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

BryanRex

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a ruddy orange-brown with little lacing and retention. Aromas of malt and dark fruit prevail with a touch of apple and brown sugar on the nose. Fairly strong spice notes as well. The ale is spicy and bitter from start to finish which helps to mask the medicinal flavor. Phenols are readily apparent, and I lose the complex flavor amongst the fairly heavy spice and bitterness. The sweet aroma helps to balance the bitter after taste. The medium carbonation feels dry on the palate. The beer is good from start to finish, but for me it doesn’t live up to the hype. It’s slightly above average. For me the Chimay Grande Reserve is much smoother and more enjoyable.

Serving type: growler

01-11-2012 04:22:34 | More by BryanRex

dcook11

California

3.85/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A- Looks very much like an iced tea. Slightly murky brown with a two finger head that disapates fairly quickly. Medium amount of carbonation.

S- Initial lack of smell, but as the beer warms up subtle notes become apparent. Faint to modertae alcohol on the nose followed by a slight grape scent and malt sweetness. Not incredibly complex.

T- Initialy grapes with a slight hop bite and malt sweetness. Alcohol is slightl abrasive and not well hidden. The finish leaves the drinker with a lingering bitterness. As the beer warms, both alcohol and appearance become more noticable...not in a good way.

M- Chimay is medium bodied and relativly smooth with a slight bite from carbonation.

D- Moderate to high. Relative lack of complexity make it a no-brainer, but odd medicine after taste is off putting. Further, ABV is far too noticable for a seven percent dubbel. Bitterness also unpleasent at termination, not enough malt sweetness and masking of ABV to counter-act it.

Serving type: growler

10-30-2010 05:13:32 | More by dcook11

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

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

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

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

soju6

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Pours a hazy reddish brown color with a good head that fades to bits of lacing.

S: Aroma is quite complex with dark fruit, spices and a bit boozy.

T: Taste of dark fruit, spices, caramel and a subtle sweetness. Very mild bitterness and a clean finish with just a bit of lingering sweetness.

F: Medium body, smooth with a velvety texture. The character changes as it warms.

O: Great beer, complex with a lot going on from start to finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2013 00:12:44 | More by soju6

emd

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75

Presentation:
Simple yet elegant bottle with not particular art. Corked.

Pour & Appearance:
Tons of head that sticks around for a while and leaves lacing. Dark brown with a bit of golden to it.

Scent:
Very complex scent with notes of nuts, dark and rich spices and more things that I can't even pinpoint.

Feel:
Quick to foam, Chimay Red MUST be sipped or taken in small amounts. Extremely filling due to the carbonation level but incredibly rewarding at the same time. While I have downed an entire bottle of this way too quickly before, it is certainly a treat that should be savored or split with a friend.

Taste:
Chimay Red presents a complex and detailed taste that evolves from start to finish with each tasting. Hints of apricot, nuts, and spices come out at various points during the tasting. Brilliantly complex and never disappointing.

Conclusion:
When I'm in the mood for a complex beer, Chimay Red is one of my favorites. If you want something to pound down with some buddies, this isn't for you. If you want to relax with a friend or by yourself and pay attention to the subtleties and nuances of a beer, this is a must taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2013 23:34:42 | More by emd

Roguer

Connecticut

4.58/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

A - Huge, 3+ finger off-white (almost yellowish) head. When I popped the cork, it was accompanied by quite a sound. Head maintains quite well for a while, and leaves nice lines of lacing. The beer itself is a dark nut brown, with no trace of haziness or carbonation; that's how dark it is. A hint of coppery-yellow glow when held up to the light.

S - Instantly, a strong note of banana, wafting from the bottle itself. Closer inspection reveals nuts (walnut?), dark malt, still some banana, and maybe clove. One of the best initial smells I've ever had from a beer. Fades to an easy nuttiness as the beer warms.

T - Dark and nutty, with a smooth, rich sweetness following. A slight alcohol warmth in the third finishes it off. Not particularly spicy for a dubbel; very smooth. As it warms, the strong nuttiness fades a little, leaving an easy flavor (hard to define other than Belgian yeast, or "dubbel"-like), and allowing a bit of candi sugar/banana flavor to come through.

M - A little spicy and carbonated (expected after popping the top), not as smooth as I'd like, but since this is definitely a sipping (vice gulping) beer, it's not a problem. Slightly oily, allowing the flavors to wash over the tongue; the carbonation stimulates the taste buds just slightly, allowing each flavor to stand out in order. Mouthfeel improves as it warms, and coats the back of the throat wonderfully.

O - It's not too often that a beer is exactly what I expected, but this is exactly the case here. I can only compare it to the Westmalle dubbel, but there are differences enough that it is a separate beer, no doubt. I don't get those who call Chimay overrated; this is an excellent dubbel. Very drinkable, very tasty, and exactly what a traditional dubbel should taste like.

Bottled October 2011 (so just over 1.5 years), poured into a Duvel tulip.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2013 20:30:24 | More by Roguer

Blindpigbiz

California

3.93/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Style/abv: dubbel/7%

Smell: dark plums and tannins withe sweet vinegar subtleties

Taste: a dark fruit bouquet with semi-spiced peppers and red grapes with hints of bitter chocolate (maltiness)

Mouthfeel: slightly effervescent

This is an awesome beer to pair with filet crostini and caramelized onions as well as any cheese that has a sour taste, like a blue or a goat cheese

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:42:45 | More by Blindpigbiz

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a bottle into a chalice, the beer is a dark, hazed, almost opaque amber coloring with a frothy, light, yellowish head that settles in around a quarter of an inch. Steady flow of carbonation throughout. Aromas of bready backbone with a rich date and fig sweetness, tart apple highlights, and some spicy notes. Very balanced aromas. Flavors are smooth and roasty, with an apple and date sweet backbone, some cinnamon and all spice, and a slight warmth from the ABV. Extremely well balanced. The aftertaste has more of a fruit bread character to it, with sweetness and richness balanced together. Robust, full body kept light by the carbonation. Smooth, slightly warming finish that beckons you back again and again. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2013 01:12:26 | More by GarthDanielson

RaphaelSC

Brazil

4.01/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in my La Trappe goblet

A: Pours a Dark brown caramel body, with a thin head that dissipate almost instantly.

S: A softly dry fruit smell, finishes dry woody, some alcohol can be detected too.

T: Bitter hops with a dry woody taste, good carbonatation that give equilibrium to the bitterness, the alcohol despite its 7% its not present at all. When the beer warms a little a smooth fruit flavor begins to appear.

M:Bitter hops aftertaste, with softly fruit notes.

O: It is pretty bitter, but also refreshing, another great beer but not so complex as other trappists, anyway its worth the try!

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 02:40:27 | More by RaphaelSC

trxxpaxxs

New York

3.99/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep brown with dark oranges/golds around the edges of the beer. There is about one and a half fingers of light beige head that takes a while to settles. Good lacing on the glass as it drinks.

S: The nose is malt, spice, bread, and just a touch of yeast. It smells inviting and what I would expect for the style.

T: This beer starts off with a burst of malty sweetness, but the spices in the beer begin to take shape as it covers the palate. The finish is a mix of malt and spice with a touch of that bready yeast character.

M: Medium bodied beer. It's sweet to start but the carbonation makes is a bit prickly. Nothing lingers on the palate for an extended period of time.

O: This is a good beer, but it's not really my favorite style. I like it for what it is, but I don't see myself purchasing it on the regular.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 16:02:44 | More by trxxpaxxs

MichaelNickerson

Michigan

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance - strong chocolate brown with a light tan/brown head

Smell - sweet and sour. Very unique qualities that I haven't smelt before in a beer. Several different qualities in which I can't even begin to think what they are.

Taste - extremely smooth chocolate flavors, which then get overridden by some fruity notes, followed by spices - peppery

Mouthfeel - leaves the palate clean and would be classified as a very drinkable beer

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2013 15:35:24 | More by MichaelNickerson

JerzDevl2000

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Picked this up at Top Hops recently, having never had this before. I loved the Chimay Blue when I had it and hoped that this would just as complex and wonderful. As much as it pains me to say this, this was just a bit underwhelming and even though this was solid in its subtlety and craftiness, I expected this to be more bold and complex given the hue, alcoholic content, and reputation that I heard about this.

I loved the pour to this, as it had a solid plum hue, expansive head, as well as a few solid rings left on my pint glass after the beginning sips. Not as much of an aroma as I anticipated but there were hints of booze and plum to be felt. Once the sediment from the bottom of the 11.2 oz. bottle was poured out, I could smell some more dark fruits and crystalline sugar. That was reinforced by a pretty medicinal mouthfeel and just a hint of cinnamon and peppery spice. This certainly wasn't a Christmas Ale but it reminded me of the Corsendonk Christmas Ale because of the blood-orange consistency of it and the hints of allspice underneath everything.

While this wasn't as strong, I could feel the booze in it by the time I finished off the bottle. I can't imagine that anyone would be disappointed by this but at the same time, there's not a whole lot in here to love. this is a solid beer that's one of the best of its kind, given what we are able to access here in North America. This is possibly one of the most accessible beers of its category, given the mild carbonation, clean finish, and lack of sourness from start to finish, though the alcohol in here was the strongest aspect of this from start to finish.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 08:16:50 | More by JerzDevl2000

IdeaSpeeder

Ontario (Canada)

4.79/5  rDev +16%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Serving Type - 750ml bottle, poured into a snifter (due to lack of a chalice)

Appearance - Pours an amber color. Dark red-ish brown. A white head sticks around for a while but dissipates quicker than I'd like. Still quite the eye-candy while it lasts.

Smell - Overwhelming. So many things going on here. The most prominent is...'spice'? Pepper maybe. After that some fruit-like smells. It smells...sweet. Over my head I think.

Taste - Spice is coming through here as well. What exactly that spice is beats me. But it tastes damn good. Fruit flavours are coming through here as well. Some grape-esque flavours perhaps. Complement the spice flavour very nicely.

Mouthfeel - Medium carbonation, falls of the back of the tongue like rainbows. Dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 05:50:55 | More by IdeaSpeeder

TwelveOunces

Kentucky

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

11.2 Oz bottle poured into a Chimay Goblet

A- Pours a hazy copper color with a huge and long lasting off white head. A nice looking brew.

S- Big clove, banana, Pepper, Some dark fruit, A lot of wheat and lemongrass. A very nice smelling brew.

T- A light flavor at first. A bit of a caramel sweetness. A slight dark fruit in the beer. A bit nice breaddyness to this beer in terms of flavor and it really helps add a silky smooth feel. A slight clove and a cinnamon, peppery spiciness. A lightly flavored beer but very pleasant and very well rounded.

M- A smooth beer and velvety on the tongue. Very lively with high carbonation.

O- This is a very nice beer. Well done and very delicious. The flavors could be bolder but not bad for 7%abv.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 23:19:36 | More by TwelveOunces

Rope

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Appearance-
Nothing appealing about the brown murk color, but a good head.

Smell-
Citrus caramel, the caramel eats the total smell.

Taste-
Starts of with an orange juice flavor, ending with Belgian spice.

Mouthfeel-
Great carbonation to swipe away the rest of the drink.

Overall-
A classic, to judge others by.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 04:09:26 | More by Rope

apasternak

Ohio

5/5  rDev +21.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Brewed by Belgium monks, this is one of the finest beers in the world. Expensive but definitely worth it, this beer has an incredibly complex flavor. This beer, also known as the most expensive beer on the Bernie's passport ($10), is very fancy, very delicious and very out of my normal price range

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 17:34:38 | More by apasternak

Mavigo

Michigan

4.53/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

It's been a long day and I've anticipating this beer for quite some time. Poured into a tulip.

A: Pours a cloudy copper-amber color with a 3/4 inch beige head with a pink tinge to it, which dissipates in about a minute to a ring around the edges of the glass. Has particles floating about inside, remnants of ingredients, maybe yeast too though I poured carefully and did not invert the 750ml bottle further than being parallel to my arm.

S: Has the signature dubbel aroma to it, refreshing and enticing. Smells of yeast, wheat, sugars, fruits, particularly grapes, plums, spices.

T: Extremely delicious but at the same time very tame. Nothing is overbearing, flavors are well complimented and balanced, giving a neutral feel to beer. A great complexity of flavors here, wheat, plums, grapes, has a slight champagne feel to it, yeast is prominent, barley, wheat, spices, cinnamon,

M: Incredible balance of body and the richness and boldness of the flavors. Perfectly complimentary. Very easy to drink yet has much character to it, medium-full bodied with moderate but slightly lower levels of carbonation, but nicely balanced. Works well.

O: Overall, this is the highlight of my day. Of course I had high expectations and they were met. It's expensive but for a good reason, I was drinking this quicker than I do most beers, It's just so smooth and fulfilling, I couldn't help myself, finished the whole 750ml. Defiantly recommended to everyone.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 21:32:07 | More by Mavigo

57md

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours a reddish-copper with more than a finger of fluffy head that lingers for some time and leaves behind some nice lacing. The nose is reminiscent of a wheat field. The flavor profile is mild, but malty. The finish is a complex combination of fruity and dry flavors. Thsi si a very good beer and a great example of the dubbel style.

I rarely include the issue of price in my reviews, but I think that I must mention it here. While this offering is very good, it is definitely short of exceptional and unique. The price point, however, would indicate that it is the later. I am just not feeling the love for Chimay Red that much when there are many other exceptional beers that are significantly cheaper.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 22:39:39 | More by 57md

Roman5150

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Another great trappist brew... This is my first Chimay, I have a Grand Reserve cellaring (more like waiting for the right time to drink it actually) that i'm excited to try as welll.

Appearance: Very dark, one finger off white head with hardly much lacing.

Aroma: wow, dark fruits, raisins, plums, figs, everything tupical you would except from a trappist dubbel, but with subtle addition of citrus.

Taste: Had somewhat lower standards as I've heard from almost everybody that Blue (grand reserve) is better, and that Red was better in the 80's. Well, this is a damn tasty beer. Very sweet, which I guess Chimay is known for. Really taste nots of raisin and dark fruits, VERY Drinkable. Could be dangerous, as you don't taste hardly any alcohol (it's 7% abv). Like most trappist brews, I try to sip on them more than "gulp", but the sweetness in this is very refreshing and compared to a quadrupel, you could drink these very fast.

Mouthfeel: Slightly carbonated, not too tingly, goes down very well. The sweetness contributes to this.

Overall: My first Chimay, very drinkable and sweet. Will be buying more for sure. I like it a little more than the Westmalle and Trappiste dubbels, will def be buying again. Can't wait to try yellow and blue. If you're new to trappist beer, this would probably be the best starting point. Monks know how to brew great beer, and while I would still prefer a Rochefort 10, this is more sessionable and can easily hold it's own in the complexity and flavor department. Any avid beer drinker should give this a try.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 01:40:11 | More by Roman5150

SteveMi

North Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured gently from the bottle into a chalice.

A - Dark brown with reds that come through the light. It kept a one and a half finger off white fluffy head. Carbonation was consistant and refused to let the head fall too early. Beautiful!

S - Sweet caramel and spice. Hints of raisins with a slight bready addition.

T - Raisiny, sweet bread and spices. Not terribly complex but satisfying nonetheless.

M - Medium body. High carbonation but not enough to hamper enjoyment.

O - Quite a treat! I'm embarrassed I had not given this oen a chance earlier while scouting for belgian beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2013 02:32:40 | More by SteveMi

Greywulfken

New York

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A: in a chalice, hazy ruby brown with hints of orange - slim tan crown lasted all the way down

S: dark fruit and malt, some floral and sweet aromas

T: the dubbel always makes me think of winter holidays - this beer has the hints of holiday spice, like clove, nutmeg, and coriander; a malty musty dark fruit sweetness, and drying and brightening yeasts

M: soft, smooth, carbonated fuzziness, slightly coating

O: much better than I expected. A very refreshing and easy drinking dubbel.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 21:18:58 | More by Greywulfken

makerocketgo

Missouri

3.26/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

light and pleasant. not a lot of strong flavors but pleasant w subtlety. it's like a watered-down version of the tripel (that sounds more negative than it's meant). the bottle ref a lil bitterness, but i dont taste it. didnt think id enjoy it because the tripel is so hard to beat, but it was nice. i would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 22:40:32 | More by makerocketgo