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

Tupperwolf

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

Crack of the bottle marked 09/05 on the cork itself; Pours a dark mahogany ruby color that glows in a subtle way with red light when held up to illumination. A frothy tan head bubbles up and slowly recedes to a dished concave centimeter-thick, being visibly fed by streams of bubbles appearing in the depths and climbing up the sides. They're doing their best to keep the head up and look to be doing their job.

Plum, citrus peel on the scent; Lazily fruity zing and zip with just a tiny bit of tartness and some crisp malty scents; It reminds me of Trois Pistoles but isn't so in-your-face, and has a little more malt scent, too.

Wow, that's weird... The first thing I think when I sip it is that it tastes... like Trois Pistoles. Exactly like it, actually. Hell, I'll even be so bold as to cut and paste from that review. Sour-sweet flavors on the palte. Citrus peel, sour grapes, plums, rhubarb, raisins, with a gently warming alcohol that doesn't affect taste, only feel.

The carbonation is zippy and swishy, medium-sized bubbles that swirl around... Some syrupy flavors and tastes left behind.

Okay, I'm really weirded out. I keep going back to my review of the Unibroue beer and have decided that these are almost exactly the same. The only difference is that the Trappist version I now hold in my hand holds a better head and has a little less sour, more malty scent.

This is a great beer and I'm reviewing it with the respect it deserves; But my experience has been seriously diminished by the fact that I can get the same thing for less money from a closer brewery than Belgium.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2006 07:59:45 | More by Tupperwolf

UncleBuccs

Arizona

5/5  rDev +15.7%

06-19-2013 03:28:21 | More by UncleBuccs

hreb

Washington

4.36/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

2012 vintage. 75cL corked/caged champagne-style bottle served in Chimay's own wide mouth chalice. Beer pours deep brown with a massive, delicious lighter brown foam. Aroma is way sweet, candi sugar, with a little bit of fruit, like dates.

First sip is explosive with flavor. Sweet up front, tangy on the sides, and rich through the middle. Super fine carbonation tickles the front of my tongue and dances all over my mouth. This compliments the malt flavors and contrasts nicely with the super heavy richness that the ale otherwise conveys. Oh, and it 9% ABV it's a great drink, not at all too heady.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 03:15:06 | More by hreb

taylor714914

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

06-18-2013 23:42:55 | More by taylor714914

Auztan

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +10%

06-18-2013 19:28:48 | More by Auztan

jbar920

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

06-18-2013 17:34:45 | More by jbar920

Dagsy

California

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-17-2013 23:12:17 | More by Dagsy

terence

California

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

06-17-2013 12:33:50 | More by terence

WallE89

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-17-2013 04:11:36 | More by WallE89

KrisDLSmith

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-17-2013 02:55:48 | More by KrisDLSmith

Saurabhprabhu

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +15.7%

06-17-2013 01:09:55 | More by Saurabhprabhu

JoeLacy

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

06-16-2013 23:09:09 | More by JoeLacy

FIN

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

06-16-2013 13:51:03 | More by FIN

adityashekhar

India

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-16-2013 10:14:34 | More by adityashekhar

IndyDad

New York

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%

06-16-2013 02:31:46 | More by IndyDad

cdl

California

4.75/5  rDev +10%

06-16-2013 02:21:42 | More by cdl

anson42

California

4/5  rDev -7.4%

06-16-2013 01:29:03 | More by anson42

stogirelli

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -19%

06-16-2013 01:15:24 | More by stogirelli

mrebeka

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

06-15-2013 23:58:12 | More by mrebeka

TKEbeerman

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%

06-15-2013 22:36:12 | More by TKEbeerman

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +10%

06-15-2013 18:55:46 | More by TheBeeraholic

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Cloudy; dark copper

Aroma: spice from the yeast; malty; vinous fruits, almost wine-like

Taste: spicy up front; malty in the mid; finishes with a fairly dry aftertaste

Remarks: My favorite of the Chimay line. Also got to try it at the Inn at Chimay.

Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 12:10:12 | More by IchLiebeBier

Krakpoff

Quebec (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

06-14-2013 23:35:21 | More by Krakpoff

KStark

British Columbia (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

06-14-2013 14:46:40 | More by KStark

BrewLip6

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.6%

06-14-2013 03:22:55 | More by BrewLip6