chimay blue 1997

[Ken Gargett]

i thought i had posted this a week or so ago but can't find it. a follow up to the thread on all three chimays. it is also supposed to be up on www.spitbucket.com but i can't find it there either. i must have been off with the fairies from the bottom of the garden.

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]

We LOVE Chimay beer! Will have to look out for this one. Just enjoyed a bottle on the weekend.

Thank you for this review Ken!

[celtmick1984]

I have thinking for some time about putting a bottle of this down to be aged 15+ years; thanks for the thoughts on how these mature.

[capnshazam]

I would say that chimay blue is my favorite of the Trappist I have tried so far. My all time favorite probably goes between chimay blue and paulaner heffeweisen (spelling??) depending on my mood.

[frenchkiwi]

nice one ... i had been told about Chimay ageing but as i've never really liked the Bleu i will live vicariously through you. The Best Before date is a strange one.