Beer #12- "Three Philosophers" Belgian Style Blend from Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, New York

In honor of my raise (15 percent!) I bought myself a nice, chilled, high-gravity beer! You may have heard of it, it is from the Duvel family, and it is quite a fine looking bottle. It is corked and has a splendid design on the front. Apparently 98 percent of the beer is an ale and 2 percent is a cherry lambic.

My initial question: Why the hell would anyone do that?

Anyway, the color was a sort of adulterated deep bronze that formed a quickly dispersing head. And the smell was just full of malt. I then tasted my beer. Because of my impeccable palette, the distinct quality of ingredients were immediately distinguishable. Joking. I mean, to be honest, I really couldn't taste any of the cherry they so proudly advertised. I mostly tasted a mouthful of heavy malt syrup.

This isn't my first rodeo with Belgian Ales, so don't write me off all of you Duvel muthas. But i'm disappointed! And i'm telling on you!

Three Philosophers' aristocratic air, beautiful labeling, and distinct genealogy is basically begging me for an above 90 score. But I won't give it.

The problem with high alcohol beers is that you can taste the high alcohol in them. This is not an ignorant comment. I love alcohol. But alcohol-y tasting beer is just not good. The best high alcohol beers are those that balance their 10 percent alcohol taste with a brilliant blend of hops, barley, water and other tender-lovin-care that only monks can give. Three Philosophers stands as a decent high alcohol beer, unable to to defeat its mighty foe in the last round (or fermentation).

I appreciate the Three Philosophers for its distinct try in the "ale to lambic ratio" section of high alcohol beers, but it just doesn't cut it with me.

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I give "Three Philosophers a deeply disappointed 82.


Look: Muddy Brown
Smell: Heavy Malt, A Hint of Sweet Caramel
Taste: Creamy Malt Syrup, a hint of Caramel



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Brett's ratings are out of 100.

As with all connoisseurs, personal taste affects all ratings. The best ratings tend to lean towards his two different biases; 1) Well-crafted heavy Stouts and 2) Lagers made with a simple perfection.

Please understand that just because Brett gives a beer a high rating doesn't mean you may think it is good. Only understand that if he gives it a high rating it is because most people who have a good taste in beer would do the same.