherries come through, as well as prunes (or dates); the aftertaste allows the cherries to linger, and there's a bit of a nutty finish. Not extremely complex, but nice and layered. Very, very pleasant.

M - Not as thick as a quad could be, but very full in the mouth. Definitely sips designed to be savored, not at all gulped. Might be improved at a slightly lower temperature (mine was fresh from the fridge). The carbonation and alcohol combine to sting your palate and tongue a little bit, but not unpleasantly.

O - Very, very impressive. Smooth for a nearly 10% ABV beer. This is a fresh quad; I have two saved for aging in the cellar. This is truly among the best beers I have ever had. It's not the most incredibly complex, but there are some subtleties, and absolutely every flavor is complementary, clean, and lovely. There isn't a single aspect of this beer that I can criticize negatively.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 20:25:11 | More by Roguer

rhizomatic

Tennessee

4.46/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep brown -- ruby red when held to the light -- with a medium-small head that quickly thins to a wispy film of bubbles.

The aroma is more or less as expected, but no less impressive because of the fact: raisins, brown sugar, cherries, slight alcohol.

Taste is fairly similar to the aroma: brown sugar, dark malts, lots of dark fruit (raisins and figs in particular), a bit of cherry, a fair amount (albeit not an unpleasant amount) of alcohol warmth. Medium-full body, medium-light carbonation.

Overall, a wonderful beer that certainly stands up to its elder Belgian siblings.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 05:13:19 | More by rhizomatic

alex_hart

Massachusetts

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

Appearance: Dark, opaque brown. 1 finger tan head that dissipates to a thin film across the top with decent carbonation.

Smell: Dark fruit, some candied sweetness, a bit of belgian yeast, and a small amount of bitterness.

Taste: Follows the nose, but the taste shows the alcohol a bit more. Some delicious candied sweetness, dark fruit shines through, and the belgian yeast and hint of bitterness sit on the back.

Mouthfeel: Good carbonation across the tongue with a oily film upon the finish

Overall: This is a great beer. Definitely one to try. Ommegang rarely does wrong.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 00:31:17 | More by alex_hart

Jparker37

Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

S - Ripe red fruits. Banana and a healthy dose of smokey phenols. Bit of candy sugar, like powered sugar. Alcohol hides deviantly in the background.

A - Hazy dark amber with red highlights. Medium sized tan head holds a thin cap of tiny bubbles. Good lacing.

T - Candy sugar flavor foremost but lending little sweetness. Banana shows up here. Red fruit maltiness in the middle. Drastically drying spicy alcohol feel at the finish.

M - Medium-full to full bodied, dry, medium carbonation.

O - Fantastic aroma. I expected a little bit more sweetness the the flavor and a little less carbonation to ease the alcohol. Nice evening sipping beer worthy of a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 00:46:42 | More by Jparker37

dar482

New York

4.35/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

It comes a lovely dark amber color with champagne like carbonation running up the glass.

The aroma has a breadiness and Belgian yeast with some fruit. It does not have a huge aroma.

The taste has a big caramel sweetness with a bit of cherry and raisin. This is very tasty, but the cherry kriek maybe gives it a bit of an oddness. It cleans up nicely with the finish with the malt with a lighter mouthfeel.

I had this with other quads. It’s better than Chimay, but not as good as Rochefort nor St. Bernardus. It’s well crafted though and definitely stands up with the Belgian quads.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2013 01:51:53 | More by dar482

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.44/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

On tap at St Augustines in Vancouver.

A: slight cream colored head over hazy brown liquid.

S: Cherries and yeast aromatics of figs and pears.

T: Caramel, wood, cherries, raisins and plums.

M: Medium and thin viscosity simultaneously with a creamy mouth feel.

O: This blended beer is an interesting creation and worth seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2013 23:26:46 | More by DaftCaskBC

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.78/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a brownish color with amber highlights and a 1/2 inch head. Smell is lots of dark fruits, some mild spices. Taste is not as good as the smell. Malts, dark fruits, alcohol is making itself known here, pretty good, but expecting better. Feels full bodied in the mouth and overall is a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 12:18:02 | More by tone77

BigBarley

Texas

3.84/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Reviewed live, bottle I swapped from a friend for a Deviant Dale's 16oz.
Poured hard into a tulip, yields a large, khaki head with a strange reddish tint. The body is a murky amber, think if you mixed blood and orange soda.

The aroma is one of wild yeast, a sour cherry smell, and a hint of banana. Almost dusty or woody aromas detectable, some sharp or sour notes all over. You can tell this is a quad but there are definite characteristics of the kriek present. Very interesting

Dark fruit, dark cherry, banana, roasted flavors, a hint of smoke, more dark fruit sweetness, bready hints of malt... Very complexed and multi-layered. The kriek has imparted much of itself in this beer, but it is still clearly a quad. Not a beginner's quad, there is so much going on here it could drive someone away if they aren't prepared for the depth and complexity. There are hints of cinnamon, caramel, banana, plums, figs, wheat bread, chocolate cherries, and that good old funky yeast carrying it all along.

Syrupy mouthfeel, carbonation doesn't really carry over. Thick and hearty, but not unbelievably so.

Pricy beer, but worth it if you're hunting for something complex, layered and unique. I've never had a beer like this one. It has it's flaws, but it is a must try for any fans of the style.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 10:14:11 | More by BigBarley

minterro

Michigan

4.16/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Bought a single 12oz from Spartan Spirits for about 5 bucks.

A&S: Very pretty lively deep brown colored beer with a dark reddish hue. Fizzy light brown head of substantial size, that settles very creamy some lacing. The smell is mostly tart and clean fruits (cherries like they advertise but also hints of prunes). The aroma also contains pungent yeast. Not much unfiltered elements.

T&M: crisp and clean. Extremely well-hidden abv, but the burning in my belly says differently. Not really much of a malty palate. Similar to the smell as far as the dark fruit elements along with some slight sourness. High carbonation, medium body. Very low bitterness bit of sweetness in the finish. Not as complex as I was expecting.

Overall: Pretty delicious beer overall. I think there are some lacking elements to this beer, but nothing that is boldly wrong with it. A bit on the pricey side, but worth at least a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2013 03:55:12 | More by minterro

Jacurdy60

Alabama

4.34/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A-Pours a deep brown, chestnut color that is impermeable with a slightly toffee colored, three finger head that dissipates slowly with good retention. Lacing coats the whole glass as I sip.

S-Spiced fruits. Dates, figs, and bananas cooked with some spice. A very deep, malty sweetness follows that spicy fruit profile. I'm almost sensing no alcohol in the nose, they hid it very well.

T-The yeast shows up in the taste as it overpowers everything at the front. But it fades nicely resembling the nose from the spiced figs and dates then finishes off with a sweet, but a touch boozy, bite. Very complex and well balanced.

MF-The body is smooth, rich, filling but forgiving. A perfect balance between carbonation and thickness. A near perfect Quad

O-My new favorite Belgian Quad. It beats out Boulevard's, IMO.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 20:38:04 | More by Jacurdy60

JackMcAwesome

Florida

4.36/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Grabbed up a 750ml of this finally.

Poured it into my standard pint glass.

Look: Pours a deeply rich red with a two finger head that billows like clouds. The lacing is prominent and stays.

Smell: A dark cherry aroma is the foundation that also has a bit of yeast/malt to it. I was worried about it being in a mug and losing it's aroma early, but it stayed throughout, all the way to the final sip.

Taste: All sorts of things happening. The cherry is definitely there, with a bit of grape in some fashion. The alcohol takes a back seat and is hidden very well. It did not seem like a 9.70abv to me. The malt is featured really well and with the cherry, makes for a relaxing experience.

Feel: A heavy feel that's warming from the moment you drink it all the way down to your stomach. It shares a lot of features with a heavy dark wine in this manner, and with the low carbonation, reminded me of such.

Overall: My first quad, so I don't anything to compare it too, but if they are all like this, I'm in for a treat. I hope to delve more into this style in the future, but with summer fast approaching, I'll probably go with lighter styles for the time being. A good brew to curl up with in the winter.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 17:06:14 | More by JackMcAwesome

Hillbilly

Tennessee

4.31/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Purchased about two months ago in a gift pack with a Hennepin and a Chocolate Indulgence. Been wanting to try but the 9.8 told me to wait until I wasn't too busy.
Look at all the little floaties. Must be little balls of big flavor cause this stuff is awesome. Would definitely buy again. Great taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:57:18 | More by Hillbilly

YieldToNothing

New York

4.79/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

poured from a 12 ounce bottle into an ommegang chalice
dark brown with a creamy white head of about a half inch.
dried fruits in the smell, maybe a slight hint of caramel.
i get a little note of caramel in the taste as well, with that little quad "bite" in the aftertaste.
delicious, extremely well crafted quad. not quite as good as heavy hitter belgians, but certainly in the same ballpark.
definitely a winner an a beer i return to quite often.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 03:52:28 | More by YieldToNothing

hbonner

North Carolina

4.09/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Good bit of clove/malt, nice caramel appearance and taste. Smells and tastes like I would expect a strong Belgian would taste. Bit of boozy taste but not overpowering, esp for a high gravity at 9.8%. Smooth on the way down with a bit of aftertaste. Very enjoyable experience, and that's not just because it's my second Belgian of the night (other one was Unibroue Maudite). If I had a gun to my head I would go with the Maudite, but it would have to be a big gun.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 03:40:52 | More by hbonner

SometimesIfart

Michigan

4.05/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Pours a burgundy with a quickly receding one finger white head that becomes a ring around the edges of the glass. Left no lacing.

S - Sweet candied sugars, followed by dates and cherries. Somewhat floral, with a moderate alcohol twang.

T - Lots of cherry up front followed by a small amount og sugar and alcohol. Dates come through in the finish.

M - Medium bodied with almost no carbonation.

O - Overall, better than Chimay and Abt 12, but it isn't a Rochefort 12. I'd have again. Savor from a snifter!

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 05:05:11 | More by SometimesIfart

CDGoin

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.25

IF you are like me and love Oktoberfests and find it hard to find a Marzen in the spring Summer.. then this would be a great choice. More body, and and ale instead of a lager. BUt the flavor and aromas are close.

A fairly dry beer due to the high ABV, but also a robust and malty one with only the most needed amount of hops. Sweet but not overly so, a very balanced beer for the malt lovers out there.

So if you are NOT a fan of heavily hopped beers and IPAs, then this is a great choice.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2013 22:05:33 | More by CDGoin

BulbousBeer

Texas

4.66/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

This baby can replace a bottle of red wine easy, I served this at a dinner party with wine drinkers and after a few minutes of complaining they all went for it and really enjoyed the meal. It was a steak meal. It's amazing how complex and satisfying this beer is. The 2% cherry blends so well that it gives you the best of a red wine and a strong beer. This is now my favorite beer for a red meat meal. I only wish they vamped it up to wine strength, this isn't a criticism only a celebration of seeing beer find it's rightful place with a tasty meal.

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2013 03:29:49 | More by BulbousBeer

deltatauhobbit

Maine

4.03/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Thanks to my friend Jodie for this 750ml cage and corked bottle, surprisingly enough I've yet to review this.

Pours a dirty amber/brown color, looks like there's some bits of floaties around, head is fairly non-existent and there's no lacing on the glass.

Smell has a good whiff of Belgian candied sugar coupled with a lightly roasted malt and caramel presence, touch of banana fruitiness.

Taste starts out with some instant sweetness, the candied sugar is the star, some subtle flavors meld in such as some dark fruit, like raisins, and some lighter fruit, like banana, none is overpowering but tend to work together to paint an overall picture, carbonation is a touch high but gives it a more refreshing aspect than what might normally be too sticky or cloying, strength is very well hidden with only the slightest of afterburn in the back of the throat.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 23:05:40 | More by deltatauhobbit

screamking

Ohio

4.09/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle poured into snifter.

Appearance-pours a deep red-orange with nice two finger khaki head, nice lacing but it doesn't stay on glass very long. 4

Aroma-very fruity smell up front. Cherry and banana. Some overripe orange, clove, black pepper, bubble gum, hints of cinnamon. 4.25

Taste-the taste follows the aroma very well. Very sweet and fruity. Bubble gum and banana charge forward early. Then cherry comes through strong. Nice bit of sour after the sweet. 4.25

Feel-lighter then I thought coming in, but still medium. Coats palate very well. Nice carbonation. 3.75

Overall-This beer is making me look forward to trying others of this type. I love the sweet and sour mix in this. Price for this is reasonable, I would like to try the 12oz bottles next time, seems the better deal. 4

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2013 02:13:47 | More by screamking