Two weeks ago (when I went to get Frambozen) I sat with my friend Snake at New Belgium sipping on a couple of the stronger NBBC’s selections, i.e. La Folie, Frambozen, Jonny’s Ale, and Tripple and I got to telling him of a ancient ale call Transatlantique Kriek (TAK). A beer I got my hands on a growler of and never seen again.

At the time (freshmen year) I had no clue what a Kriek Lambic was or why it cost twice the normal growler price. I remember for a couple days not even liking the taste of it, and cursing myself for buying it.

With shame I told Snake I was such a novice then this beer blew Frambozen out of the water. It was stronger in taste, it was golden ale, and it full of cherries!!!

NBBC hasn’t brewed this beer since, due to the extremely time consuming process of making the beer. So with a heavy, beer-logged, heart I told snake of this magical beer most likely to never to grace his lips, nor mine.

But now as I head lodge myself into the European brews for these last weeks of winter I find Three Philosophers Quadrupel (TP) (9.8 % ALC) from Brewery Ommegang in up-state New York. This is the only beer to be made in the same fashion as TAK, and oh man it is good.

The Process of making beer such as TP and TAK are quite complex

• First a Kriek Lambic created through spontaneous fermentation in Belgian cellars for at least two years
• Then the beer is shipped to across the Atlantic to upstate New York where the brewmasters decide what beer to pair it with, in this case it’s mixed with 98% Gold Ale to 2% Kriek Lambic
• Then the beer sits a bit longer letting the flavors mend before it hits the market

This time intensive process pays off. TP took Bronze in the past two World Beer Cups only to be beaten out by Belgian beers. From the first scent after we popped the top this beer never ceased to amaze.

The aroma was thick with cherries and hints of golden ale, OH the Cherries! And the taste was more cherries, with light over tones from the Golden Ale and dark undertone from the yeast and sediment found in the darker Lambic.

This beer is so great, it’s strong, it has a great body and if a beer could-- it would be smart—top of the class, an “A” student. Its deep ruby red color is so beautiful under light. It is my answer to Snake, now he can try a similar beer to the TAK, and you should too.