Three Philosophers

Three Philosophers

Brewery Ommegang – Cooperstown, N.Y.

Style: Dark Belgian ale

Alcohol content: 9.8% abv

Serving temperature: 10˚C

            Three Philosophers is a strong ale, a Belgian-style quadruppel. According to brewer Phil Leinart, it is the only one of Ommegang’s highly regarded lineup of Belgian-inspired ales that is brewed without the addition of spices. Instead, it is flavored with a small amount (about 2 percent of the volume) of kriek, the cherry-flavored lambic from Belgium. Leinart won’t disclose who made the kriek, but he does say it’s an authentic, commercially available lambic. “We open the bottles and pour them right into the kettle,” he said.

            The specific brand is of little consequence, for the flavor of cherry is just one of the multitude of players in this masterpiece. It’s largely spirited by very dark caramel malt and Ommegang’s house yeast, which produces contemplative aromas of chocolate, raisins and coffee. It pours a deep, wine-like ruby with a nose of roasted malt, dark fruits, vanilla, sweet and sour cherries, coffee, currants, brandied raisins and chocolate. Exceedingly smooth on the palate, never cloying, it finishes warm with an assertive but comfortable alcohol blast.

            About the name: It’s taken from poet William Blake’s 18^th-century satire, “An Island in the Moon,” in which three philosophers idly sit around and contemplate meaningless questions about life.

-Joe Sixpack