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

jtw5877

Ohio

4.47/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep reddish brown with a white head. What a smooth beer. I've never tried this beer before, and the bottle I am drinking has been cellared for 6 months. I love it. Not as intense wild yeast flavors that I associate with Belgian's. A very complex beer with nice maltiness and a sweet spicy finish. A very enjoyable & drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2002 18:47:07 | More by jtw5877

the42ndtourist

Ontario (Canada)

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

Huge billowy head over a dark brown body, some red tinges at the edges. Friuty nose and taste. Yeasty. You all know the specifics from everybody else's reviews. I wasn't all that impressed, maybe it isn't my thing.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2002 19:07:55 | More by the42ndtourist

CharlesRiver

Connecticut

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

Light murky brown in color with a beautiful fluffy white head. The taste is creamy and smooth. Hints of spices come through and is a bit peppery. Very effervesant in the mouth. The aftertaste is very warming and smooth. I have been waiting to try the Chimay line for along time and they did not disappoint. Can't wait to sample the white and blue.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2002 15:01:43 | More by CharlesRiver

Ardon

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a nice fluffy head and rich brown/cherry colour. Smell is intensely fruity with cherry, plum, and mild banana. Taste is strong malt, cherries and plum again but without the banana. A touch of caramel as well. Mouthfeel fizzy and sharp. Not as smooth as the rest of the Chimay family. An excellent brew and strong thirst quencher but definantly the worst of the three. Almost like a toned down weizenbock.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2002 03:09:17 | More by Ardon

frank4sail

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Amber color with lots of bubbles. Thick white fluffy head, slightly sweet nose with a smack of spice (black pepper). Very smooth mouth with a lively (sparkle) finish. Very rounded malt taste with hop bitterness and spice to the finish (dry pepper). Tart plum notes also balence the malt sweetness. A great looking brew. Not as complex as I remembered but very well rounded.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2002 08:36:04 | More by frank4sail

bmills1608

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured cloudy, had a reddish brown color to it. Massive fluffy white soft head that took several minutes to lower itself, and that was only by half. Nose was really nice. Cloves and other (unsure exactly which) spices and quite medicinal. Very good nose.

Taste begins medicinal and hard candy, with banana, berries, malt and yeast. Nicely rich, soft, with a light tingling carbonation and mouthfeel. Finish was very complex, again with the medicinal spice, maybe cinnamon and vanilla. This beer has a lot going on. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2002 05:30:35 | More by bmills1608

Gusler

Arizona

4.33/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A deep translucent garnet to brown color on the pour, the head preposterous in size, creamy in texture, light tan in color, with oodles of lace to cling lovingly to the Chimay Chalice. The nose is dominated by the malt, but also a hint of yeast and hops, sweet, and quite sniffable. Start is malt sweet, the top middling in mouth feel, the finish is potently acidic, mercifully hopped, droughty malt aftertaste. My second most favorite Chimay, and as I have stated, if you haven’t tried a “Chimay”, you’ve not lived “Baby”.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2002 14:00:16 | More by Gusler

hyuga

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An amber red-colored brew fills the glass and a very large off-white head forms on top. Stays very well with the help of the Chimay chalice's etched bottom, which creates bubbles that rise to the top, keeping the head perfect. Leaves a few dots of lace as it levels out. Beautiful spicy aroma. Dried plum and raisin dominate, along with a little yeast in the background. Maybe a bit of banana as well. Definitely a "dubbel aroma". There's a characteristic in there that I can't quite pinpoint, it's almost like a soft aged cheese aroma. Maybe a little bready. A slight Belgian pepper tingle greets the tongue with the first taste. Clove and a bit of banana follow. Rich yet delicate malt sweetness supports the fruity and spicy products of the yeast. As the liquid travels around your palate, it feels almost thick, like whipped cream. So smooth and creamy! This is just about the smoothest, creamiest beer I've ever tasted... or felt, if you will. A medium to light body, but the complexities and malt make this a pleasure to savor in the way that a more full-bodied beer would be. I can definitely see this one holding the monks over during a fasting. A delight to the senses. Another must-try from Chimay!

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2002 05:05:36 | More by hyuga

ipogios

Cyprus

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Dark Brown color, which is actually very attractive if you pay attention to it. Topped with a creamy thick white head. It has a light smell of apricot. Yet another TOP Beer by Belgium (Dubbel Style)

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2002 04:55:18 | More by ipogios

Morris729

Texas

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

Pours a nice deep reddish copper color with a thick and creamy white head. Aroma is slightly sweet and fruity with hints of apricot and figs. I also read another reviewer describe this aroma as “bread pudding” like, which I have to say is right on. This is a medium-bodied brew with a somewhat complex taste that is a bit fruity and malty with a dash of pepper. The fine carbonation creates a very nice mouth feel that goes down extremely smoothly. I could drink several of these. A very fine beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2002 21:49:23 | More by Morris729

TheLongBeachBum

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cork Date = 05/02.
In its “grown up” bottle, Chimay Rouge (Red) is called Grande Première. Of all the 3 Chimay beers, this one probably needs the least cellaring. For the character of this beer rarely develops to any great extent in my opinion, and examples I have tasted after 2 years do not differ that much from those of 3 months in my experience, if anything I prefer the latter.
It pours a very clear, but transparently light brown color with some dark orange twinkles when held to the light. It always looks watered down to me. The head settles to a thin smattering of large bubbles that form a broken soapy surface that nevertheless clings all the way down and leaves some lace spattering.
The nose is malty; with some sweet fruitiness as well as ethanolic aromas give a vague hint at the alcohol content. This however never comes through in the taste though. You would never know that you are drinking a 7% beer, I still find it amazing after all these years. The sweet, lightly roasted, malty entrance leads to a rather yeasty middle that eventually leads to a rather short finish that has some woodiness, and a slightly cloying sweetness. Given that it is 7% ABV I find this a little thin at times to be honest, but perhaps this gives it the quaffable qualities that endear this beer to me. A beer that is much more than the sum of its components. Not complex, but a truly Synergistic Belgium Beer with Dark Dubbel undertones.
The least favorite of the 3 Chimays for me, but that said, it is still a highly credible Classic beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2002 23:08:56 | More by TheLongBeachBum

doerickson

Virginia

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Honey-colored with a frothy, rocky cream-colored head--large bubbles. It's unfiltered, and there is some visible particulate matter suspended in the beer, but not so much as to be bothersome. Very natural-looking. Aroma is of dark fruity maltiness (very ripe apples or apricots?)--smells very sweet. Vigorous carbonation lends a very crisp bite at first. Notes of clove on the tongue. The taste is somewhat less complex than the smell, and it's definitely not as sweet as the aroma leads one to expect--the balance is striking, and it benefits from not being real sweet and syrupy. Certainly a world-class Belgian.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2002 20:00:46 | More by doerickson

Lupe

New York

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy, deep amber color with a generous head and tons of lace. Malt and fruit in the nose along with a spicy, rose-like aroma. Medium body with a creamy and smooth mouthfeel. Flavor is rich in malt and fruity, some yeastiness, and bread-like taste. Finishes with light hops that balance it out. Slightly dry with a light spiciness. Easy to drink, but slowly enjoy this one. A wonderful Belgian ale

Serving type: bottle

10-20-2002 15:47:16 | More by Lupe

tigerpaws

South Carolina

4.47/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is a great beer! It pours with a small but creamy tan head and is a nice dark reddish/brown. The aroma is very appealing like calling you to TASTE ME. And the taste is so smooth, not very hoppy but more on the malty side IMO. Great tingly moutfeel that stays with you. And contrary to somethings I read as to drink it alone, I had it with a fettucine alfredo and it went great with it. MY WIFE EVEN LIKED IT, and she is a liquor type gal. Try this beer...........CHEERS

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2002 14:46:47 | More by tigerpaws

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

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

Small bottle. Age unknown, but prior to the fairly recent packaging change-over; and aging is not really needed with this beer. Cloudy reddish-brown with an orange cast. The light tan head wants to rise out of the glass at first, but eventually subsides to a very creamy 1/8" head that holds throughout the serving and leaves some nice lace. The aroma is lightly fruity (dark fruits - raisin, plum, fig... and maybe some lighter fruits as well), lightly phenolic (even some minor bubblegum), gently citrusy, somewhat woody, somewhat sweet, softly spicy (clove) and subtly leathery. The body is light/medium but with a very soft, smooth, and creamy palate from a very fine, natural carbonation. The flavor is somewhat rich with a fruity, bready malt flavor, some yeastiness, and some light grassy hops that round and balance. It finishes semi-dry with a light spiciness that lingers. Although it may appear one-sided at first, a closer examination will reveal that there's much more going on. That's what makes this beer work so well - its great balance and finesse. The flavors and aromas don't reach out and grab you individually, but rather act as a whole, which gives it complexity as the varied characteristics are slowly revealed at different times throughout the serving. Highly drinkable, and quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2002 17:12:38 | More by NeroFiddled

MAB

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An all around outstanding beer- the Belgian monks sure know what they're doing.
It is a beautiful red/ brown color and is typical of Belgian brews with its yeasty smell and taste. I find it has more intense flavors than the "Blue cap", which is more rounded and balanced.
Slightly bitter, definitely "fruity" tones. A class effort.

Serving type: bottle

10-02-2002 11:47:16 | More by MAB

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pour this one slow, there is serious carbonation in the bottle, some yeast stays in the bottle. Smooth creamy head, deep coppery color, fruity apricot aroma, very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2002 16:05:36 | More by jdhilt

ThreePistols

Florida

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

750 ml bottle, date on cork 01/02.

Hazy brown with a reddish hue. Thick creamy fluffy white head. Sweet and spicy aroma. Spicy and sweet flavor of clove, dark ripe fruits such as raisins and figs. Sweet and fruity with lots of yeast, but lacking in the malt department. Smooth, light to medium body with plenty of carbonation.

Very enjoyable and satisfying to the last drop.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2002 20:56:28 | More by ThreePistols

Dogbrick

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -15.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

My first corked beer (I know, I know) and my second Belgian Ale. This blew the Witkap Pater out of the water (does that rhyme?) but I still feel it was lacking in some areas. Copper colored with an insanely thick head. Mellow fruit undertones are about all that stood out to me. I am looking forward to trying the Bleu.

Serving type: bottle

09-11-2002 09:37:37 | More by Dogbrick

ADR

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Semi-opaque deep ginger brown, nice bottle-conditioned head that races to 3/4 of an inch in the tulip glass. Bright aroma, a little citrus and cantelope. Mouthfeel is light and at the same time a woodsy, leafy, cane sugar malty flavor is pretty evident. There's a lot of yeastiness going on here. Good hop bittering, but at the same time, I was looking for a little more complexity and a little more fruit to the overall impression. Still, obviously a respectable brew. The Grande Reserve appeals to me more -- its got added depth of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2002 08:07:12 | More by ADR

cokes

Wisconsin

3.15/5  rDev -23.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A little disappointed here.
Pours a glass of murky brown-amber. Nice foamy pale-beige head lasts awhile and leaves lovely lacing.
Aroma is muted. Honestly not much there. Some clove is noted, as well as an occasional solvent-like alcohol. Dark fruits seem like they are there...but I am not so sure.
Taste...in a word, "yeasty"(must be the theme for the night). In fact, the yeast seems to dominate the entire palate. It bashes the other flavors into submission. There are some pronounced doughy (yeast) flavors. It is like a decent dubbel filtered through bread. Musty too, but not in itself negative. Plums are in the distance. Peppery at time and always quite woody. Hops are more grassy and grainy than anything. Yeasty sour finish with some herbal sweetness
All in all, however, not very complex.
Light-med bodied, perhaps too thin. Not bad at first, but turns sort of mushy and..guess what..yeasty.
This is decent at best...leaves alot to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2002 22:08:50 | More by cokes

BitteBier

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours with an impressive, even head that persists longer than expected. Effervescence remains in the dark brownish brew, which intrigues with light swirls of foam below the head. Aromas are smooth, though rather muted until the beer warms a bit. Taste is exceptionally smooth and well-balanced, neither overwhelmingly sweet nor overwhelmingly bitter. Deliciously drinkable...a really wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2002 16:28:31 | More by BitteBier

IrishRedRock

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev -14%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Big frothy head which quickly died out so much that the beer looked flat. Smells like a Belgian should, which isnt all that pleasant, but it tastes very good. My personal favorite of the Chimays.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2002 14:25:56 | More by IrishRedRock

aracauna

Georgia

3.8/5  rDev -8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a bit browner than ruby. Nice typical belgian head. Nose has that smell that's the same in the La Trappe beers; it's like the taste of suger in the raw if you took away the sweetness. Maybe it's from the sugar they use to start fermentation. Some very faint citric qualities to the smell with some other vague fruitiness. I'm not sure how many people here have done this or have this weed, but chew on the bottom end of a stalk of Y grass (peel away the secondary leaves and chew on the white bottom). It's a flavor that very similar to one of those in this beer. Flavor it with a little bit of red grapes, minus the sweetness, with the faintest hint of alcohol and you've got the flavor nailed. The mouthfeel is actually fuzzy because of the way the carbonation is.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2002 17:36:30 | More by aracauna

Wildman

Ohio

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Okay, opening this was akin to open a champagne bottle. Lovely amber color with nice white/light tan head. Nice taste to it and a mouthfeel that most macrobrews brag about and don't even come close or actually denegrate. I love it, but I wish it wasn't so expensive.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2002 18:46:52 | More by Wildman