Chimay Bleue (Blue)

Brewed by Chimay
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baileux, Belgium

For beer number 300- I went back to a beer I haven’t had for awhile. I used to order this at the Dubliner in Omaha’s Old Market district. The Dubliner was an Irish style cellar pub with a Blarney Stone (every St. Paddy’s Day you’d see inebriated revelers drunkely embracing and smooching it) at the top of the stairs leading to street level, traditional Irish music and an Irish board of fare. 20 years ago, the Dubliner was my preferred bar in Omaha so I revisited this brew to see if was still the way I remembered it. The aroma is sweet-plums, pears, yeast with a hint of rose or maybe lilac-I’m not sure can’t really pin it down. It has a moderate sweetness with carmelized fruit notes and the alcohol lights you up without a noticeable taste. Velvety mouthfeel and delicate carbonation. A very fine complex beer (why did I wait 20 years to drink this?)-maybe I’ll start bringing it when I tailgate at Arrowhead. GO CHIEFS!-(see I’m an optimist).

Hard to find a better beer... perfect to share, perfect to taste... an incredible complex sensation... i don’t wanna know how much one should pay to get these qualities in a wine... Chimay blue is a lifestyle !

(bottle) pours a murky dark red-brown colour with a huge off-white head. aroma is sweet spices, notably cinnamon and cloves, raisin, light aromatic hops and alcohol. flavour has many roasted notes, yeast, wheat, chocolate, alcohol and the same subdued spiciness as in the aroma. medium alcoholic body with mild, lively carbonation and a gentle bitter aftertaste. a flavourful brew, but a bit subtle and shy.

11.2 oz. bottle. Pours an exuberant head which completely disappears, lovely rich brownish color, nose is hard to identify with multiple layers flowing in, spice, malt, yeast, taste is similar, with yeasts dominating, finish has malt with a bit of hop. I am beginning to think Belgian strongs are my favorite brew style.

Ahhh, Chimay blue.... Somebody had me drinking this stuff long before I knew anything of belgians. Great beer, dark reddish brown color with malty aroma and flavor, and some wine like flavors from the yeast. Amazing.

Immensely drinkable. However, my expectations were not quite met. Pours dark brown with a light head that dissipates almost immediately. Perhaps the greatest asset of this beer is its impeccable balance, although I was hoping for more of a "wow" factor.

Bottle from Oddbins. Very effervescent. Pours deep ruby/brown with off-white head that rapidly diminished. Winey aroma, malt only hinted at, and a touch of rich, dried fruit. Smoky, spicy taste, with lots of plummy/raisin fruit - in fact it tastes like its aroma - and a very dry finish. Relatively light for a 9% beer. Words of mine can’t do justice to this masterpiece.

750 Bottle - Memphis. Poured a chestnut brown with a white head, continuously being fed by the bubbles below. Subtle raison, maybe sweet cherry in the flavor. VERY dry finish, amazing for a beer that tastes this sweet.