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

bobhits

Kentucky

1.58/5  rDev -61.7%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Red

Pours a deep brownish red, lighter than the blue, but very similar. I clearly suck at decanting these small bottles as floaters are in here and I have at least 2 oz left in the bottle. Carbonation is almost gone before this has been typed. A bit bland, but dubbles aren’t really show cases I suppose.

I feel like this one is taking on hef like characteristics. A touch of bubble gum is coming through here. I think this is a touch cool so I’ll finish in a bit. Sweet fruity notes from hops, with some fruit malt esters. Wide mouth glasses just don’t do the job on the nose…but this is their glass!

I just don’t know what to say here. This isn’t a good dubble. The flavors aren’t intense, malt dominate, and the balance that is here isn’t done in an overly enjoyable way. The hops here aren’t great and the fruity flavors of the malt just aren’t working with the hops.

This beer might have been saved with a nice well carbonated and creamy body. The problem is this beer’s carbonation is awful. The big bubbles and over carbonation here are a huge problem here.

I have often found this style to be pretty darn good, but this one isn’t. It doesn’t taste bad…but what beer really does? This is however an awful example of beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2011 20:11:12 | More by bobhits

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