Chimay Première (Red) - Bières de Chimay S.A.

TheycallmeTim

New York

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml. bottle into a chalice.

A--Hazy deep wildflower honey, like maple syrup with some molasses dumped into it. Hints of ruby or garnet toward the bottom. Super active head, about two and a half fingers, with plenty of big bubbly fizz. Plenty going on here and plenty to stare at.

S--Very powerful magic here: mostly dried dark skinned fruits, notably prune and fig, with clove and some malt breadiness coming through. Nose doesn't give off so much sweet as rich deep spice.

T--Doesn't disappoint and mostly follows the nose, though with more of an earthy brown bread punch with the malt. Effervescent finish that's really nice after all the spice up front. A beer whose flavor remains much more complicated than any words can give justice to--like entering a cave of flavor: it's dark, and there's plenty of in there; you just don't exactly know what. I'd say it's mostly clove with sweet overripe purple skinned fruit that mulls into a pleasant molasses-based bread.

M&D--Much more sparkling and smooth than you would expect from the color and near syrupy viscosity. This could be like sludgy motor oil that zaps you of all energy, but turns out to be well-rounded with a sneaky warming alcohol creep. Can't help but be reminded of and summon up images of dank stone cave-like structures, as this would be a perfect fit for that environment.

Serving type: bottle

09-29-2008 22:44:00 | More by TheycallmeTim

UncleBuccs

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-19-2013 03:28:59 | More by UncleBuccs

sudsy2drunk

Indiana

5/5  rDev +21.1%

06-18-2013 18:54:46 | More by sudsy2drunk

TheDoctor

Quebec (Canada)

4.31/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A:
Pours a rich reddish amber with a fat beige head that pours big and settles to a nice, creamy half-inch. Great retention and great lacing.

S:
Big malt smell but otherwise nothing to write home about. Some dark fruit and bisuity notes. Pretty unobtrusive.

T:
Malty but there is a constant hop presence backing it up. Rich and full of malt, minerals, earth, grass, brown sugar.

M:
Nice, borders on thin but isn't bad. Okay carbonation, creamy (but could be more). Smooth finish with some lingering carbonation-feel and cherries.

O:
Solid beer. Good in all the right ways. The taste is nice and complex but I feel the the hoppy yeasty funk it has is a little too much (it is fucking delicious, but it fights with the overall malty character and prevents me from saying it is well-balanced). Either way, great! Good enough that I have to nitpick it : )
Would certainly have again in a heartbeat!

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 00:24:20 | More by TheDoctor

jngrizzaffi

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-16-2013 20:27:52 | More by jngrizzaffi

adityashekhar

India

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-16-2013 10:27:02 | More by adityashekhar

Troville1990

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-16-2013 07:17:26 | More by Troville1990

KeyWestGator

Florida

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-16-2013 03:24:03 | More by KeyWestGator

TKEbeerman

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-15-2013 22:36:58 | More by TKEbeerman

TheBeeraholic

Ontario (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-15-2013 18:55:19 | More by TheBeeraholic

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Cloudy copper with big head

Aroma: spicy hops; malty; dried fruits (raisins?)

Taste: Peppery hops; malty, smooth, well balanced

Remarks: Had it as part of the 4 beer sampler at the Inn at Chimay.

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

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 12:10:29 | More by IchLiebeBier

KStark

British Columbia (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-14-2013 14:46:12 | More by KStark

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.44/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a hazy dark brown with a generous head. Head retention is nice - still remaining well after pour. Some spotted lacing sporadically on the glass.

S: Malty and sweetness.

T: Super quality malts - nice and smooth yet multiple layers. Middle to end is a nice candi sugar flavor with a pop of hops somewhere in between.

M: Fun drinking beer - really nice body - not too heavy and not too light.

O: Great brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2013 23:36:28 | More by Oakenator

ackeeper

Illinois

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-12-2013 18:59:48 | More by ackeeper

superfriend

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-11-2013 15:40:33 | More by superfriend

utopiajane

New York

3.7/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Pours a caramel brown with a quickly disappearing head to a nice cap. Little yeast floating on top. Light fruit and spice on the nose with a lot of bready malt up front. Good lacing, medium carbonation. The body of the beer is a little heavy. The toffee malt and fruit esters combine for a pronounced sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2013 12:02:02 | More by utopiajane

JoeLacy

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-11-2013 05:09:30 | More by JoeLacy

JohnW58

New York

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-11-2013 02:28:32 | More by JohnW58

Veebz

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-10-2013 13:10:00 | More by Veebz

backphish

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-10-2013 02:08:09 | More by backphish

dmcjr23505

Virginia

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-09-2013 21:38:20 | More by dmcjr23505

naturallight1

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +9%

06-09-2013 20:32:24 | More by naturallight1

Aliano

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-09-2013 19:29:14 | More by Aliano

WiscoBrewsco

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-08-2013 23:52:31 | More by WiscoBrewsco

cgentzkow

California

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-08-2013 03:26:18 | More by cgentzkow