Three Philosophers
Brewery Ommegang

Three PhilosophersThree Philosophers
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From:
Brewery Ommegang
 
New York, United States
Style:
Quadrupel (Quad)
Ranked #39
ABV:
9.7%
Score:
92
Ranked #4,244
Avg:
4.15 | pDev: 11.33%
Reviews:
2,229
Ratings:
6,864
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.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by hopphead31415:
Photo of hopphead31415
Reviewed by hopphead31415 from Virginia

4.27/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I tried this beer several years ago on tap, but it was in a different era in which the artful act of drinking and reviewing beers had not yet been found upon me. Per the request of my dear brother, I have renewed my enthusiasm in this Quadrupel ale by one of the greatest brewers around which is, of course, Ommegang. It boasts a powerful 9.7% ABV and a rather rare one at that, as it is not even. It promises depth and beauty, it tells tales of flavors unspoken, and qualities rare to find in the world of beers dominated by tree-swinging monkeys with zero palate and even less brains (hello Coors, Bud Light, Miller, and Milwaukee).

Look-This beer pours an enigma of color. This means to me that it has a plethora of hues available to those who wish to gaze upon the beauty of this brew. In its natural state, it has a cola-dark and brown ale primary hue. However, in different lights, it will shimmer with a variety of flavor colors. You get copper and amber and also dark freckled beauty with hues that make you want to jump into a syrup tree in Vermont. It leaves thick foamy off-white lacing on the glass that is so heavy that it droops under its own weight.

Smell-I get toffee, nutmeg, spices, brown sugar, and of course a smokey oak and cedar. I get a malt-forward aroma that is laced with a smokey pleasantry that shows up again in the flavor. The smell tells no tales of any alcohol content to speak of. This spins silky tales of deception, for the tongue picks up a different story in the alcohol department.

Taste-The flavor is dynamic and dynamite and complex. It has no hops that are discernable, and a malt-forward medium-bodied complexity that does well on the palate. It plays a game with your nose, but the flavors can be captured by the following description. It has a candied cherry, sherry wine, molasses, smoked cedar, brown sugar, candied plum, red wine like a pinot noir, an earthy pepperiness, nutmeg, cinnamon, chocolate, fruit, and for the holidays a strong note of fruit cake. It was not overly sweet nor distractingly syrupy.

Mouthfeel-The feel is creamy and sweet with a tinge of tartness. It has a high carbonation content that results in a perfectly effervescent component that plays well with the variety of flavors. If you have no tongue to taste, then don’t even bother with this one because it will only tease you.

Overall-This brew is absolutely off the hook. If you normally drink the beer of a moron, then don’t even bother for you are not even close to worthy. If you want a beer that is drinkable and crisp, then this one is for you, but give it a chance and a cold glass to pour into. I think that this one will give a different variety of flavor in each sip so treat her well and pay attention. Cheers!
Jul 24, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of tbumnnc
Rated by tbumnnc

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, 2024
 
Rated: 4.41 by rrella

Feb 03, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by rfreed from Washington

Feb 02, 2024
 
Rated: 4.4 by gongfu from Connecticut

Jan 31, 2024
Photo of Saluki
Reviewed by Saluki from Florida

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, 2024
 
Rated: 3.83 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
 
Rated: 4.25 by mattycasey from Massachusetts

Jan 09, 2024
 
Rated: 3.99 by Shiredave from New York

Dec 29, 2023
 
Rated: 4.09 by Oktoberfest from Ohio

Dec 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.67 by Nyoder

Dec 04, 2023
Photo of D-Dog81
Reviewed 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
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, 2023
Photo of DimlyLitQuonsetHut
Reviewed 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
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, 2023
 
Rated: 4.24 by RalphStanley34 from French Polynesia

Nov 19, 2023
Photo of Howard_e2001
Reviewed by Howard_e2001

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, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by Taenim from Maine

Nov 07, 2023
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

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, 2023
 
Rated: 4.29 by jordanginsberg from Louisiana

Aug 12, 2023
Photo of NeilSilber1
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
Pours dark tan with light Belgium style carbonization. Malty sweat finish make this an amazing domestic Belgium style strong ale.
Aug 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by Tree_powers from Indiana

Aug 04, 2023
Three Philosophers from Brewery Ommegang
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 6864 ratings