Chimay Bleue (Blue)

Very dark cloudy brown with a big rock head, but the heads retention leaves something to be desired, and why is there no lacing? Is this an old bottle? Very disappointing looking pour, I’ve seen this beer pour better. The smell is a woody alcohol with tingly spice, and just a hint of yeast, the aroma is a touch weak but still good. The taste is smooth and yeasty, I’m noticing some cheery in the finish. Aged wood and maybe some nuttiness, very complex and hard to break down beer. The beer seems to be a touch thin (did I cellar this bottle to long?) and tons of carbonation to tickle the throat. This beer is very good and very complex and I think just had a bad bottle because I swear its better then I scored it

It’s been about 4 years since I have had this beer and since I have been on a little Belgian kick lately I thought I’d pick this one up tonight. Pours a hazy dark colour that cannot be classified as brown or black...but more of a deep hazy amber with more light showing through at the base of the glass with a nice smooth round head on top. Smell is rather faint but cheery, brandy and other fruit notes can be picked up. Taste is very balanced and smooth as hell. The 9% alcohol is barely detected and the finish retains some nice bite of hops. The subtle qualities of this beer cannot be understated: smooth texture, soft carbonation, a slight wine-like feeling, but retaining a nice bready, biscuity backbone. I could taste lots of figs, apricots, and some small bits of smoke.

Tasted blind with savvy1982 vs Rochefort 10, Westy 12, and Dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis Pours a dark brown with caramel highlights. Small but retaining head. Aroma is faint... Almost non-existent. Some yeast, dark fruit, orange, anise, apples, and seaweed. Very tight nose. Tastes better than the nose. Cherries, apples, toast, plums, cinnamon, clove, salt all on the palate. Mouth feel is soft, but not lively. OK, but not great.

2007 Vintage. Bottle. Tasted with hobbersr blind, against dieu du Ciel! Rigor Mortis, Westy 12, and Rochefort 10. Unfair competition, but still unarguably the worst beer in the lineup. Pours a sherry-brown with a thin, quickly dissipated head, spot lacing. Aroma is belgain in character, tight, butter toffee, bitter raisin/date, seaweedy/fishy, yeast, dark fruit. Palate is big, acidic, and tight despite seeming over the hill and tired at the same time. Surprisngly clean, spicy, with plums and raisins, cany a bit of sourness, and cherries. Very balanced but missing big pieces both in the nose and palate. Figs, caramel corn and nuts in finish. Okay.

The instant the bottle is opened a strong yeast smell is unleashed, although it is not overpowering. Chimay Blue pours a dark amber color, with a light brown head. The head is retained for a fairly long time but eventually fades to a ring. It is very subtle on the palate with an initial yeast taste, but quickly fades to a light, fruity, almost flowery flavor. This aftertaste is all that’s left after each wonderful sip.

Nice strong belgian beer. Perfect fruit taste along with nice brown foam. Nice aroma. You can drink this one anywhere any time.

Pours a foggy reddish brown with ample foamy head. Aroma is of raisins, cinnamon, and touch of something floral. There’s more foam than I expected and I think that’s hiding some of the smell. Also, my sniffer’s been on the fritz for over a week now, stupid allergies. Strong, full flavor of anice, dark fruit, raisins, malt, well-masked alcohol, and something like a restaurant peppermint right before the finish . I see why it’s a standard bearer, if overpriced. Mouthfeel is viscous and pleasing. Tingly feel lasts for a solid half-minute after each taste. This is a good one.

Hand bottle pours a deep cloudy ruby red with a light white fizzy head with almost no retention or lacing. Smells of malts, raisins, and booze. Flavor is complex but smooth, hiding most of the booze that appears in the nose. Plums, raisins, malts and yeast bounce through the flavors and this beer goes down smoothly.