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

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.79/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle to snifter. Best Before 2018.

A - Deep amber with a slight copper glow around the bottom; otherwise opaque. One finger of tan coloured head.

S - Belgian yeast esters, clove and spice are dominant with dark fruit, brown sugar and raisins.

T - Yeast, spice and clove notes with brown sugar, toffee and raisin.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:54:36 | More by TheSevenDuffs

CrazyIrishman34

Rhode Island

4.46/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

This beer pours a nice mahogany brown with a off white head. The head ends of at about 2 fingers and is persistent. The flavor is malty with dried fruit in the finish. Over all a great beer that you can come back to year after year. I recommend this beer to anyone that like Belgian beers.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 00:05:42 | More by CrazyIrishman34

Jacurdy60

Alabama

4.24/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4.25

A-Pours a brownish garnet color with a towering beige, off white head that retains well throughout and cascades down the glass slowly as I sip and leaves faint lacing.

S-Warming spice, slightly phenolic, rich fruits (bananas, dates, figs), a bit boozy

T-Faint cinnamon, toasted bread, rich fruits come in again, as do the phenols. Finishes with a warming spicy feel

MF-Medium bodied with a crisp feel and clean finish. Very refreshing.

O-Exceptional brew. Complex, but all notes in the nose and on the palate make a strong presence. Well-balanced, alcohol is hidden well. My only complaint would be that it feels too carbonated and needs to finish with a creamier feel

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 01:09:24 | More by Jacurdy60

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.44/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the first craft beers I had. It's about time I reviewed it.

Appearance. Pours a deep brown with a little orange when held to the light. Topped with over a finger of light khaki head.

Smell. Brown sugar and spicy belgian yeast, bruised apples, some cloves and sweet malts, even a little orange.

Taste. Brown sugar, spicy belgian yeast, light spices, apples and some earthy hops.

Mouthfeel. Meidum+ body, medium-strong (but soft) carbonation.

Overall. Pretty hard to say anything negative about a beer like this. A standard for the style and never a disappointment.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2013 03:02:22 | More by Rutager

TWHartman

Minnesota

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

Poured into a wide, trappist style glass.

A- Pours a dark amber with a clean white head that reduces down to thin lace. Carbonation steadily diffuses up from center of glass. Mine has little black flecks in it visible when holding it to light, I'm not sure if they are supposed to be there, there look like finely ground black pepper

S- Dark dried fruit, like raisin, plum or dates. Sweet, honey or treacle smell.

T- again, dark dried fruit like raisin, plum or date, but also with a sharp tart finish, like green apple. It has an almost Dr. Pepper flavor with a crisp, tart finish.

M- This is actually my favorite part of the beer, there is a lot of carbonation diffused in the body of the beer that pleasantly fizzes up in the mouth, almost soda like. From the smell I was expecting a syrupy, cloying mouthfeel but the carbonation makes it finish light and crisp despite the sweetness.

I generally dont like to drink trappist beers, but this was a nice experience, gained a new appreciation for the style and maybe I will have to drink more.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 02:09:15 | More by TWHartman

schwemjw

Ohio

4.41/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A: murky brown, a one finger head that seems to be sticking around. poured like champagne

s: Nice caramel malt, a biscuit quality that morphs into dark fruit. figs and an overly rip grape.

t: wonderful! sweet figs, raisins, brown sugar up front with a citrus undertone. a yeasty, oatmeal raisin cookie middle and a finish reminiscent of cherries and molasses. wonderfully complex

M: medium bodied. there is a bit of alcohol in the finish with just enough carbonation. this bad boy definitely lingers.

O: complex, yet easy drinking. There is alot going on here to think about. but it drinks fairly easy. this is exactly what i think about when i think of a belgian beer; tart, sweet, bready, yeasty, malty and oh so good. if you are looking to get into belgian beers, this is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 06:03:27 | More by schwemjw

olilitewu

Arizona

4.08/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

This beer is wonderful.
only issue to it is probably its smell, which is nothing too special, but with lots of fruity notes.
Beer has malty bitterness, caramel, plum-dark red fruity notes with plenty of sweetness
Lots of complexity and layers of flavors in the beer, but without clashing with one another.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2013 08:24:24 | More by olilitewu

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.49/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a Chimay Goblet

A- Pours a murky, viscous copper brown color. Very dark and hazy. A half finger of an off tan colored head.

S- Big dark fruit, A bit of a rum spice in this beer. A sweet candy sugar and caramel malt.

T- A big feel at first. A 50/50 split right up front of caramel, breaddy malts and a dark fruit assauly. There is a ton of fig and plum in this beer. The malt is so silky smooth and creamy sweet it should be a crime. A sweet dark fruit bouquet in this beer. A nice spice profile reminicent of a spiced rum.

M- Thick and chewy and very high carbonation. Works extremely well.

O- A masterful beer. Very delicious and well made. Cant believe it took me so long to pick some up.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 23:13:42 | More by TwelveOunces

mjc3151

Illinois

4.63/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from 22 oz. bomber into a Solemn Oath snifter glass.

A - dark brown

S - smells like raisins, can smell the Belgian yeast.

T - tastes like it smells. tastes like raisins, with a fruity background and Belgian yeast element.

M - smooth, goes down easy with a slight carbonation feel to it.

O - An unbelievably tasty beer. Then again it is a Belgian and I LOVE Belgians, so i am a bit biased. Try Brooklyn's Local 2. It is very similar and much cheaper, so try that one and compare the two.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 02:41:14 | More by mjc3151

dar482

New York

4.11/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

The color is caramel and brown, like dark brown iced tea.

The aroma has boozy, dark fruit, malt, with a decent head.

With the taste, there is a smooth and booze taste. There is malt, Belgian yeast, and bread. It really is a light beer for the style. There’s the obvious quad fruits of plums and stone fruits. Easy drinking.

There is a light body for a quad.

In the end, I had this with St. Bernardus 12 and Rochefort and it fell in the last place. Fine beer. Not my favorite, but probably the most drinkable of the three.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2013 07:33:27 | More by dar482

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.26/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured ever so slowly this highly carbonated ale create a bubbly, champagne like head. Beautiful bright ruby hue there was a touch of sediment that twirled through the murkiness.

Fruity sweetness hits the nose with cherry, date, prune and grape must. Wine alcohol aromas are hidden amongst candied, sugary sweetness. Slightly soft the aroma is weak but varied.

Very smooth on the tongue this is as diverse as any. Candied fruits like date fig and prune start but then a bready maltiness takes over. Alcohol warmth fills the chest as raisin and even licorice finish it out. Small amount of alcohol stays on the tongue but other than that this is a real triumph.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 20:07:35 | More by KYGunner

HabiMendes

Rhode Island

4.59/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

This cooper/ruby-toned beer has a creamy, lightly-tanned neck. The aroma only pronounces at the right serving temperature (higher than usual), showing a toasty/caramelly tone, with strong fruity esters (apples, pears, bananas, dark fruits). A little perfume and spice are also present. The taste displays the malt profile appropriately, which is harmonized with the alcohol here. The body is medium and well-carbonated, and the hops are very discreet. The end is dry, and the aftertaste appears as a crescendo, with sharp bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 03:06:12 | More by HabiMendes

Roman5150

Michigan

3.93/5  rDev -9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

750ml bottle into tulip. Paired with gouda and manchego cheese.

Appearance: very dark beer, 1 finger fluffy off white head.

Aroma: very sweet dark fruits, grape, sweet mango and apple

Taste: a lot sweeter than other trappist beers. Raisins and bread notes in the aftertaste, with a sweet wine like finish. Alcohol is pleasantly disguised by the sweetness. As it warms im almost getting notes of apple and coriander. Very subtle citrus taste in the beginning.

Mouthfeel: almost a little too carbonated, gets a lot smoother as it warms.

Overall: Honestly, i like Chimay Red more. Everyone seems to like the Blue the most, and i've yet to try the Yellow, but this one was just too sweet for me. It is still a very good beer that i will be buying again and again as i'm a huge fan of trappist beer, but i really thought the red was more balanced. Which is weird because I usually like the higher abv beers more. If you've had other trappist beers, this one is probably the most unique out of the 6 trappidt breweries i've tried. Not the best, but a great beer worthy of trying, if they are sold out of Chimay Red...

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:17:01 | More by Roman5150

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into goblet.

Never ever not a great beer. So smooth. Bready, balanced, loads of figs. Love the heat. Velvety. Medium full body. I love all the Chimays, but I now prefer this to the others. The Belgians do big beers that are balanced better than anyone. Consistently a great beer. How could anyone not love this?

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 18:29:02 | More by Beer-A-Lot

Groomsy

Kentucky

4.39/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a a bomber into an Orval chalice. Bottled on 08/12, so this is still fairly young.

Chimay Blue pours a murky brown and has highlights of ruby red when held to the light. Streams of carbonation come from the bottom of the glass and support a quickly-fading head of a white soapy head that leave stringy lacing down the glass. A great-looking beer, though it doesn't leave the lacing for which it's usually renowned – this probably has to do with the relatively young age of the bottle, maybe.

Sweet mother of pearl, the nose on this beer. I can only think to list the descriptors: caramel, toffee, fig, raisins, rum-soaked cherries, slight citrus (orange peel?), fresh-cracked pepper, bread, and rum. It's incredibly gorgeous and complex. A swirl of the glass revive some faint earthy/musty notes as well as signature Belgian yeast aromas, calling to mind clove and fresh-baked wheat bread.

Chimay Blue is incredibly layered and complex, and only grows more so as it warms. Starting off with a peppery bite, the beer smooths over with flavors of roasted malt, dark fruit (think figs, raisins, etc.), bread, and tart cherries soaked in alcohol. The dark fruit seems to dominate on the middle of the palate, and it finishes with a dry, alcoholic sweetness with notes of clove and other spices. I would be very interested to see how this beer changes with age, but unfortunately, I have no other bottle by which to judge.

While quite carbonated and zesty, Chimay Blue has a body that matches its flavor and appearance. Its medium body is dry with some lingering fusel alcohols, but these alcohols provide a fairly “normal” finish to the complexity of the rest of this beer.

Trying Chimay Blue is a moment which every beer drinker should look forward to. This is a beer which I savored over the course of about two hours or so, and I am grateful to have tried it in a time span which I knew would be uninterrupted. Beautifully layered and complex – I am eager to try this with some age on it.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2013 02:17:54 | More by Groomsy

gcamparone

Rhode Island

4.74/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured from a 22 oz bomber into a La Trappe goblet. Allowed to warm as I drank it. Purchased in Wakefield, RI.

A- Pours a muddy brown, cloudy opaque body with a perfectly carbonated 2" off white head that reduces slowly and leaves some lacing.

S- Candi sugar, citrus zest, orange juice, cloves, bananas. A deeper whiff reveals cocoa powder, coffee beans, apples, toffee, molasses, figs, tart cherry. One of the most complex beers I've ever smelled.

T- Starts off with spices, bananas, candi sugar, brown sugar and molasses, and develops into a more citrusy, tart fruit, cherry and apple flavor. The finish is slightly roasty. The long aftertaste is tart fruit, white grapes, and lemons. The flavors come through more as it warms, and it also gets smoother and more creamy.

M- Medium carbonation, medium body but drinks like a lighter bodied belgian.

This was one of the most complex beers I've ever tasted. It took characteristics from every belgian styles and incorporated them intricately to create a masterpiece. An excellent representation of the style, others can only try to match it.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 01:08:18 | More by gcamparone

microbrewlover

Pennsylvania

3.81/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

This brew pours a dark brown, almost black with a three finger head which disappears fairly quickly. Little lacing.

The smell is sugary, nutty, yeasty, dank like wet hay. There is also a trace of apple and pear.

The taste is very sweet, lots of sugar, probably brown sugar and maybe molasses. Apple and pear come in after the after the sugar and there is a cracker like taste on the back end. The alcohol seeps through just a little bit.

The mouthfeel is thin, creamy and cracker like. There is a lot of tingling after swallowing probably due to the high carbonation.

Overall this brew is good but I expected better after all of the raving about how good Chimay is. Perhaps some people like this much sugar in a beer but this is just a little too sweet for me.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2013 23:56:05 | More by microbrewlover

SHerninko

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A nice bomber bottle shared at a BYOB in Phoenixville, PA (thanks OWEN !)

*A: Nice bottle, nice pour, very good white, tight bubbled head on each pour, consistent. Lacing as you swirled it in a small snifter glass.
*S: Classic triple, fruity, a bit of malt, but mostly orange, lemon, pineapple, grass
*T: More complex than the Allagash Tripel from earlier in the tasting. 2 levels of flavors from the initial tip of the tongue to the finish. Sweetness and tartness. Carbonation keeps it buzzing on your tongue. Alcohol is hidden, just a bit in a champagne sort of way (carbonation).
*M: Nice and creamy. Easy to sip.
*O: It is a Chimay--classic, have to try it at least once, experience where beer began and sip the 100's of years of tradition in a bottle. BLUE...you're my boy!

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 13:41:12 | More by SHerninko

oldfart

New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle, corked and caged, 9/12 dated cork. Pour into a tulip glass.
Appearance: Came out of the bottle a red mahogany color, a bit cloudy. Thick full head, tan in color, with good lacing.
Smell: Crisp, sweet smell. You can definitely smell the booze, but as a whisky drinker I found that a big plus. Malty with a bit of herbs and tobacco.
Taste: Sweet, malty Belgian style. A bit boozy (see above), definite dark fruits with a lingering bitterness in the aftertaste.
Mouthfeel: Moderately thick with a long finish.
Overall: Good drink, pairs well with cheese. I will certainly be back for more.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 22:39:06 | More by oldfart

Ilafan

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev -14.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

I wanted to LOOOVE this beer. Instead, I just liked it. Quite a bit, actually.

Look: When poured into a Sam Adams glass, it glowed with an auburn reddish brown and a tan head (surprising robust).

Smell: Average. Sweet.

Taste: Like a lot of Belgium beers, this has a rich, full tasting beer. I found that the slightly sour aftertaste was a nice compliment to the 9% alcohol taste. There is also a fruity taste mixed in (apricot??).

Mouthful: Very good

Overall: This is certainly a beer I would have again (and again).

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2013 22:56:56 | More by Ilafan

DAllspaw

Indiana

4.19/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

pours a deep mahogany, ruby color after a very clear pop, from the cork. Hard to beat a bottle conditioned Belgian. Head dissipates quickly but lacing lasts all the way.

initial smell is typical for he style, heavy on the dark fruits. Taste is very well balanced, hardly any alcohol heat, with nice density in the mouthfeel. Perfectly carbonated, sips very well through the full glass. A steal from Costco for $9 before the holidays.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 23:28:17 | More by DAllspaw

N3rdM3t4l

Oregon

4.44/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml champagne corked bottle into wine glass.

A: a thick cloud of large tawny bubbles that fell to a decent sized head. The beer is a cloudy dark delicious ruby tinted coffee color.

S: the yeasty slightly astringent smell I expect from a belgian especially the strong dark. Slightly sweet with a slight roasted notes.

T: the estery notes I expect from a belgian brew, a little fruit like apple. The yeast is really strong in this. A little alcohol burn on the end. Finishes quite sweet.

M: solid medium body with a little bit of bite back.

O: fantastic BSDA but those crazy catholics in Belgium know their beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 06:59:42 | More by N3rdM3t4l

Chrysostom

Ohio

4.65/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

MY REVIEW GOT DELETED BECAUSE I TOOK TOO LONG TO WRITE IT. The following review is heavily shortened, and is affected by the 1000-word mega-review (in my typical style) which was deleted and pissed me off. Will review again from calmness in a few days when I re-up at the package store and pick up a few more bottles, and make sure to cut and paste before I hit "submit".

Introduction: this is one of the best of the Quadrupels, and it's the original. All further Quads, come from Chimay Blue.

The Trappists are a Catholic cloistered religious order, one of the strictest there is. They are called the Order of Cistercians of Strict Observance, an 18th-century reforming order which broke away from the original mediaeval Cistercians, themselves a reforming order and a breakaway from the ancient Benedictines.

Thomas Merton, the famous Anglo-American religious and spiritual author of "The Seven-Storey Mountain", was a Trappist monk - in America!, yes, America has Trappist monasteries - at Gethsemani Abbey in Kentucky. Too bad they don't brew beer.

Without further ado, a severely truncated, unreliable review.

P: 750mL corked and caged bottle poured in to Chimay chalice/goblet.

A: Very cloudy dark brown, small head which quickly recedes to nothing. No lacing. Has hints of mud/lighter dark brown when held up to the light. Nothing that can be called a "highlight", as it's the same colour with light coming through it; however, it is appetizing, and typically Belgian.

S: Booze, esters, and malt. As it warms, booze becomes predominant. The smell is small for such a big beer.

T: Dark fruits, carbonation, esters, malt bomb. Some booze. More boozy than St Bernardus Abt 12, but still with deceptively-hidden alcoholic content. The finish is quite long, and astringent/bitter. The hops come through pretty strong, as does a quite noticeable thin mineral-water aftertaste, which is the only thing I dislike about the taste of this beer. 4.25 to 4.5. It's lower in comparison to St Bernardus, which has a very similar flavour, yet has a better finish and no mineral-water aftertaste.

M: Effervescent while still being relatively thick. Finish is long, and leaves a coating of some sort, not a cleansing.

D: High. One could have many of these, to one's own detriment.

O: A veritable illustration of the maxim, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." This beer is truly greater than any one of its component ratings. 87-92/100.

I recommend searching for a video on Youtube called "Chimay Brewery Tour", which increased my appreciation for this beer, and shows the fusion of monastic life, passion for beer, and high-technology which goes in to Chimay.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 08:32:25 | More by Chrysostom

zeledonia

Minnesota

4.19/5  rDev -3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Finally trying this Trappist classic. I tend to overlook the European beers for less expensive domestic ones, but it's about time I made my way through some more tasty Belgians. Tasted 1 March 2013, reviewed from notes.

Pours a deep murky brown, but with an amber shade. Clear coming out of the bottle, but dark enough that it's tough to see through. One finger of light yellowish tan head, very foamy and fizzy like carbonation from soda. Slowly relaxes to a thin but complete cap.

Smell is crisp, which is one of the things I really like in the better dark Belgian ales. Despite being sugar-heavy beers, they manage to have this delicate lightness in the smell, softly backed up by those malty aromas. A bit of tobacco, herbal and mildly bitter.

Taste is dark, sweet, and fruity. Figs, brown sugar, but with that unmistakable Belgian yeast twang. I'm liking this a lot. Not quite on the level of some of the best quads and BSDAs, but really close.

Mouthfeel is, well, overcarbonated. Medium-heavy body, a little chewy, and sticky. But it fizzes up much more than I want to, blocking the flavors from me, so that I'm tasting foam instead of beer. Otherwise pleasant, but that carbonation definitely interferes with my enjoyment of the beer.

This beer is really really tasty. The one thing that brought it down for me was the mouthfeel, which I found overly fizzy for a beer like this. But the rest of it is so good that it carries my overall enjoyment well up. I also found it better at relatively cool temperatures (~50 degrees F) than after it had warmed up a bit more.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 03:40:11 | More by zeledonia

RKnep

Pennsylvania

4.94/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured into a Snifter type glass.

Appearance - Dark amber to brown color. Initially opaque then clears. One finger light tan head that diminishes slowly with great lacing.

Smell - Hint of caramel and fruit. Earthy with a hint of hops. Can't stop smelling.

Taste - Wonderful caramel, chocolate, bread, sweet dark fruit flavor. Hard to drink slowly, it's so good. Gets better as it warms up.

Mouthfeel - Great carbonation. You almost want to chew it.

Overall - One of the best I've had, to date. If I ever brew beer, I want it to taste like this.

Serving type: growler

03-08-2013 21:30:23 | More by RKnep