Trying all 3 Chimay's

[capnshazam]

I just bought a bottle of each of the Chimay beers (red, white, blue) and I'm going to have them tonight with dinner.

Just curious what other members thought about this and Trappist beers/ales. What other ones should I try? My favorite style of beer is heffeweizen. I've only tried Chimay red before and was looking into trying other Trappist products

Tim

[Habanos2000]

I just bought a bottle of each of the Chimay beers (red, white, blue) and I'm going to have them tonight with dinner.

Just curious what other members thought about this and Trappist beers/ales. What other ones should I try? My favorite style of beer is heffeweizen. I've only tried Chimay red before and was looking into trying other Trappist products

Tim

I too am a Hefeweizen fan, particularly anything from a Munich brewery. As far as Trappist ales are concerned, I've enjoyed trying out a bunch of them as well. I've worked my way through the Chimay's, with the red probably being my favorite but the blue did a good job of getting my attention with, what, 9% alcohol?! Hello!

I've also tried the Rochefort line, again with the low to mid low alcohol levels being a bit more enjoyable for my tastes. Same with Orval, Westmalle and Westvletern.

A great line of true beers. Deep, rich and flavorful. I love the connection to the monasteries as well. They sure are pricey, so for me at least just a special indulgence item.

Enjoy and cheers!

[winelover]

I like Leffe both in the blonde and brune. It has so much taste and body and comes in large bottles. Very easy to find here in the UK too.

[brazoseagle]

I like them, in this order (Blue, White, Red) There is a grocer by me that continually carries the sampler 3 pack that comes with 3 bottles and a chimay chalice glass for $8.99, It's a great deal.

[Ophidion]

Before I stopped drinking three years ago my favorite chimays were blue, red, white in that order.

The best Trappist I had was a bottle of Deus. It's really pricey but damn it's delicious. I even made my own Belgian abbey ale that was flavored with candied sugar. Needless to say it clocked In around 13.6% and I bottled it in 20oz bottles.

[capnshazam]

After trying all 3 back to back I like them in the order of blue red and white. (I had the blue last and the store by me only had the blue in 22oz). Needless to say I slept rather well and really didn't want to go to work today.

[Tarks]

I'm a huge Belgian ale fan and a Trappist fan. I believe I have tried every Trappist beer available and most of them are outstanding. As far as Chimay, the blue label is my favourite. Enjoy!

[Tarks]

Before I stopped drinking three years ago my favorite chimays were blue, red, white in that order.

The best Trappist I had was a bottle of Deus. It's really pricey but damn it's delicious. I even made my own Belgian abbey ale that was flavored with candied sugar. Needless to say it clocked In around 13.6% and I bottled it in 20oz bottles.

FYI, Deus is not an authentic Trappist beer. It is an Abbey beer. Damn good beer non the less but not Trappist.

[gersonmorelli]

Technically there are only 7 Trappist beers. Chimay, Orval, Achel, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren from Belgium and La Trappe from Holland. All of them are really good, but Chimay is probably my least favorite even though I love them. Blue, Red and White in this order for me.

[Ken Gargett]

i was certain i posted this last week but i'm buggered if i can find it. will post again separately so as not to highjack this thread. interesting stuff.

Chimay 'Grande Reserve' (Blue Label) 1997

Any beer lover is familiar with the sight of one of those tall brown bottles (750ml) with the wraparound blue label. Surely the most famous of the Belgian Trappist monks' beers – Chimay's Grande Reserve, a vintage brew. Literally.

What is curious is that it is only called 'Grande Reserve' when it is in the 750ml bottles. When it is in the halves, it is simply Chimay Blue.

Chimay kicked off back in 1862. Their methods, including a secondary fermentation in the bottle, supposedly give a fruitiness, richness and body to the beer. I should also add that they tend to be very much at the pointy end when it comes to alcohol levels – this one being 9%.

While we might be familiar with the bottle and the concept, I’d suggest very few us get to enjoy mature examples. I remember thinking this many years ago and picking up a couple of bottles of the 1997 vintage. I was determined to put them away to see just how they matured. And then promptly forgot.

By chance, I have just found an article from 2006 which looks at older Chimay beers and includes trying the 1997. The 70 was the star so I guess that they really can age.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/12/travel/12iht-trlambic.3869278.html?_r=1

(and another on just general Chimay ageing – http://www.ratebeer.com/Story.asp?StoryID=184 )

No idea what became of one of them – I suspect it did not last long – but happened across the other in the cellar recently. I’d long forgotten them. I did note that on the back of the label, it suggests 'best before 2003', so wondered if perhaps I’d missed my window.

It was very dark, nearly black. And a nose/appearance like very dark honey. A cedary gentle aroma and a notable maltyness.

There was a rich, initial sweetness that faded quickly. Not great intensity on the finish but more than enough. Rich, dry honey notes. Quite complex. A little spice.

A thoroughly pleasant experience.

92.

[canadianbeaver]

Leffe Blonde is my fave. Now at dinner tonight I was served a new Innis & Gunnn for me (also a fave) - I &G blonde! Always had the Scotch or Rum based beers.

What has to be a constant for these beers for me, Chimay included, is to be served ice cold.

[MatthewB]

Love the blue.

I tried the Innis and Gunn last week with a HDM Churchill - magnificent combination. The beer alone is a bit too sweet though...

[Rushman]

Blue is my fave chimay. I am a big fan of maredsous as well.

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[celtmick1984]

Adding to the consensus: chimay blue is the best of the three, although I'm partial to St. Bernardus as an abbey ale. If you're branching out into big beers for the first time, don't figure to swing by the barley wines. I recently enjoyed Victory Brewing Company's Old Horizontal (fruit forward as barley wines go, with just a wee bit of hoppiness and long malty dryness to the finish). It was a gift, but I believe the 12 oz bottle goes for under $2.