Chimay Bleue (Blue)

Brewed by Chimay
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baileux, Belgium

The latest in my ’i know for a fact i drank this in front of the computer, how did i not rate it?’ series. Proper glass = perfect pour. Dark caramel hazy brown, strong fluffy dense barely tan head. Cola nut and prune juice, sweet raisin. Enough alcohol heat to distract from the moderately dense fig and raisin notes. Not entirely syrupy like the other stronger trappists. Don’t get me wrong. I really like this beer. But when you factor in Divine Inspiration to your beer, I expect something angelic.

Very good beer. Pours a dark brown. High alcohol content does not overwhelm, and is balanced nicely with flavor.

This is a Strong beer. Got a glass at from a 2008 jeroboam of the Grande Reserve. Alcohol and yeast flavors dominate with a golden ale taste in the background. The score is low because it is not my favorite style. Also the bar was dark so I couldn’t really rate the appearance.

the 75 cl bottle is well balanced. The flavor is not as complex as other Belgain strong beers. It has a nice aroma of rosted malts and spices. The finish is a bit mild compared Gulden Draak or Guden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue. Chimay Blue is a good warm up to calibrate the senses to fully appreciate world of Belgium Strong Ales.

Pours a cloudy dark chocolate chestnut brown with dark amber edges when held to a light source and a thick frothy, pillowy light tan head. Excellent retention, only slowly settling into a lasting cap that lasts throughout, leaving chunks of soapy lacing in it’s path. Slightly spicy peppery aroma with a lot of sweet estery Belgian yeast, chocolate, candy sugar and dark fruits; plum, raisin, prune, fig, etc. Soft carbonation up front that subdues a bit when the beer warms. Lots of sweet dark fruit character with hints of fige, prune, raisin and plum as well as some silky chocolate and caramel. Very faint sour presence with some pleasant spiciness. There’s some cinnamon, brown sugar and candy sugar that provides an excellent balance and complexity to this amazing beer. The alcohol presence is there but the high ABV is very well masked making it dangerously drinkable. One of my all time favorites.

330mL bottle - pours a dark, reddish brown with an off-white head. Aroma is a typical Belgian strong one. Flavour is milder than you’d expect, but pleasant - yeasty, hints of caramel, brown sugar, but very potent. Likable, drinkable and enjoyable, but this one is overrated.

330ml Bottle. Pours a dark, slightly hazy, reddish brown with a creamy beige head that dissipates fairly quickly to surface cover. Aroma is surprisingly light with notes of caramel, brown sugar, sweet spice and a lot of malt. Flavour is very similar but is also a bit nutty, with a hint of cola and toffee. Not as heavy as expected, considering the abv, with a short to medium finish which doesn’t linger too long. Still extremely tasty and very easy to drink.

This is the one that started it for me...my gateway beer. Dark brownish/purply pour with a great head. I love the delightful floral aroma. It goes down smooth with a slight warming toward the end. Good flavor, but nothing too insane. Just a really good beer.