Chimay Bleue (Blue) / Grande Réserve

Brewed by Chimay
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baileux, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

La robe brune du liquide se présente sous un aspect ténébreux. La mousse d’emblée généreuse s’efface assez rapidement. Quelques secondes sont suffisantes pour saisir toute la complexité de cette merveilleuse concoction : le malt est légèrement rôti, aux accents de pain brun grillé, doucement caramélisé avec une fine fragrance de cacao. Les esters fruités sont modérément présents et prennent la forme de prunes et de raisins en légère confiture. L’alcool, qui est peu intense, partage son odeur agréable avec des fleurs fraichement coupées. Le goût est bien peu différent des arômes avec des grains maltés qui laissent sur les papilles des notes subtilement rôties, des saveurs imbriquées de levure fruitée et quelque chose comme des saveurs florales épicées. En bouche, le liquide, qui a une structure passablement étoffée, est remué par des bulles d’une grande finesse qui sont, à mon sens, un peu paresseuses. La texture est douce, difficile à saisir, quelque fois trop légère et souvent crémeuse. La finale est un habile mélange de saveurs douces et complexifiée par un alcool sensiblement chaud. Thumbs up for Father Theodore!

Big, snow drift tan head on caramel brown beer. Aroma is sweet malt, caramel, light dates, some spice, candied sugar, and a hint of thin, dry alcohol. Taste is somewhat bitter up front and followed by caramel, lightly roasted malt, candied sugar, and some unidentifiable spices through the finish. Some raisin/date notes in the mid-palate as the beer warms. Clean and somewhat dry crisp feel in the mouth. Solid beer.

Davanti a un mostro sacro dell’arte birraria belga, bisogna portare rispetto. L’aspetto è splendido, davvero invitante, color marrone scuro con una bella schiuma bianca soffice e cremosa. Nell’aroma il caramello ha il sopravvento su tutto, sentori anche di frutta. In bocca è ancora un ottima birra, corposa, resinosa e con un finale caldo e lungo.

25 oz. bottle. Dark amber pour with small head (when poured correctly). Sweet malts, alcohol and sugar in the aroma. Raisin, caramel, yeast and slightly noticeable but not overpowering alcohol. A great beer for any season.

Boo ya. have a chimay. What you care I say, Aye? Smooth as butter toffee across my palate. the malt/hop balance leans in favor of the first, leaning towards a caramel hot. I’ll say this as my "Whammo!!" comment, as if you’re going to base your purchasing decision of this legacy on what my gray matter retells.... I’ve never had such a warm aftertaste mellow of the alcohols completely fill my mouth like this before. It’s not whiskey-hot; it’s warm as a 9% should be. Definition of clean finish. Now stop reading this and drink a damned Grande Reserve!!!!

Hazy dark brown. Thick off-white head. Big malty smell, with lots of dark fruit and spice. Sweet malt flavor upfront with lots of spice. Dark fruit tastes like cherry and plum. The booze is there but it’s masked pretty well. Hops isn’t too noticeable. Medium bodied.

Overall very nice beer. The aroma is sweet and has a bubblegum accent. The appearance is a thin coffee type look. The taste is wonderful and has a bit of coffee aftertaste. I liked this quite a bit.

330ml bottle sample in a small cafe not far from the brewery itself. Pours darkish brown, not too dark though. Head is a nice tan with some nice lacing as well. Smells of dried fruit and bread as well. Taste is of raisin, prune, dates and the like. There is also a tasted of alcohol and spice. Really quite a delicious brew. I would like to start aging a few of these beauties at home.