Three Philosophers Belgian Style Blend (Quadrupel) - Brewery Ommegang

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice oud cherry colour, good lacing. Like a good wine in appearance. Good yeast aroma. Bit of plum- more action in sediment at end.
It is undeniably fresh yet found it bland. Watered down cherry and not a full punch of a quad. Could it have been dusty glasses?

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2004 01:33:44 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

"Character is determined more by the lack of certain experiences than by those one has had."

--Friedrich Nietzsche


"Do what is right though the world may perish."

--Emmanuel Kant


"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself."

--Soren Kierkegaard


Brewed 2004. Softly glowing coral with ripe orange trim, a beautiful color that reminds me of a tropical sunset in a glass. The Belgianesque head is at least as gorgeous as the beer with its tangerine caramel color and its sticky, whipped frothiness. A meager amount of lace is the only thing keeps the appearance from perfection.

The aroma is musty and funky and spicy and herbal and all kinds of interesting; I just wish that it was more cherry-like. I would never have guessed that that particular fruit was added if it didn't say so on the label. My hope is that the cherry lambic will be more evident on the palate than it is in the nose.

This is fabulous beer! I haven't had too many quadrupels yet, but I've had enough to know what to expect. Three Philosophers is an excellent version with the added benefit of sour cherries. There's so much complexity here that my mouth doesn't know where to start, it just wants to enjoy for a while.

The malt is on the border between heavily toasted and lightly roasted, delivering such flavors as dark toffee, plum pudding, rum-soaked figs and even a little dark chocolate. Can't forget the black cherries. And the raisins. And the ground clove. This beer tastes like liquified dark Christmas fruitcake. It can't possibly become more delicious with warming, can it?

I wish now that I had poured the beer into a snifter. It deserves to be philosophized over because I'm sure that the meaning of life is in here somewhere. I'm enjoying the tartness provided by the cherry lambic, but am glad that it wasn't added with a heavier hand. No sense in turning this stately beer into a cherry fruit beer with quadrupel accents.

The body/mouthfeel is the best of both worlds. There's enough malt on hand to give the beer a mouthfillingness and a finishing stickiness, yet the energetic amount of carbonation keeps things brisk and amazingly supple. Drinkability didn't need any help, but was provided with it anyway by virtue of an outstanding mouthfeel.

I need to revisit what Brewery Ommegang has to offer since I reviewed most of their regular offerings prior to knowing what the hell I was tasting. Still though, it's hard to believe that anything in their oeuvre can compare to Three Philosophers. This is a stunning creation that was a steal at only $5.99 per bottle. I'm seriously considering buying a case because I'm sure that this nectar will age like a dream. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2006 22:15:22 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

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

2006 vintage bottle, the cave aged edition, I could not wait to dig into this one. It had been sitting in my fridge for what seemed like forever waiting for me to get close to it. Decided to pop it open the other night. Served chilled and poured into a snifter, this one was consumed on 12/05/2008.

The pour was very nice with a rich brown color that was loaded down with ruby highlights that abounded. Huge off white head rose up from the depths and clung to the sides of the glass for what seemed like forever before finally settling back down and relaxing.

The aroma was rich, nice notes of dark fruity yeast, hints of swet cherry notes and an herbal tone that prickled at the nose quite nicely. Rich malts lying underneath provided a nice level of sweetness. The flavor was about as big and rich as you could get. Most of the alcohol was well hidden under rich fruit notes. Huge flavor here that dissolves and transforms with each passing sip. Nice touches of cherry and unique sour notes. Smooth, incredibly smooth with a rich carbonation and velvet like touch to it.

Overall an outstanding beer that was much more tame then the regular version and just a thing of beauty. I was very glad to have tried this one, very glad indeed.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2008 19:46:56 | More by mikesgroove

womencantsail

California

3.93/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle from 2009

A: The pour is a hazed dark amber color with a finger and a half worth of fluffy tan head.

S: Smells like slightly tart cherries and cherry pie. There's some nice caramel and toffee notes as well. A touch of chocolate malt, raisins, and plums, too.

T: A definite alcohol taste to begin with which is followed by cherry skins, raisins, and plum skins. There's a nice maltiness that I would describe as toffee, and a bit of brown sugar. The same subtle chocolate character that was present on the nose.

M: The body is medium with a moderate carbonation.

D: Not quite as boozy and overly intense as I remember, but something I'd still have a bit of trouble drinking a significant quantity of.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2010 02:31:18 | More by womencantsail

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

brentk56

North Carolina

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

Appearance: Pours a cloudy brown color with ruby highlights and a thick head of beige foam; leaves a smattering of lacing here and there

Smell: Cherries jump out, with hints of chocolate and caramel; also, some rum-soaked dried dark fruit and a strand of red licorice

Taste: Starts out with a touch of caramel sweetness with the chocolate and tart cherry flavors quickly making their presence known; in the middle, the tart lambic flavors build to a crescendo; amazing how balanced this brew stays..never too sweet nor too sour; finishes with a woody tone

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with moderate level of carbonation

Overall: A distinctive beer that is always worth re-visiting

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2005 00:17:56 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.55/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2012 vintage.

Pours a clear brown with a foamy tan head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, brown sugar, dark fruit, and some slight sour cherry aromas. Taste is much the same with a slight roast flavor and an alcohol kick on the finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer that is pretty tasty but fairly strong.

Serving type: bottle

09-01-2012 02:52:38 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a dark burgundy color ale with a large off-white foamy head with good retention. Aroma of subtle sour cherries with big strong malt. No hint of yeast, which is little surprising for a Belgian style ale. Taste is sweeter then expected with a strong malt body and a hint of kriek lambic at the end. Body is above average and alcohol is well hidden. I would appreciate a bit more complexity but this is still a very enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2005 17:47:36 | More by Phyl21ca

BEERchitect

Kentucky

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

A quite terrific American rendition to a Belgian Quad. Pours a viscous brown-ish red with golden highlights. Dainty white, fizzy head that fades quickly, but laces well. Smells sweetly with caramel, fruits, and spices. Tastes big on malt, and mildly caramelly, brown sugary, fig-ey, date-ey, and cherry-ey. Sweet spices of clove, corriander, pepper, and estery. Becomes more alcoholic through the body. Sweet and powdery finish. A good Belgian replica. A great buy for the buck.

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2005 19:58:47 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

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

2003 version here,pours a nice chesnut brown with a real creamy head that lleaves very nice lacing,aroma ismalty sweet with a slight spicey note with candied sugar very evident.A very nice rounded beer taste wise softly sweet with some spicieness with the cherry taste that lingers in the background,wow what a great tasting beer!I could drink this pretty potent brew all night!

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2003 02:47:47 | More by oberon

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle, corked and caged. A carefull pour renders a clear, reddish-brown body with crimson and orange highlights. An off-white, creamy but short-lived head leaves only very minor lace (possibly due to the high level of alcohol, or maybe the need for some more conditioning). The nose displays dark fruit (raisins, fig) and some alcohol. The medium body is lightened by a moderate, but still gently effervescent (very fine bubbled), carbonation. True to the description on the label, the flavor is rich with raisins and pears; as well as some apricot and slightly tart apple. It's mildly sweet maltiness also lends a nutty quality (hazelnut?) that becomes more obvious in the finish. The alcohol is noticeable, but far from intrusive. It finishes dry with some residual sweet fruity malt. Quite enjoyable. Worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2003 19:08:28 | More by NeroFiddled

TMoney2591

Illinois

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

Served in a GameWorks shaker pint glass.

Another brew I felt I had to revisit. It pours a ruby-tinted russet topped by a finger of ecru foam. The nose is a menage-a-trois of black cherries, rye bread, and dried wheat. The taste begins with the wheat, burnt this time, then moves into a solid helping of slightly medicinal cherry. If it weren't for that bit o' cough medicine, this would have been great. The body is a stolid medium, with a light carbonation and a somewhat sticky feel. Overall, a solid outing, but falls a bit short of gem status.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2010 01:19:05 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.78/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearance: dark plum to eggplant in color, with visible "floaties" swimming about, a bit lighter near the bottom and around the sides, so far a very good approximation of the trappist abbey dubbel look, with a small, dunnish head, settling swiftly into a negligible collar.
Aroma: sheer intoxication, the first sniff brings such myriad complex flavors that I have to reel back from it...rustic, raisins, cured meats?, dark spices and fruits, soft leather, moss...deep, dank, and transendently indulgent..oh, goodness, oh, WOW!...so much going on here, that's it's extraordinarily difficult to pretend to be detached or objective, this beer unfolds and envelops me, it knows it has me where I want to be had!
..now, how about a taste of it? Simply amazing! A sweet, treacly dose of fruit (grapes, plums, cherries) welcome hops, and a thick, powerful malt backbone, pulling it all together.
Can't quite taste the "dried apricot in the nose" and "pear on the palate" as noted on the label, at least I can't claim to have discovered it on my own.
I now relax, sit back, sip, savor...full-bodied as can be, long, rich, residing finish...no, "finish" is incorrect, for it never leaves the mouth, and I would never wish it to!
A beer so powerful and seductive it consumes every sensory receptor, every inch of the head, all across the brain, down the fingers and toes...I nearly want to "cut & paste" my review of Westveleteren or St. Bernardus, for this experience so closely resembled that which I had with those fine Trappist ales.
Another beer after this would be a tremendous let down, so that's it for tonight...(Notes taken in mid-August)
Abundant gratitude to purplehops for breaking this out of his cellar for me...it was magnificent!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2003 18:41:04 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

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

The beer pours a dark burgandy color with an ample white head that fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has the traditional dark Belgian aroma; malts, spices, yeast, etc., but there is a lingering aroma of cherries added by combining a Tripel with a lambic, producing a Quad. The taste is brilliant. It is a strong beer, but you wouldn't know it. It has a dark feel to it. It tastes like the regular Ommegang, but with a nice cherry aftertaste that really compliments the flavor. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with low carbonation, which suits it perfect. This is a great beer. It drinks well. I wish it wasn't a seasonal brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2004 00:16:52 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.63/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer poured into my Bruery tulip. Beer is brown to red and forms a thin off white head of small bubbles that breaks quickly and goes to the walls of the glass quickly. No lacing was left on the glass.

Aroma is mostly sweet, caramel, mild roast, cherries.

Beer is medium bodied and pretty smooth, its almost tart. Its mostly sweet, the cherry tartness is interesting. Not my favorite beer, its odd. Not terrible just OK.

Serving type: bottle

08-22-2010 23:45:08 | More by drabmuh

Mora2000

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a medium, clear brown color with a large cream-colored head. The aroma is a strong mix of Belgian sugar, yeast and dark fruit. The beer smells outstanding. The flavor is more of the same. I get a lot of dark fruit (mainly cherries) as well as some yeast, alcohol and dark candy sugar. Very sweet and fruity tasting beer. Very well balanced and very tasty. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation. A great American-made quadruple.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 02:58:18 | More by Mora2000

metter98

New York

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured dark reddish brown into a snifter glass with a generous creamy brownish head. The head died down and became lacy. The beer is very dark, and I had to hold it up to a light to confirm that there was a moderate level of carbonation.
S: Light, pleasant aroma of cherries with raisins, spices, and other dark fruits. The aroma increases as the beer warms up, after which you can start to smell some of the alcohol.
T: Cherries are very apparent in the taste along with hints of raisins and spices. There's a nice malty sweetness in the finish. The taste isn't very complex, but it's an interesting combination of cherries and malt unique for this particular style.
M; It feels smooth, creamy and well balanced. A medium-bodied beer.
D: The alcohol isn't very apparent in the taste but it definitely hits you later on.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2010 00:39:10 | More by metter98

zeff80

Missouri

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2006 Version -- poured into a chalice
A - Poured out a dark brown color with a foamy, tan, two-finger head. Left a little lacing.

S - It smelled of malt and cherries. It also had a spicy smell. Alcohol aroma was present, too.

T - It tasted of malt and cherry. Very sweet. It also had a hint of hop spiciness.

M - Mouthfeel was soft and smooth. It is a heavy-bodied beer.

D - This is a fasinating beer. I love the kriek taste added to a quadrupel.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2007 01:38:43 | More by zeff80

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brewed 2003, Sampled February 2004
As I pop the cork I get an immediate aroma of cherries. The cork did not pop very vigorously though, so it seems that this may not be very highly carbonated. It pours though with a vigourous carbonation. It is a muddy amber-ruby color and is toppped by a light brown thick head. There are meaty, malty, cherry, and alcoholic notes in the aroma. As my nose incorporates the aroma the smell of cherries fades and one is left with a spicy Belgian ale nose.

This beer has a creamy mouthfeel to it, but it is not too thick for a Belgian quadrupel, in fact it would be on the light side for some of that designation. It is fairly sweet, and finishes with an alcoholic astringency which is not all that strong. There is definitely some cherries in this beer, but I like that it is fairly subtle and is only one component of this beer. This beer has a soft acidity to it, that is not directly traceable to the Kriek addition. There are fruit notes of raisins, plums, and fig. Though it is sweet up front it finishes with a spicy astringent dryness that is evocative of some herb/ spice that I can't quite think of.

This is a very well made beer. You can tell that a world class brewer put this beer together. Having said that it is missing something; though it is quite complex a couple of other dimensions would be wonderful here. Perhaps a bit of acidity & a bit of Brettanomyces character would be wonderful (I know this is a ridiculous request as these things are not too controllable, but De Dolle gets some of this right, at least sometimes). A very rich beer that is quite satisfying, I definitely like this best of the Ommegang products.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2004 23:09:15 | More by Gueuzedude

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

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

2004 release acquired with the help of howl1309, so a big "Thank You" goes out him. Poured from a 750ml bottle into a snifter glass.

A: The beer is a deep dark reddish brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of cherries, caramel, brown sugar, some spice, roasted malts & Belgian yeast.

T: The taste likewise has a strong burst of sour cherries that is tempered by the sweetness of caramel & brown sugar. There's a good Belgian yeast background and a hearty malt character. The hops presence is very mild as to be expected any beer that's 5-years-old and particularly in this style. The after-taste is slightly sour.

M: Crisp and smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, slightly sticky finish.

D: Flavorful, goes down easily, not too filling, strong kick, good representation of style, it's a good high-powered Belgian that adds the tartness of a lambic. Five years might have been a little too long for this one, but it's still worth drinking for a long time.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2009 01:47:43 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -14.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured out as a nice looking brown color with some red highlights. The head was a bit foamy at first but settles quickly. The smell of the beer was lightly acidic but had a sweet fruity quality too. The the taste was a little tart upfront but then shifted into a yeasty dark fruit sweetness. The mouthfeel was decent and and drinkable. Overall I would drink it again, especially now that it comes in 12oz. bottles.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2011 23:13:14 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.1/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2005 edition

Pours dark burgundy red into my Chimnay goblet with a 3 fingers tan head. Great "Belgian" lacing & very good head retention

Smell: Sourness & then woody, lactic notes.

Taste: Sour oaky notes up front, hints of cherry & choclate follow. Finishes tart & a vanilla oakyness

MF: Medium with a slight spritzyness.

Drinks pretty good, I think this is one to lay down for years. Worth it ($9.00 a bottle)

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2006 04:24:47 | More by russpowell

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

Halcyondays

California

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

12 oz. bottle, 2008 vintage,

A: Pours red-brown with a solid off-white head with excellent retention, some lacing.

S: A lot of sweet molasses with a hint of cherry.

T: Nice light brown sugar mixed with a lot a dark malt. The kriek, while being only 2% of the beer plays a more substantial role, adding a bit of fruit and medicinal character.

M: Mouthfeel is a bit on the light side for a close to 10% ale, off-dry finish, not bad.

D: Another quality ale and blend from the fellows at Ommegang, I wish it wasn't so pricey, it's good stuff. One of the very first beers I ever had, back in '05 I had it without knowing what it was and it really opened my eyes up to Belgian styles along with Orval, so I'm very thankful.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2008 03:04:56 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

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

This was a great find. The ale poured a hazy bronze color with a relatively thin head. The aroma was unique. Earthy tones, cherries, other fruits, and lovely sweetness were easily detectable in the nose.

The flavor was exceptional and complex, as sweet malt and cherries were most dominant, but some spiciness and bitterness rounded out the flavor. Alcohol was slighlty noticeable. Flavors slighlty changed while the ale warmed during the session, keeping this a very interesting beer rating session.

Very smooth mouthfeel. The malt and cherries rode the tongue after swallowing for a short time. A slow drinking ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2004 12:54:11 | More by Gavage