It's time for another review! Today, I'm reviewing a Chimay Blue which I've stored in my cellar for 3 years. I'm curious about the difference between a fresh and an aged one. I've heard they change in many ways when storing them. The beer is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale from the brewery Bières de Chimay.
Description of the beer:
"The Chimay Blue Cap, baptized "Grande Reserve" in 750 ml bottles is a dark Trappist beer with a powerful aroma, the complex flavor of which improves across the years. It was first brewed as a Christmas beer by the monks of Scourmont Abbey in 1956."
"This authentic Belgian beer, whose tinge of fresh yeast is associated with a light rosy flowery touch, is particularly pleasant. Its aroma, perceived as one enjoys it, only accents the delightful sensations revealed by the odor, all revealing a light but agreeable caramelized note."
"It is ideally served at cellar temperature (10 to 12°C)."
History & Facts:
- Chimay Brewery (Brasserie de Chimay) is a brewery at Scourmont Abbey, a Trappist monastery in Chimay, Hainaut, Belgium, one of the eleven breweries worldwide that produce Trappist beer.
- The brewery was founded in 1862.
- It was the first brewery to use the Trappist Ale designation on its labels.
- The beer is sold only for financial support of the monastery and good causes.
- The water for the beers is drawn from a well located inside the monastery walls.
- The beer is then refermented in the bottle for three weeks before being shipped around the world.
- The monastery also makes four varieties of cheese.
Here's a list of their most well known beers:
Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue)
Chimay Cinq Cents (White)
Chimay Première (Red)
Chimay Dorée (Gold)
Appearance: dark brown color with a small white head.
Smell: raisin, dark fruit, some alcohol and yeast.
Mouthfeel: medium body, soft carbonation.
Taste: raisin, dark fruit, caramel, spices, yeast, alcohol, some chocolate notes.
The 3 year old Chimay blue has lower carbonation than a fresh one. It has more aroma and more complex flavors. It is also sweeter and has less hop flavor.
Conclusion: I guess most people prefer aged Chimay, but I myself actually like fresh Chimay more. I've never been a fan of sweet beers, and the aged one has a sweeter taste IMO.
Verdict - My rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue):
| Brewery | Bières de Chimay |
| Country | Baileux, Wallonie Belgium |
| Style | Belgian Strong Dark Ale |
| Alcohol | 9 % |
| IBU | 35 |
| Score | 3.5/5 |
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Borran's Beer Review: Poppels Passion Pale Ale
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Borran's Beer Review: Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout
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Camera: Nikon Coolpix P900/Nikkor 83X Wide Optical Zoom 4.3-357mm f/2.8-6.5.
Please drink responsibly!
I hope you enjoyed my post! Thanks for stopping by!
Borran's Beer Review: Poppels Passion Pale Ale
Borran's Beer Review: Super DuPA
Borran's Beer Review: Samuel Smith's Organic Chocolate Stout
Borran's Beer Review: Köstritzer Schwarzbier
Camera: Nikon Coolpix P900/Nikkor 83X Wide Optical Zoom 4.3-357mm f/2.8-6.5.
Please drink responsibly!
I hope you enjoyed my post! Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks once again!
The !BEER looks great!! I love your glass, It fits this masculine looking Beer!!
Thanks! Yeah I agree, the glass is very nice! :) Cheers!
Oh yeah, one of my favorite beers.
Cheers. 😎🍻