Chimay Bleue (Blue) / Grande Réserve

Brewed by Chimay
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baileux, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: OCT 24, 2008 75 cl bottle, Grande Réserve (2007 vintage). One of the best beers I ever had. A nice taste of raisins, soy, chocolate and coffee. Sweet and warming alcohol. (4,3)

Jan 25, 2008, 33 cl bottle at Pitcher’s Pub, Karlstad, Sweden (2007 vintage). Dark brown colour with at thin white head. Malty aroma with chocolote, coffe, raisins and sugar. Sweet flavor with fruit in the background. (4,5)

Jan 31, 2008 (1999 vintage). It was a very nice experience. Matured plums, portwine/madeira, some brown sugar, raisins and some soy sauce together with broth(?). Very, very nice experience but to be honest I think it was better a couple of years ago.

June 18, 2008 (2007 vintage). This is still a very good beer, but unfortunly I did’nt find it that amazing this time. I prefer a Rochefort 8 every day over this one. I don’t say this isn’t high quality though. Probably need too store a couple of these, even though I like the fresh ones. They need to ’’rest’’ standing a couple of weeks before drinking though... otherwhise they explode spreading beer all over the appartment. (4,3)

Oct 24, 2008: 1999 vintage (again). Pours a dark brown color with small, dying head. It’s probably a lot due to the age and the alcohol. Aroma is amazingly vinous with notes of dried fruits, raisins, plums, portwine, some alcohol... flavour is mostly sweet with lots of dried fruits, moastly raisins and plums. Very wine-like actually, but in a good way. It tastes great after almost 10 years... this is how a Chimay should taste like, I really liked it.

Many flavors here that are fighting for attention. Dried fruits, toffee, caramel and a pleasant bitterness. Recommended!

Hazy Brown, cloudy, lovely full and persistent head, firm bubbles. Yeast, caramel and fruits (figs) on the palate its broad, creamy full on with good length and well integrated bubbles which refresh nicely, add weight and volume. Lovely!!

An old favourite, from long before my beer interest reached its current level, it’s nice to notice this one still is as good as I remember it from the late 90’s when esp0r and I discovered the excitement outside of Lagerland. Dark brown, good tanned head. Warm aroma of dark fruits, malts, vanilla. Really complex taste of dried fruits, alcohol, spice, yeast and flowers. Good aroma, with just the right level of carbonation - lasting sweet finish

Bottle shared with (and courtasy of) Inbreak and ClubGonzo. Vintage 2007. Pours a hazy brown colour with a small beige head. Nice sweet aromas of dried fruit, wood, leather, fudge, port and a hint of alcohol. In the flavour I find leather, dried fruit, coffee and some anis and something salty (licorice). Light bitterness, and slick but a bit watery mouthfeel. The beer has a good aroma but feels a bit thinner in the taste.

Pours dark brown-amber with a thick creamy-smooth tan head. Sweet malt, yeast, some spices and some dark fruits on the aroma. Roasted malt, caramel, dark fruits (probably plums), yeast and spice. A little alcohol at the finish. Smooth and balanced beer with complex taste. Great beer.

Excellent beer that you must try. It has smell of dark fruits, cherries, malt and yeast. It’s medium, creamy and has great carbonation. Smooth and rich beer that tastes like mild cherry, belgian yeast and caramel. 9% alc didnt feel so much. Great beer!

Aroma is plums, prunes, raisins, smoky malts, caramel, metallic hops and booze. Taste is plenty of caramel, cocoa, roasted malts, sugar, raisins and plums, spicy and a bit nutty. A bit of metallic hops with a liitle sour funk. Palate is medium with tons of carbonation. Very rich, smooth and complex. Very, very well done.

Oh my goodness, ladies and gentlemen. This gem pours to an amazing head and lacing with a beautiful dark copper color. Intoxicating scent - plum, mandarin, banana, yeast, floral, pure bliss. Suppose it could be a tad stronger, but still. Flavors - candy apple, banana, malt, booze, grapefruit, heaven. Lingering lip-licking complexity. One of the greatest beers to ever grace mankind.

Very well balanced, but nothing about it stands out as spectacular. Some raisin and dried fruit flavors mixed with a little herbiness. A tasty and very solid beer that’s been overhyped.

Roasty and malty. Slightly yeasty plum raisin flavor. Overly carbonated for my taste. Nice dark caramel color ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone