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Three Philosophers
Brewery Ommegang
- From:
- Brewery Ommegang
- New York, United States
- Style:
- Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #39 - ABV:
- 9.7%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #4,241 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 11.33%
- Reviews:
- 2,229
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 03, 2024
- Added:
- Apr 23, 2002
- Wants:
- 437
- Gots:
- 1,783
Three Philosophers is a unique blend of a Belgian-style dark ale and Liefmans Kriek, an authentic cherry ale from Belgium. Cherry chestnut in color, it's opaque but not cloudy with full carbonation topped by a smooth, tan head. Flavors and aromas of roasted malt, molasses and brown sugar, dark fruits, brandied raisins and chocolate, Three Philosophers has notable sweetness with low hop bitterness. The mid-palate shows a soft malt center which gives way to a dry, warm, wine-like finish.
The complexity of this beer make it a good candidate for ageing gracefully, as spicy sherry and port notes should intensify.
The complexity of this beer make it a good candidate for ageing gracefully, as spicy sherry and port notes should intensify.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by RoyalT:
Reviewed by RoyalT from Michigan
4.67/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
4.67/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Appearance First off, I held up on the pour after the first couple of ounces came out of the bottle and the head started to roar. I was able to keep it down to two inches or so in my Chimay glass.
The body is a luscious, dirty brown with some good carbonation. [5 min later] The heads still there so Im suckin some foam and going in.
Smell The big, bready yeast leads the way here at the nose. The dough is dark with lots of refined sugars along with some good fruits like bananas, peaches, and apricots. Theres a hint of tobacco to this one as well.
Taste Boy, is this sweet. The darkened yeast is lighter at the taste; the sugars really take over this Quadrupel. The fruits from the nose come on very strong and the hint of tobacco (one of my favorite aspects of Belgian Ales) comes on much bigger still.
Everything is playing very well here now that the ale has warmed. The yeast base holds its own (surprisingly) and the complexity of the sugars is well-defined. This is really a terrific Belgian Ale.
Mouthfeel This is the definition of fluffiness. The ale just dances in the cheeks. Ive found it almost impossible to find an American brewery that can duplicate this mouthfeel well done Ommegang!
Drinkability Im going to start referring to this brewery as OhMyGod. This offering was just incredible.
Comments What a huge gesture from AleOha to send me not one, but two bottles of this incredible Belgian Ale. Hell be happy to know that Im spreading the wealth and will share the second bottle with some local BAs. Cheers to BeerAdvocate.com!
May 28, 2004The body is a luscious, dirty brown with some good carbonation. [5 min later] The heads still there so Im suckin some foam and going in.
Smell The big, bready yeast leads the way here at the nose. The dough is dark with lots of refined sugars along with some good fruits like bananas, peaches, and apricots. Theres a hint of tobacco to this one as well.
Taste Boy, is this sweet. The darkened yeast is lighter at the taste; the sugars really take over this Quadrupel. The fruits from the nose come on very strong and the hint of tobacco (one of my favorite aspects of Belgian Ales) comes on much bigger still.
Everything is playing very well here now that the ale has warmed. The yeast base holds its own (surprisingly) and the complexity of the sugars is well-defined. This is really a terrific Belgian Ale.
Mouthfeel This is the definition of fluffiness. The ale just dances in the cheeks. Ive found it almost impossible to find an American brewery that can duplicate this mouthfeel well done Ommegang!
Drinkability Im going to start referring to this brewery as OhMyGod. This offering was just incredible.
Comments What a huge gesture from AleOha to send me not one, but two bottles of this incredible Belgian Ale. Hell be happy to know that Im spreading the wealth and will share the second bottle with some local BAs. Cheers to BeerAdvocate.com!
More User Ratings:
Rated by tbumnnc
4.56/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.56/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Great melange of flavors - cherry, chocolate, plum and blueberry, SMOOTH and balanced.
Feb 03, 2024Reviewed by Saluki from Florida
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
4.09/5 rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Drinking next to a Sixth. Similar color but clearer. Similar minimal head. Nice fruit flavor, the cherry, well balanced with the malts and abv. Quite delicious. No issue drinking the other three in the four pack.
Jan 23, 2024Reviewed by D-Dog81 from New York
4.8/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.8/5 rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
This beer is wonderful. I left it out of the fridge for a little bit so it would be at the 50 degrees serving temperature that they would recommend. I'm just slowly sipping on this one and don't want it to end! To me, the aroma is fantastic. Cherry, dark fruit, a hint of alcoholic sharpness, but not overpowering at all. Creamy slightly tanned colored head, nice lacing on the glass... Very much enjoyed in small sips. To me, worth the $18 I paid for a 4 pack of it. I'll hold onto the other 3 and enjoy them appropriately.
Nov 27, 2023Reviewed by DimlyLitQuonsetHut from Virginia
3.63/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.63/5 rDev -12.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Not off putting but very heavy and sticky. Quite sweet. Lots of warm spices but nothing standing out. Muddled. Some acidity and sourness. Really not my thing, but for the right person this would be great.
Nov 24, 2023Reviewed by Howard_e2001
4.43/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.43/5 rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Damn! That's good. On draft at Flying Saucer, Ft Worth. A lot of complexity. Nothing overpowering. Great balance.
Great color. Light aroma. Light carbonation. I wonder what how it would present with a little more carbonation.
Nov 18, 2023Great color. Light aroma. Light carbonation. I wonder what how it would present with a little more carbonation.
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
3.96/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev -4.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle poured into a snulip.
Best by: 8/30/28
L: Ruby brown, mostly clear, 2 finger ruddy tan head, foam is rocky and spongy and persistent.
S: Slightly mineral, light fruit aroma, both dark fruit and berries, chocolate malt, some alcohol.
T: Opens rich with a hint of chocolate and dark fruit malt sweetness, but is ultimately sharp, tart and bitter, well attenuated, finish is reminiscent of bitter baker’s chocolate.
F: Medium-ish body smooth and frothy, has a little heat
O: Decent sipper.
Aug 21, 2023Best by: 8/30/28
L: Ruby brown, mostly clear, 2 finger ruddy tan head, foam is rocky and spongy and persistent.
S: Slightly mineral, light fruit aroma, both dark fruit and berries, chocolate malt, some alcohol.
T: Opens rich with a hint of chocolate and dark fruit malt sweetness, but is ultimately sharp, tart and bitter, well attenuated, finish is reminiscent of bitter baker’s chocolate.
F: Medium-ish body smooth and frothy, has a little heat
O: Decent sipper.
Rated by NeilSilber1 from California
4.53/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.53/5 rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours dark tan with light Belgium style carbonization. Malty sweat finish make this an amazing domestic Belgium style strong ale.
Aug 09, 2023
Three Philosophers from Brewery Ommegang
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
6864 ratings
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