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

Gavage

New Jersey

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

Appearance: pours a dark mahagony / brown color with a 1" head that slowly falls to a thick surface foam.

Smell: loads of malt sweetness with some dark fruits and a bit of hop presence.

Taste: nice malt profile with prunes, raisins, a hint of molasses, a bit of milk chocolate, and a moderate bitterness are the main flavor components.

Mouthfeel: medium bodied. Crisp throughout. Aftertaste is long as the flavors linger in the mouth.

Drinkability: this is a slow sipping beer. Nice and malty, a nice change from the hop heavy beers dominating today.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2010 21:39:12 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured chilled from small bottle into a Chimay glass.
It poured a deep brown with a beautiful, creamy, slightly off-white two finger head. The head was retained, with little loss until near the end, when it became a soft lace.
The aroma was fruity/berry like, with hints of alcohol in the background. It smelled more like red wine than beer, though.
The taste was simply exquisite. It had a well-balanced taste of fruity (though not citrusy) flavor, mainly of raspberry, along with a malty caramel flavor. The sweet and bitter were well-mixed, along with an alcohol flavoring that made it very complex and delicious.
The mouthfeel was refreshing. Along with the complexity, there was just the right amount of water to make it refreshing and drinkable. The alcohol taste does come through, but not enough to overpower any of the tastes. This is an excellent drink to have on a cold, cool, or mild day.
I could certainly drink many of these, had it not been for a combination of the high abv and the price.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2006 20:36:22 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

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

This beer pours a very dark, cloudy opaque brown, with reddish edges, and a finger or so of thin beige head, that leaves very little lace. It smells of ripe dark fruit, citrus, and yeast. The taste is caramelized sugar malt, spicy yeast, and warming alcohol. The carbonation is decent, the body fairly solid and creamy, and it finishes fruity, with some floral hints. A nicely balanced strong beer, good for slow sipping.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2009 19:51:48 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

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

I am drinking a Chimay Bleu, 750 ml C&C bottle, poured into a corresponding Chimay goblet. The ale is at room temperature.

Appearance: The ale pours with a moderate head, leaving little lace around the mouth of the goblet. The ale has a color that reminds me of muddy creek water. That is to say it is it has a deep brown color with a high level of sediment. I am reviewing this off of the last pour so there is an abundance of sediment in the glass.

Smell: There is a heady alcohol smell on first sniff. After that, a fruity aroma emerges, driven by figs and raisins. There is also a light cookie/malty aroma.

Taste: The ale has a full-bodied, deep taste. First notes to hit the tongue are those of a semi-sweet, rich malty flavor, like a good chocolate chip cookie. From there, some of the fruit flavors emerge, including the raisins as well as some esters from the yeast. On top of all of these flavors, the alcohol is clearly evident, providing a warming sensation with each sip.

Mouthfeel: The ale warms the body as one sips it. The overabundance of flavors can, at times, overload the palate. Overall though, the ale is very pleasant to sip.

Drinkability: The ale is severely limited by both the price tag ($11 for a bomber) and abv. Despite those factors, this ale is a true gem and stands well amongst the family of Trappist ales.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2006 16:59:15 | More by akorsak

tempest

Pennsylvania

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

Sure its a little weaker, but this tastes just like a Quad to me, Three Philosophers especially, but without the cherry lambic. Got a bottle with dinner at La Cena in Fayetteville (just outside Syracuse), The sweetness of the beer went great with the lamb and sweet potatoes. Smells of raisins and dry dates. Tasted more tart and bitter with some cherry, white grape, and brown sugar. Very drinkable, just make sure you don't serve it too cold. This beer comes alive at cellar temp.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2006 01:12:25 | More by tempest

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.03/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled 02/03 Appearance: Deep murky brown Mohogany with a silky creamy tan head nice and thick lacing just as thick on the sides very nice. Aroma: Vinous grapes, raisin, bread dough, and dark roasts create mild chocolate tones. Effervescent fruit is the backbone of the aroma. Taste: Once again flavor has a wine like air about it with doughy mild sweet bread, raisiny sweet tones, and decadent grape profile nice. Mouthfeel: Fluffy medium body spritzy but smooth carbonation. Drinkability: Is excellent a masterpiece can't tell it's 9% abv.

Serving type: bottle

11-15-2003 21:51:08 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a cloudy dark brown with a good head that quickly recedes. Nose is heavy on the alcohol with a large sweet tone to it. Small yeast edge to it. Taste is smooth and sweet with a malty undertone. Feel is bubbly. Probably the smoothest drinking BSDA I have had to date. Extremely drinkable. Even with a 9% ABV. Overall it's good, but it isn't my favorite of the style.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 06:08:53 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

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

2008 vintage
Poured a very dark amber color with good carbonation and a small white head. Nose is malt, dried fruits and citrus. Taste was nice malt, caramel, figs, prunes and light citrus. Really smooth and very drinkable. Mouthfeel was creamy and drinkability is good but its not my sttyle.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2009 02:39:05 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark brown color and cloudy. One finger head that dies quickly...no lasting lace.

Brown sugar aroma, some nice alcohol

Chocolate malt is the taste that appears on the first sip. Hop is far light than other Chimay's, but the malt is wonderful...think scotch ale in style. The body is lighter than I expected but the carbonation is perfect.

Since I like a hop presence, I personally prefer the Cinq Cents version, but knowing the traditional flavors of Belgians, this is superior.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2006 18:00:13 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.5/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle. Pours a dark brown/ruby color, very nice carbonation with a huge creamy head that lasts a long time. Very nice lacing afterwards. Scents. of malt, raisins/grapes. Very nice sweet/bitter taste with a slight alcohol warming feel. Medium body. This is a very drinkable brew from Chimay (my first by the way) at 9% ABV the alcohol is hidden very well. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2005 22:03:22 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.08/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

You can think about cellaring this but it tastes too good to wait. Drunk slowly the high ABV won't hit you and the alcohol is not noticeable. High carbonation and serious head that takes a while to dissipate.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2002 16:38:39 | More by jdhilt

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

(Served in a Chimay chalice)

A- This beer has the body of a deep dark walnut color that is to opaque to see through. The head is a creamy smooth light tan color that gives a nice lace with each sip. There is not enough light to see the carbonation but the head last and last.

S- The slight yeasty smell develops into a bready aroma with a hint of toasted and fresh grain. The finish has a slight rose perfume quality in the background with a very faint hint of dried cherries as it warms.

T- This beer has a nice toasted malt taste with some caramel qualities in the roast. The slight sour hint of cherries is in there aswell. There is a hint of dark fruit or red wine that is very subtle but is enhanced by the fizz.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a hefty fizz in the texture which adds some carbonic bite. There is no real alcohol warmth despite the high ABV.

D- This is a dry yet complex beer in the background. The fizz takes over in the finish and the malt complexities are very subtle. It would be nice to have those stand out a bit, and perhaps that is the case when it is fresh.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2005 03:40:10 | More by rhoadsrage

Jason

Massachusetts

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

750ml brown bottle, corked and caged with a vintage date on the cork.

LOOK: Deep garnet, very clear. Good lacing all around.

SMELL: Buckwheat honey, booze soaked raisins, tart apple, toasted bready, treacle, peppery

TASTE: Super smooth, creamy, full-ish body, date sugar, estery, warming, spicy, faintly medicinal, yeast, mineral, leafy hops, dried grass, toasted fruit cake, semi-dry finish

Still holds on to greatness as it is a few steps ahead of the middle of the pack, with that said there are other Belgian beers that easily surpass this but not so much that I would not keep on coming back.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2012 02:30:14 | More by Jason

Billolick

New York

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

500th beer reviewed...been saving this one the past week or so to take the honor. Small bottle w/o freshness dating. Pours very dark, cloudy and murky, almost black. Fairly large bubble head at first, puffy and lumpy. Head slowly morphs to a 1/8th inch thick tiny bubble film Thick sticky lacing left on the glass. Nose is of powered sugar, fresh fruit, and concord grapes. Smooth medium bodied Belgian, notes of yeast, peppery spicing, tons of sweet malt and more fruity notes, warming alcohol late seals the deal. World class, classic for good reason. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2005 02:02:24 | More by Billolick

mdfb79

New York

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

Poured from an 11.2 oz. bottle into a pint glass.

a - Pours a deep brown color with 2 fingers of off white head. No lacing and little bit of carbonation evident.

s - Smells sweet of dark fruits, yeast, some spices, and a little bit of alcohol.

t - Dark fruits, yeast, alcohol, malts, and hints of spice. Pretty nice.

m - Medium body and low carbonation. Feels pretty good.

d - A very nice Belgian. Considering the somewhat low price and the fact that it is readily available in many grocery and beer stores, this is a great beer. Very nice dark fruit and yeast smell/taste, and has a great feel to it. Will definitely have again sometime.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2010 23:32:18 | More by mdfb79

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle, 2005 vintage.
Appears a dark, hazy, murky brown with a 2 finger light tan head that retains nicely. Lots of lacing left around the glass.
Smell is of raisins, plums, figs, cocoa, candy sugar, and yeasty bread with gentle spices swirling in this mix.
Taste is of the same aromas but I can't put it down. The nice caramelized sugar and malt, along with the yeast makes this a right on winner.
Mouthfeel is a tad zippy with the carbonation but still remains smooth for the most part, hiding the 9% well in the slightly sweet brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2006 18:35:59 | More by weeare138

Zorro

California

4.18/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a clear dark brown with lots of carbonation, in fact it blew the cork out like a bottle of Champagne!

Smells good, malt and perfume, spicy and a bit sweet.

Tastes very mildly sweet and malty with a bitter bite to back it up. There are some citrus flavors here too and a subtle flowery taste.
Tastes like Chimay red, refined.

Mouthfeel is great.

Very drinkable.

I think I like to wilder taste of the Chimay red a bit more but this is good.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2004 04:01:10 | More by Zorro

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2003 Vintage. Pours a cloudy brown, pretty opaque, big off soapy white head forms, with plenty of chunkies floating around, lots of lace. Smell is molasses/brown sugar, chocolate, caramel, floral, iron, some yeast. Taste is chocolate, caramel, floral hops, and a clean bitter finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, high carbonation, and some alcohol warmth. Not as complex as the other Trappists but a damn fine belgian.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2005 16:39:42 | More by Viggo

Bighuge

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -19%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark ruby with a great head that melds into "rolling hills" as the head ever so gradually dissipates. There's a pungent yeast aroma. Slight amount of fruity esters on the nose too. Fair amount of carbonation. Goes down the hatch fairly smooth for a 9% a/v. Either this beer is fairly bland or I just have a hard time identifying taste qualities in Belgian beers. I get a little sour tartness and a deeply hidden candied apple taste. I don't get much more. It is a very drinkable high alcohol beer without a lot of appealing flavors in my opinion. Blasphemy I know being such a highly regarded Trappist brew.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2002 22:29:46 | More by Bighuge

corby112

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy dark chocolate chestnut brown with dark amber edges when held to a light source and a thick frothy, pillowy light tan head. Excellent retention, only slowly settling into a lasting cap that lasts throughout, leaving chunks of soapy lacing in it's path.

Slightly spicy peppery aroma with a lot of sweet estery Belgian yeast, chocolate, candy sugar and dark fruits; plum, raisin, prune, fig, etc.

Soft carbonation up front that subdues a bit when the beer warms. Lots of sweet dark fruit character with hints of fige, prune, raisin and plum as well as some silky chocolate and caramel. Very faint sour presence with some pleasant spiciness. There's some cinnamon, brown sugar and candy sugar that provides an excellent balance and complexity to this amazing beer. The alcohol presence is there but the high ABV is very well masked making it dangerously drinkable. One of my all time favorites.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2009 08:04:38 | More by corby112

Beerandraiderfan

Nevada

3.45/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Usually my favorite of the most widely available three from Chimay.

Pours a dark brown and red color. Tons of chunkies go into the bottle, despite even more remaining in the last 5% of the bottle. Tiny head, recedes quickly. A lot of old fermented fruit smell. Cherry dominated.

Big taste of alcohol is the first impression. More cherry, some plum maybe. I can't really differentiate fig from plum, raisin etc. . .
As the bottle continues, the alcohol heat melds well with the fruit. Nothing comes close to a hop profile, I guess its all about yeast and fruit. I think this beer is very much about mood.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2010 17:37:26 | More by Beerandraiderfan

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

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

Had not had this beer in some time. Forgot just how excellent it is.

The beer pours a rich, hazy brown color, with a persistent, creamy head and excellent lacing. Full marks at this point. On the nose the first thing I notice is almost a milk dud chocolate aroma, with a touch of coffee and brown sugar. Really, this beer has the most pronounced chocolate candy aroma I've ever seen, with a touch of Belgium spices to keep it all interesting. This beer is very lithe and supple on the palate, with flavors of chocolate, maraschino cherry and honey. There's just a touch of bitterness and dryness in the finish, which keeps this beer from becoming tiring to drink. Again, quite impressive. Abv. is noticeable, but in a good way for this beer. It pulls all the flavors together and keeps the beer from becoming too flabby from the sweetness.

Fabulous stuff. For my money, much better then the red or the white.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2007 16:58:55 | More by johnmichaelsen

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.75/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The night of the Chimay in my front room. All three beers to be drank in one session. Red, White and Blue, the colours of the 'Union Jack' .

This blue labelled 33cl bottle with its best before date of 2012 was taken with a whole round of Chimay cheese, also with the blue label. Both bought in Belgium on a resent visit.

Poured into my 'Forbidden Fruit' chalice glass, it looked fine, I ensured the whole bottle including the sediment got into the glass.

Dark and a little cloudy, because of my pouring, the off white head didn't hang around, pity.

Although some BA's can smell the scent of a randy fox from half a mile, I struggle to smell my own farts sometimes, so it is not suprising that all I can smell is burnt malts and plums in this fine beer.

The taste however is easier to detect, a good blend of malt and plum fruits are there for all to find, this is a flavoursome beer and the 9% alcohol doesn't kill the intermix of quality products this beer is obviuosly made from, allowing them to infuse without ruining them.

A very good beer indeed, the cheese from the Monks also helped to intensify the flavours, try them together if you ever get the chance.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2007 21:28:14 | More by BlackHaddock

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

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

First had: on tap at Eulogy, Philly, PA

A: Dark reddish brown, hazy. Thick white head and nice lacing.

S: Dark sugars, spice, dried fruits.

T: Strong taste of dark fruits and caramelized sugars. Intermittent bites of hops and alcohol.

M: Medium body, some carbonation.

D: Very drinkable, rich and complex.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2010 17:00:53 | More by Rifugium

glid02

Georgia

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

Bottle purchased from Green's on Ponce in Atlanta.

Pours a cloudy copper-brown color with a two-finger tan head. The head slowly recedes into a thin layer on top leaving thick lacing.

Smells of dark fruits - raisins mostly - with brown sugar and a clean aroma that is best described as a Belgian cellar.

Tastes very good. Brown sugar and other assorted spices follow dark fruit flavors and sweet malt. The spices gain steam midway through the sip before a clean and crisp ending.

Mouthfeel is great. It has a very nice and smooth thickness with active carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my bottle quickly and could have a few more.

Overall I had not had this beer in quite a while and having it again makes me wonder why. The mouthfeel and clean flavors highlight what is a very good beer. Recommend.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2009 02:52:06 | More by glid02