Ommegang Three Philosophers

Brewed by Brewery Ommegang (Moortgat)
Style: Abt/Quadrupel
Cooperstown, New York USA

Amazing. The things they can do with malts and yeast. Strong banana aroma. Deep ochre brown, hazy, with a thick off white head. Initial flavor is banana and a bit of paint thinner, something strong, like xylol, and a touch of pineapple. Flavor tapers off to a crispy dry apricot and a little pruney flavor. Very complex, with a great sourness in the end. Alcohol is evident. I’d rate this beer higher if it was hidden. Definitely a rare treat from one of the best breweries in the United States.

Nice vinous aroma, with spices (coriander), Hazy brown colour, sweet matl and spices wraps around your tongue, with faint hops in post taste. Rated in TO Dec. 2003.

Aroma was mild but mostly of a nice subtle cherry. The flavor was first of a nice belgian malt subtle barnyardy belgian followed by cherry. The aftertaste is of twizzlers. Very nice beer, a perfect mix of nice belgium strong flavors and the cherry. I doubted that this beer would live up to the hype but it did, it was not over the top it was just excellently balanced to make a excellent match of belgian yeast/hay, dark fruits, and cherry lambic. So good.

Again, props to Slikwily for this one! Coppery brown with orange and reddish highlights under a lasting tannish head. Caramel malts, bananas, and and raisins are the most notable aromas at first. A moderate buttery aroma (diacetyl) appears as it warms slightly, as well as a lightly bready yeasty aroma and toasted malt and alcohol. Malty flavors and bananas start out the flavor as it does in the aroma. Good think I like bananas! Then a vinous raisin character with the same toasted malt notes as in the aroma. The buttery flavors don't seem to be as predominant in the flavor as in the aroma, but it's there in just a hint. A slightly solventy alcohol flavor creeps into the finish of this very well balanced beer. Aftertaste is of raisins and toasted malt. Medium bodied with surprisingly moderate carbonation for a Belgian ale. There is a slight astringency that I'm not terribly keen on, but it seems to be one of the few flaws this beer has. Alcohol is warming and adds nicely to the complexity. This is a bitter sweet beer for me. Sweet because I like and have gotten the chance to taste it. Bitter because it will probably not be available for very long!

8/4/04: Bottle.
Garnet-brown body with a thick, clingy, malted-tan head. Small lace spots. Yeasty nose with a little fruit. Roasted malt flavor, hard raisin, touch of licorice with hints of black cherry. Tart, dry finish.

2004 edition, bottled. A dark, creamy head that helps unleash a hypnotic Belgian candi sugar smell. Taste came up with a bit of Curaçao liquer and cocoa. All I get from the kriek blend is a light sourness. Very good and an intriguing blend.

I have been anticipating this beer for 5 months now! Looking at it every day as it rest in my beer rack behind my closet doors. I bought this one back in December, but knew it was too young….. I waited until I lost self-control…… Your Free!
Vintage 2003
Pours a very dark mahogany body and a chunky kaki colored head. The aroma is toasty with bountiful doses of caramel and toffee malts. I smell some vanilla and notes of butterscotch in there! The flavor is far more toasted that I was expecting. Very much a cross between a fresh slice of Rye and Pumpernickel bread; the graininess of the Rye but the toasty coco likens of the pumpernickel. Rather yeasty, notes of old oak cask, fruity suggestions of fig and dates, and raisins, along side lighter proposals of plums and apricots… brown sugar…. Delicate hint of sage hiding somewhere. Snow White and the 7 Dwarves….. it just popped into my head??? Something must have evoked memories of my childhood? Velvety palate of coco …… I’m gunna be sloppy by the end of this bottle, time for some dinner!

I like the sour fruityness. Very little head (probably because of the high ABV) but pours a dark cola. Mostly fruit and bready tastes.