Ommegang's annual beer festival is being held this Saturday and, despite my pledge (nay, vow!) to attend, I cannot make the trek up to Cooperstown. So, if I'm going to be crying into a beer, it might as well be an Ommegang. For this pity party, I've decided to drink the catalyst of my decent into beer snobbery. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, man who thought this link would lead to porno, I give you: Three Philosophers.
An Origin Story: The Birth of A Beer Geek
My current taste in beer is the result of a slow progression beginning in those first days of college when my favorite style was "cold" and I thought all beer came from Milwaukee (aka "The Good Land"). Although my knowledge of beer expanded during that period, it wasn't until law school (roughly the fall of 2006) that the seed of snobbery was planted.
I was eating at Monk's Cafe in Philadelphia (btw one of the best beer bars. Period.) when I decided to order, what else, a Three Philosophers. I did it on a whim simply because I liked the name. This beer opened the door to a world of craft beer...and it tasted pretty damn good, too.
So, if my adoration for this beer isn't apparent by now, then you probably can't read English. So, a translation: Es necessario que bebas Tres Filosofos...!ahora! (because all people who can't speak English speak Spanish *cough*) But enough about me, lets talk about the beer.
Wherein I Talk About The Beer
Three Philosophers is a blended beer; 98% of it is a quadrupel and 2% is Lindeman's Kriek. A quadrupel, for those not in know, derives its name from the Low Countries of ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. Honestly, there are only theories as to why its called a quadrupel, but who cares. A quadrupel is a strong, dark Belgium ale that is usually high in alcohol and has a rich malty flavor. A kriek, on the other hand, is a lambic blended with cherries. A kriek by itself can be very tart, but when it makes up only 2% of a beer, it adds only a slight cherry accent to the quadrupel's rich maltiness.
Let's break it on down: I was drinking a 2010 TP, so it hasn't benefited from cellar aging. The beer is ruby colored and pours with a small head that quickly dissipates. Cherry is very faint in the nose, which mostly smells of candi sugar. The flavor of the kriek, despite its small quantity, is present and persistent, growing stronger as the beer warms. It is not overpowering and in no way interferes with the rich maltiness of the quadrupel. In all, hints of cherry and dark chocolate meld to form a pleasant and balanced flavor. There is no hop character to speak of, which is fine given the complex and rich flavors present in the beer. There is a hint of alcohol in the flavor, but that's to be expected in a 9.8% ABV beer and it does not add any unpleasant heat to the drink.
The Verdict
- Grab yourself a bottle or two of Three Philosophers. Enjoy its rich maltiness and cherry accents. See how many other flavors you can name. It will only grow more complex and delicious over time, so save that second bottle.
- Hop heads might want to take a pass, as well as those who don't like heavy beers that are high in alcohol content.
- Although I stated that this was my first craft beer, I would not recommend this for first timers. It is a enormous deviation from your run of the mill American Pilsner that might shock the beern00bs palate. Then again, maybe that's just what the doctor ordered.
