 BeerBelcher (750), Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
May 4, 2007 Updated: Nov 3, 2007
I’m re-rating this beer as I had it a long time ago, and had it again alongside the other two varieties of Chimay commonly available in the US (white and red) yesterday. And I have to say that with the benefit of quite a bit more beer experience since my last rating, that I significantly over-rated this beer in my previous rating. Yesterday, I found this beer is extremely mild, and while certainly not unpleasant or bad, I found it to be a bit boring. Of the three varieties I had yesterday, this was definitely my least favorite.
Appearance was a dark brown/almost black color with a decently-formed whitish head with limited staying power. Aroma was very mild and faint. I got roasted malt and a bit of alcohol, but not much else. Flavor was the highlight of this beer, but even that I found mild-mannered and rather unremarkable compared to other dark Belgian (or Belgian-style) beers I’ve had. A bit of roastiness and some alcohol, but not much else that you might expect like spiciness or fruit. Mouthfeel was not bad, but unremarkable.
So I’m left to explain why so many think so much of this beer while I’m the odd-duck who’s unimpressed. And my hypothesis is this - that many folks (me among them) try this beer when first expanding their beer horizons, are wildly impressed by the difference, but haven’t yet revisited (as I’m now doing) to compare against the craft/import beer adventures they’ve had since breaking out with Chimay Blue. Sound plausible?
Strykzone (1020), Wood River, Illinois, USA
Oct 11, 2008 Very cloudy medium brown with a smallish tan head. A musty aroma that is not appealing. Flavor is yeast and dark fruit, apple sauce caramel, and alcohol. Very interesting and very good.
TheJollyOne (7), Kofu, Japan
does not count  Oct 10, 2008 Pours a frothy tan head which diminishes but has good lacing. The reddish brown body held tiny particles which swirled and begged me to drink them. This beer just looks great! The smell was a tantalizing array of fruits, but the burnt caramel and toffee were the leading scents. Burnt toffee was again apparent in the taste, as well as roasted malt and fermenting fruit on the sides of the tounge. It doesn’t mask the alcohol well, its true, but still a delicious creation! Light and oily on the palate, soft carbonation, slight alcoholic aftertaste. This is a fine beer! Some may be truned off by its inability to fully mask the alcohol, but I dont mind tasting the percentage so to speak.
StFun (339), Indiana, USA
Oct 9, 2008 Fantastic beer! Aroma is full of yeast and flowers, slight cigar in the background. Pours an almost perfect deep brown, with amber hues. Flavor is smooth and balanced, lots of yeast and some malt. Goes down great. This one is a great, great beer.
hubcrawler (10), , Virginia, USA
Oct 9, 2008 Pours a cloudy deep, dark reddish-brown color with a thick, frothy off-white head. Had the aroma of walking through a vineyard taking in the sweetness of the grapes and the earthiness of the soil. The flavor is a wonderful balance of roasted malt, wine, prunes, apple, bread, and a nice touch of light bitterness. There is some underlying alcohol but it fits in perfectly with the array of flavors and generous carbonation. This is a very nice beverage.
Ramenen (351), San Salvador, El Salvador
Oct 7, 2008 Thanks to Pollo. A Complex Classic. "This aromatic lively rich ale has a medium sweet middle, with gently drier suggestions of thyme, pepper, sandalwood, and nutmeg in the finish."
MJ
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