Chimay Bleue (Blue) / Grande Réserve

Brewed by Chimay
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baileux, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Color is a deep dark opaquely russet ruby color with a very tall off-white fluffy head, almost laughable and too big, took three separate times to pour it from the 11.2 oz. bottle into my Delirium Tremens goblet glass as the head just kept getting in the way, ridiculous head, let me get at it already. Nose is dull and kinda light, not much going on besides some light lemon peel citrus and yeast, a touch smokey and meaty upon bigger wiffs. Taste is short lived and a bit boring, complexity is not very forthcoming from this offering. Very dull citrus of melon husk and majorly dulled lemon and peels, lightly sweet malts and subdued spicy yeast with some strange uneven texture that I didn't care for all that much. Feel is medium bodied with a weird texture I just couldn't get past. Where's the smooth? Where's the creamy? Blah, boring, yuk. Not impressed. The Chimay Red was much better. I'm not sure if I have a bad bottle or what, but I've been saving this bottle, plus a few others for nearly 4 months hoping a bit of aging would make for an interesting session, but nope. I guess I'll be letting those sit alot longer.

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