Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue) - Bières de Chimay S.A.

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

4.35/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 750ml brown corked/caged bottle, specially-painted for Chimay's 150th anniversary. Splitting this with my wife tonight, into two Chimay chalices, to commemorate the sadness of leaving behind my career as a medieval historian and teacher and a celebration of the next step (whatever that might be). Cheers!

Appearance: A warm, ruddy sienna brew, capped with a dark ivory cap which fades slowly to a thick patchy film. Not quite as much stick as I'd like, but still an attractive brew.

Smell: Wonderfully soft and inviting aroma, with dark sugared fruits (grapes, raisins, plums), sweet/baking spice yeast notes, and just a hint of cork and cellar. Elegant, refined, classic.

Taste: Soft dark fruits (maybe grape, and several others, but none really jump out). LIght notes of sweet yeasty spice. The lightest hint of toasted bread and something earthy on the finish. Sweet flavors, but ends dry.

Mouthfeel: Light as a whisper, almost fluffy. It's amazing that 9% can feel like this.

Overall: Wish the specially-bottled version didn't cost $14.00-plus, but the beer inside (the same as the regular Grande Reserve) is simply brilliant, and usually available for $12.00 a 750ml. I hadn't had this beer for years, and it was one of the first 'real' Belgians I had. I was afraid it wouldn't measure up tonight, honestly. No worries there. Not quite as complex as Westvleteren, perhaps, but this is a stunning beer and widely available. Someday, when I have a solid job, I'm definitely going to buy a case of this to cellar.

95% A

Serving type: bottle

02-02-2013 02:51:00 | More by BedetheVenerable

rickfos

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

05-23-2013 17:08:41 | More by rickfos

Mike151014

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +10%

05-23-2013 12:08:38 | More by Mike151014

kvnstfrd

Missouri

2/5  rDev -53.7%

05-23-2013 04:41:23 | More by kvnstfrd

Isotope

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-23-2013 02:48:10 | More by Isotope

DetroitHopster

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-22-2013 22:04:32 | More by DetroitHopster

BUNZILLA

Indiana

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-22-2013 21:59:44 | More by BUNZILLA

Rdc67

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-22-2013 20:21:33 | More by Rdc67

Bikeboy1

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-22-2013 19:33:20 | More by Bikeboy1

SpdKilz

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-22-2013 13:15:11 | More by SpdKilz

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

05-22-2013 03:21:13 | More by SmellsofMahagony

clubarsky91

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-22-2013 03:04:51 | More by clubarsky91

gamanley

Connecticut

4.75/5  rDev +10%

05-22-2013 03:00:59 | More by gamanley

randomNBGD

Serbia

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

05-22-2013 00:46:57 | More by randomNBGD

Mcvs1507

Indiana

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-22-2013 00:07:19 | More by Mcvs1507

pin

Australia

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-22-2013 00:01:04 | More by pin

MrMcGibblets

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-21-2013 23:56:36 | More by MrMcGibblets

apasternak

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-21-2013 23:42:01 | More by apasternak

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-21-2013 04:45:51 | More by CosmoHopHead

joejost

New York

3.5/5  rDev -19%

05-21-2013 01:31:42 | More by joejost

qubit01

New Mexico

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

05-20-2013 15:33:21 | More by qubit01

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev -7.4%

05-20-2013 03:55:53 | More by Kmat10

SpAiReArGsEonNE

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -24.8%

05-20-2013 02:40:53 | More by SpAiReArGsEonNE

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

05-19-2013 23:24:54 | More by drgonzo2k2

Blindpigbiz

California

4.11/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Chimay blue grand reserve '11

Style/abv: quadruple/9%

Smell: dark leather and oak

Taste: scotch-like spice with an oaky sweetness adjunct with luxuriously sweet dark cocoa and cream--toast and black licorice are other notable flavors

This beer pairs impeccably well with beniges and a scoop of vanilla bean on top with mocha and blueberry drizzle; it's also great with gourmet burgers and bacon

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 23:05:00 | More by Blindpigbiz