Three Philosophers - Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown

OK, so this beer is called Three Philosophers... there are three silhouettes on the label and everything. Also printed on the label, however, is "Quadrupel" ...a name which indicates this beer is brewed with four times as many fermentables. Wait, three dudes but four fermentables? Something doesn't add up here. What happened to the fourth philosopher? Did he get faced and oversleep on the day the other guys got their silhouettes painted for the label? I can only assume the fourth philosopher was responsible for balancing the balancing this beer before it hit production because this Quadrupel is a bit unwieldy.

Ommegang has made a great Belgian style Quadrupel but I'm not sure I can give over that stronger-than-strong alcohol flavor that dominates the flavor. Don't get me wrong, this beer tastes great but it has kick like something the frat boys at the end of the bar are doing shots of and chasing with Bud Light. At 9.8% it is definitely nearing the top of the ABV charts and I can cut it a little slack for not being able to conceal that monstrous bite. And it's not like Ommegang didn't try to mellow this beer out, there is plenty of sweet malt and cherries in this beer to make the Jacob Leinenkugel's head spin. The finished product is a pleasure to drink, just don't try to tackle it on an empty stomach or while sitting next to a thirsty frat brother.

Despite all that extra alcohol, I really enjoyed drinking the Three Philosophers. This is a great Quadrupel that tastes a bit like a Belgian Strong Dark Ale that's been blended with a Lambic. The flavors here are really great once you get past that 9.8% kick. This beer has a tart, yet still sweet, dark cherries flavor that helps tone down the strong alcohol flavors. The cherries also blend nicely with the caramel malts and sour yeast in this beer. It may sound a bit run-of-the-mill, but this beer really does keep things interesting by playing up the sour and tart flavors of the cherries. The Three Philosophers finishes with a bit of spiciness and warmth that comes from pushing double digit ABV.

All in all, I really liked the Three Philosophers. While I could have done with significantly less of a pure alcohol kick to my palate, I can respect what Ommegang is doing with their Quadrupel. They've pack a lot of flavors and fermentables into this beer and it certainly tastes like it. So if you're a fan of big Belgian beers then you can't miss out on this one. However, if you're looking for something more along the lines of a session beer, the Three Philosophers just isn't for you...