My ol’ pal HW brought me a bottle of Three Philosophers from Brewery Ommegang when he returned from a trip to Rochester. The beer, from Cooperstown, NY, is a blend of Belgian-style beers; specifically a quad and a cherry kriek. At 9.7%, the beer has some big heft, and packs a punch even in 12 oz bottles. The beer itself is gorgeous—ruddy copper with a lush off-white head.
The beer has aromatics that are both woody and tart—cherry comes through in spades, but there is also some heat and a dose of lively yeast. The flavour has a lot of the characteristics of a young, tart red wine—interestingly tannic—but with a mellow and almost buttery texture. The beer is deceptively boozy, but it really sneaks up on you. The quad elements are understated—it isn’t particularly yeasty nor over-sweet—but it contributes great ballast. The beer is less sour than I anticipated, with cherry manifesting as syrup rather than tart.
I love it when a much-loved and hyped beer lives up to expectations. I have had more interesting Belgian blends, but this one was deftly balanced and tasted great. It’s the texture that really spoke to me—mellow and mild—an unusual vehicle for a beer approaching 10%.
Rating: 9.0 out of 10.
