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

jerseyemt

New Jersey

4.43/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 ounce bottle, poured into a brandy snifter (it was the closest thing to a goblet I have).

Pours a very dark amber, with a thick, creamy tan head. Smell is very complex, with distinct fruit flavors coming foward. Taste is simply incredible. A bit malty and a bit spicy, and again the fruit flavors dominate. A supreme Trappist ale, and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2003 14:19:43 | More by jerseyemt

ellman

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The Pour: This trappist beer is a bark murky brown with a Tan long lasting head.

The Smell: A sour yeasty aroma at first then a bit of fruit. finally the musty smell comes through.

The Taste: Malt, yeast, and fruit and i dont want to forget the alcohol that is present that is noticable.

The Mouthfeel: light bodied for being this dark

One 750ml bottle should be enough for anyone. anymore then that is over doing it. I could drink this pretty regularly, but not in quanity.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2003 16:10:57 | More by ellman

Reidrover

Oregon

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The third and last of my most excellent Chimay adventure dude!

This is the darkest of the three, a dark , rich loamy earth-tone brown, with a slight rubyish tone at the bottom of the chalice.Again a wonderful light tan , creamy head adorns the beer..beautiful stuff.
Smell? Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh best of the bunch, a rich plummy even figlike fruit smell.Mmm Plum pudding doused in good brandy comes to my mind.A sharp scent of blackcurrant shines through!
A lovely taste to this brew, deep and rich, complex..yet again the plum and figs show up with a good alcoholic warmth taste,.This even tastes a lot like a good Port and lemon..very intrigueing brew..fun to drink!!!
Feels very silky and comfortable on the tongue..not too dry..just nice.
overall great drinkability a very intrigueing beer, draws one into it's own world of sensation..a very good "sipper"

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2003 23:45:18 | More by Reidrover

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 ounce stubby brown bottle. It's very murky dark brown, and a huge off-white head fluffs about. There's a very yeasty aroma immediately, and then some dark fruits and malts. Medium bodied smoothness is a pleasant greeting. Carbonation is perfect. Caramel maltiness, yeast, and dark fruits all treat the palate like a king. 9% ABV isn't noticeable at all. This beer kicks ass. So enjoyably smooth and tasty.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2003 14:15:28 | More by AudioGilz

TheDM

Indiana

3.9/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

This beer is characterised by a nice head with small bubbles and some medium sized ones. The head is long lasting and has a nice tan color. The aroma is non-offensive and mild. It's color is a dark non-transparent brown with some particles suspended. The flavor is mellow and very much top my liking. it is not overly strong though and does not have that immediated feeling that other strong beers can give. All in all one of the better beers I have rated. GF gave is an alright rating. I later rerated this brew. I had an extremely upset stomach after trying this beer. I had noted previously that there were others who experienced this problem. Hence, my rating was lowered.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2003 07:28:57 | More by TheDM

Maestro

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 fl. oz. bottle poured into Chimay gold-rimmed chalice.

Now I understand things a little bit better. This beer's nose alone kept me satisfied. The first taste brings up memories of tastes throughout my entire life. Strong tastes that left some sort of memorial behind. There are hints of citrus, and berries, and apples, and all sorts of stuff. The alcohol comes through only in feeling, not taste. The beer is incredibly strong, in all senses of the word. Pinnacle.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2003 04:21:52 | More by Maestro

BitteBier

Indiana

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A really interesting color--much like fresh-pressed apple cider. Dark and somewhat cloudy with a minimal, soda-like head. Nose's pirincipal character is its full, malty sweetness with a bit of alcohol detectable. Taste is wonderfully full, starting malty sweet and warming up quite markedly. Crisply carbonated in the middle, and drying as the alcohol warmth takes over. A pleasant, clean mouthfeel and a substantial beer I could wrap an evening around.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2003 20:56:46 | More by BitteBier

JohnnyDuvel

Florida

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Despite the fact that I have been fortunate to try several other great dark Belgian or Belgian style ales, Grand Reserve still rates as my favorite of the style due to it's great balance. There are stronger tasting, more potent (and possibly even more complex) dark ales, but they can be a bit overwhelming. For a beer that is 9% ABV, this goes down extremely easy. Pours a huge, foamy head. Wonderfully spicy aroma and taste. Creamy, smooth and prickly (at the same time) mouthfeel. Tastes somewhat fruity and dark - malt, hops, and sweetness in near perfect balance. One of the absolute elite beers in the world. (and I can buy it in the grocery store down the street!) RE-review -
As time has passed, and I have grown to appreciate beers like Rochefort and Westleverten, I have not enjoyed Chimay as much. It's still an excellent beer, but somewhat thin and carbonated compared to a few of the great dark Belgian ales that I now prefer. I can now understand why many people are less impressed with Chimay these days. Excellent, yes, but there are better beers to be had.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2003 19:46:36 | More by JohnnyDuvel

Suds

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear, dark walnut color with a big, rocky stable head. This beer is really attractive, with a decent estery, peppery aroma. To be honest, the aroma could be a little more intense, but there's a lot of wonderful smells in there....dark, meaty fruit and spice...clove. Full, rich, and slightly dry....medium body. Despite the strength of the beer, the 9% stays firmly in the background, making this a very drinable beer. Not the best Belgian around, but solidy good.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2003 17:18:56 | More by Suds

Denali

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Package: 750 ml corked bottle. Vintage September, 2002.

Appearance: Clear dark brown – reddish brown when held up to light. Beautiful tan head that laces really well.

Smell: Dark fruity aroma. Spices are also present, along with a slight yeasty smell. Alcohol presence is also detected.

Taste: Very complex. Dark fruity flavor up front (raisins, plums?). Spices kick in next, along with yeast and malt flavors. Some bitterness also comes through. Alcohol taste is there as well. The flavors that come through – there’s so many and they don’t come through all at once. The tastes come through on a timeline, almost like in waves. I feel like I could spend a lifetime trying to figure out all of the flavors in this beer. Hmmm…. I wonder what a graph of the flavors vs. time of this beer would look like?

Mouthfeel: Very high in carbonation, which can be a bit distracting at times, but it also has a nice creamy finish.

Drinkability: Although there is some alcohol presence, the flavors cover it well.

Comments: There’s a lot happening here. Very complex and enjoyable. I’ve had this a number of times and will continue to do so.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2003 18:28:39 | More by Denali

AtrumAnimus

Texas

4.93/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Many of you have tried Chimay in it's various forms - However I have lucked out at our local liquor store where they have a stash of the 2000 millennium Chimay blue - special reserve. 1.5 litre (Half magnum) bottles. And it can be denoted by the "special reserve" label that is attached on the neck of the bottle. This is a special ale that is given fresh live yeast at the bottling stage. This beer is super fine. The hops are perfect and the malt is just there below the hops. Exceptional balance of nose and taste. The taste is exceptionally smooth and clean. the fact that this bottle conditioned ale has had some time to mature in the bottle is what gives it the exceptionally clean taste. This is a real treasure beer that everyone ought to try but unfortunately only a few can.

2001 Reserve - 3 litre Magnum. My firend had this one - or rather we all shared in it as his 200th beer at the Flying Saucer. That bigger bottle does make a difference. The beer has more body and a smoother flavor. Plus this is just a gigantic frgiign' beer!

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2003 11:40:16 | More by AtrumAnimus

Jarod

Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Simply said, this beer is awesome.
750 mL corked and caged bottle.
Now….It poured into the glass a rich Corinthian leather brown that was crystal clear and well carbonated. The head was rich and full. Creamy tan in color that had great staying power that left behind a beautiful delicate lace. The aroma first reminded me of champagne, fruity and bubbly, but the aromas of dark malt, wood, apples (like an apple barrel), spices and alcohol soon came forward. Then the taste. My tongue was alive. Flavors of a rich dark malt, apples, wood (again like it came from a wooden apple barrel) light spices to accompany the apples and the boom of the alcohol weaved itself all through the other flavors. A warming alcohol glow was left after you sip this beer. Very good beer three times over. Very satisfying and pleasing. So many words can describe the feelings after drinking this, but I will refrain and steer you back to the first line where this review started.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2003 13:46:50 | More by Jarod

stoutman

Michigan

3.38/5  rDev -21.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Well. A high rated beer, but not for me. It has a bit too much alcohol finish for me, and it has an aroma and flavor like most strong belgian ales, but it also has a bad aroma and flavor of "old, wet laundry", that I don't like. The yeast overpowers, as is typical for these types...

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2003 17:31:45 | More by stoutman

francisweizen

Australia

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

**Update**

the 2000 magnum of grand reserve, graciously shared by Fishbone at Dwarbis Brooklyn BBQ was superior to the 2001 magnum...with more spicy notes and boozy flare!!!

NOTES:

Presentation - 1.5L corked and caged magnum bottle, of the american version. September 2001Vintage(about 1 & 1/2 years old)

--This vintage 1.5L bottle of Chimay is excellent! I thought that the 33CL and 75CL versions of this beer were excellent but this bottle is just perfection. The Chimay Grand Reserve from this aged Magnum bottle is fruitier, drier, richer, and creamier than its counterparts and is perhaps, my favorite beer to date!--

**Scratch that! I no longer have the same love for "fresher" Chimay than I once did, and I have found many better Dark Belgian ales. However, some 1993 Chimay Bleu at the Kulminator in Anterp restored my faith in this stuff!**

Perfection! This IMO, is much better than the 33cl or 75 cl versions of this beer. Is there an actual difference in the 3 beers? YES! This pours a franticly carbonated dark reddish brown earthy beer with a GIGANTIC fluffy white head into my chalice! This smells wonderfully like fruits, nuts, berries, sugars, malts, and almost everything else you can think of. The taste is more of the same, a beer that practically dances all over your taste buds. A super creamy and full mouthfeel back up this beers high drinkability factor as well. It is very expensive in the states(although quite cheap in Belgium)so I cannot savor it as much as I would like to(@ $30 or so a magnum bottle around here!!!)
A classic trappist ale, IMO, and perhaps the best beer in the world...EVER!!!
CHEERS!,
F.

Mmmm. I had a 750 of 1986 Chimay Blue at the Kulminator a week or two ago that was simply out of this world. Vinous as all hell and as complex as anything else out there. This one REALLY improve with age!

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2003 09:32:10 | More by francisweizen

rabidawg

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 mL corked and caged, with a date of 10/02. The cork actually left a dent in my ceiling when I unleashed it. Guess that's what I get for shaking with anticipation.


Appearance: Deep amber that poured a nice, fluffy off-white head. The head dissipated quickly, but left a tenacious ring of lace behind.

Smell: If this beer has a shortfall, it would be the smell. Heavy alcoholic nose, tempered by an oaky, earthy smell.

Taste: Very fizzy splash on the tongue, met with fruity, bitter wild cherry notes. Slight tongue-tingling numbing due to the high abv, but pleasantly warming. I can slightly taste cork, and the earthy tones again, with a slight and enjoyable sourness at the back of my tongue. I fear my review is less descriptive than it truly deserves to be, but this is my first review of a true Belgian.


I really enjoyed the experience associated with this beer. Monks 3,500 miles from where I sit crafted this beer; now I, sitting in my apartment on a cold evening, can enjoy the fruits of their labor. If the leaders of the world sat down and enjoyed a good beer together, lovingly crafted as was this one, I think we might finally achieve at least a few precious moments of total peace and harmony. Thank you, Beer Advocate, for providing a venue for my real beer education. Without this site, I'd still be drinking Bass and thinking that I was truly experiencing a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2003 20:32:35 | More by rabidawg

Longstaff

Massachusetts

4.83/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is my 100th review and some might be thinking that this beer isn't special enough for such an occasion, but it is for me. Before I drank this for the first time, I used to be into so-so beers that I thought were great at the time. Beers like Harpoon, Redhook, Bass, Guiness, and Becks were regulars and I would occasionally drink Bud and Miller products. But after my first sip of this beer that my roomate introduced me to, it was like an epiphany, complete with bright lights and singing angels. I thought, wow, beer can taste like this? This was so unlike any other beer I have had up to that point that it changed my opinion of what beer is and what beer can and should be. After this experience, I never looked back at macros, and started to seek out other great tasting beers - which lead me to homebrewing and eventually the Beer Advocate website. Now my life has been changed forever -- all thanks to this great Belgian beer.

This review sample came from a 750ml bottle with a cork dated 03 2002.

This is very dark bodied beer with a hint of chestnut highlights and it poured out with a 3/4 inch mocha colored head that compacted down to an 1/8 inch and stayed until the last drop. Each sip produced a ring of lace that attached itself to the side of the Chimay goblet. Woody, sherry-like aromas with a touch of wheatish banana aromas mixing in. Up front you notice leather, wood, and sherry flavors mixed in with wine-like tannins. As the beer sits in the mouth breifly, wheat like phenols start to take over changing quickly to a cherry covered chocolate flavor. It has a sweet finish that lingers on the tounge with a slight banana and bittersweet chocolate flavor that mixes very well with the whiskey like vapors. When this beer warms I detect some black current flavors and the alcohol vapors seem to get hotter.

Even though I have had hundreds of fine beers - some more impressive than this - since my first taste of Chimay, this one always seems to impress me.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2003 12:21:11 | More by Longstaff

Stubbie1

Connecticut

4/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

07/02 was the date on the cork. Pours a dark brown and give a thick head that stayed around for a spell. It left a thin lace to the end. A sweet aroma hits your nose, mostly malt but a hint of fruit and yeast. The taste is not as rich and creamy as the Red but it is enjoyable. It has a noticeable taste of alcohol, and a hint of the fruit and yeast. Another enjoyable beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2003 12:01:52 | More by Stubbie1

stegmakk

New York

3.35/5  rDev -22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I am not much of a belgian beer kind of person. But even the few I have tried I would rank this good but not the best (IMO Hennepin).

Color is dark brown with slight red tint in the light. Thick of white head.
The smell is slightly sweet/spice/yeasty aroma. The flavor is not as complex I I would have liked. More alcoholic and carbonated, but the spice/yeast/sweet flavors try and get through. OK mouthfeel. Overall, I will not buy this again. The next time I feel like a belgian beer I will go with the Hennepin.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2003 16:36:53 | More by stegmakk

Rocko

Sweden

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Wow, this is a nice ale. The bottle reminded me a little of the Duvel bottle, small and with a funny top. :) It looks like Coca-Cola on the color, is that good or bad? :D The head is brown and a bit hard to tame, almost like on a Duvel too! It smells alot...like burnt sugar I think..very nice smell. The taste is very rich, it tastes a bit like the smell, burnt sugar, and subtle touch of toffee to top it off. Whopping in at 9% abv you better be careful with this baby. :)) Should be served at 14°C.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2003 12:54:14 | More by Rocko

Delirium

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Joyfully explosive "pop" of the cork and dark sedimentary red pour invites to a highly drinkable well balanced beer with a steadfast head smelling of fruit and wood, tasting of cherry and ceder with a dry earthy finish. The alcohol in this beer perfoms a masterful dance with the flavor and fragrance of it all. Made for many, but contains something special just for you.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2003 16:45:13 | More by Delirium

mickstepp

Ohio

4.28/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

It has been a while since I've tasted this beauty and it was everything that I remembered. Dark amber with a frothy dissipating head. Very effervescent. Faint hop and citrus notes in the nose. Malty sweet. It manages to be fruity and earthy at the same time.
An easy drinker despite the relatively high alcohol. Very creamy and mouth filling. Not an everyday brew but one that I will return to over and over again.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2003 06:34:19 | More by mickstepp

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 11.2 oz amber bottle poured into a Chimay goblet.

Appearance: Cloudy, very dark brown with nice tan foam that dissipated fairly quickly to leave a trace on the surface.

Smell: The aroma was of sweet, dark malt. The smell benefitted from warming (the initial pour was cold from the refridgerator, but as it warmed in the glass, the smell became stronger).

Taste: Not an overly complex taste. Sweet malt dominates, with the flavor of alcohol noticeable. Slight flavor of floral hops. Moderate carbonation.

Mouthfeel: Sweet, thick, warming. Good.

Drinkability: Good. The subtle flavor grows on you.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2003 20:01:15 | More by UncleJimbo

HossMcGraw

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I'm not yet sure if this was worth 10 dollars a bottle yet, but it is definitely the best of it's style that I've had to date. Pours a massive head that reduces to lace in about a minute. It's got a very dark appearance for a medium bodied beer. The aroma is very sweet and complex, with a strong yeast presence. Same goes for the taste. It's also got some ripe bananna and apple flavors with a slightly bitter aftertaste. It's a bit harsh due to the high carbonation and ABV, but after a glass or two of this, you'll be too buzzed to notice, not that I condone using this beer as a means of getting drunk (unless you can afford to. I sure as hell can't). Anyway, after drinking more of this throughout the process of writing this review, I would have to reccomend at least trying it. It's certainly a damn good Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2003 19:38:43 | More by HossMcGraw

cretemixer

Indiana

4.05/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours the color of strong iced tea. Thick, dense, tan foamy head that lasts for quite a few minutes and eventually fades to a 1/8 inch layer. Roasted malts dominate the nose with spruce undertones. Great mouthfeel. Feels heavier in the mouth than it looks. Nice alcohol warmth. Smooth hop bitterness plays around in the back of my mouth. Really great balance. Caramels & mollasses too. Well carbonated and creamy.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2003 06:25:43 | More by cretemixer

TAMU99

Virginia

4.38/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a great tasting, dark, wheat beer. It pours to a very dark brown with quite a bit of cloudiness and moderate head. Smell is average with balanced hops and malt. However, taste is exceptional. It has a deep, wheat body and a slightly sweet molasses flavor. It's not extremely complex but it is a very good beer!
The only drawback is the price. At $10.50/ bottle reserve for special occasions but do not hesitate to try this one.
Definitely one of my top recommendations.


Update: 10/24/03
After this young grasshopper has traveled the beer world, I have learned much. This excellent beer deserves a better rating.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2003 18:19:55 | More by TAMU99