Ommegang Three Philosophers
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(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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“Philosophy Begins in Wonder.”
– Plato (from the Three Philosophers label)
This week’s journey through the year-round Ommegang brews has been quite a treat. Without intentionally doing so, I staged the beers in order of increasing strength — the simple, wheaty, Witte had an easy 5.1% ABV; fragrant Rare Vos clocked in at 6.5% ABV; spicy Hennepin at 7.5% ABV; and the richly complex Ommegang Abbey Ale tipped the scales at 8.5% ABV.
But while tonight’s Three Philosophers (a Quadrupel style) flexes quite a strong muscle at 9.8% ABV, it competes first and foremost on merit and taste.
Three Philosphers is a Belgian-style ale blended with Lindeman’s Kriek, a Lambic fermented with cherry syrup. Though Kriek constitutes a mere 2% of this beer, its impact on the flavor and aroma is impressive.
I used my Ommegang Chalice again, filling it with this ruby-brown ale and its enormous, tan head. This malty brew emits a toffee-chocolate aroma rich with figs, raisins, and a hint of plums; all with notes of licorice, mint, and herbs. Three Philosophers is one of those beers you can just hover your nose over all night — that is, if you could resist the urge to drink it.
Ommegang’s Three Philosophers tastes more like a sweet liqueur than a beer. Its full mouthfeel is almost cloying with sweetness, but not unpleasantly. The mix is chocolate and fruity, but also herbal and bitter, malty and creamy throughout. The Kriek lends a tangy cherry flavor that hovers over everything and mixes nicely with the toffee-chocolate malt flavors. And the alcohol remains hidden until the end of each sip, where it kicks in warmly alongside herbal hops.
The Ommegang website provides the following theory:
Cynics can’t believe it, Epicures hail it a sensation, and Pythagoreans just can’t add up what makes this luscious blend of rich malty ale and cherry lambic so delightful. It might be the flavor of dark chocolate and cherry cordials; it could be the way it acquires wisdom and grace in the cellar. Maybe it’s a conundrum. What’s your theory?The essence of wonder is a unique and masterful blend of strong malty ale and authentic Belgian Kriek. Our philosophers deduce that this powerful marriage of cherries, roasted malts, and dark chocolate will only achieve more wisdom and coherence as it broods in the dark recesses of your cellar.
My 12 oz bottle of Three Philosophers was dated 2008, so there hasn’t been too much cellaring — but with a beer this good, who can wait that long, anyway?
So forget the Baseball Hall of Fame — the real attraction in Cooperstown is the beer. Brewery Ommegang is quite impressive. I’ve had many of the best beers Belgium can offer, and Ommegang hangs in there and PERFORMS. It’s no wonder Duvel bought them — it pays to keep your competition close!
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2 Comments
June 8th, 2009 at 2:10 am
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June 17th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Three Philosophers is one of my favorites from Ommegang and from everywhere!