Chimay Bleue (Blue)

Brewed by Chimay
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baileux, Belgium

33cl bottle. Dark brown body with tan head. Flavour is malt, caramel, sugar and berries.

Bottle 񢉙). Aroma of figs, grapes, a slight strawberry acidity. Taste is a bit of dessert spice (cinnamon, nutmeg) cherries, strong malts (a bit roasted) good sugar presence. Solid mouthfeel long, slightly creamy, good carbonation lots of caracter. We’ve got some of these aging, more vintange ratings to come.

Appearance: Pours a dark hazelnut brown with a dense foamy light tan head. Throughout the session, the dense head never goes away. Aroma: Light amount of sour funk and dry malts, bread crust and fruit cake. Taste: Raisin, prune, rustic crusty bread, cocoa powder, finishing with Belgian yeast and spicy, earthy hops. Mouthfeel: The dense head makes for a slightly creamy, moderately fizzy, medium bodied feel. Overall: Bold and balanced.

Nice dark color and there is no translucence. Great smell with a nose of raisen. Nice smooth finish. One of my favorite Belgium beers!

鶊ml bottle). Watery brown color. Medium tan head which is mostly diminishing. Light sour aroma. Light sweet cherry flavor, with light alcohol. Short duration. Smooth finish. Slick texture. Soft carbonation. Spare lacing.

750 ml bottle. Strawberries, caramel, hints of chocolate, brown sugar, figs, and dates on the nose. Pours a dark amber with a thick off white head. Rich malts, caramel, molasses, dates, dark berries, spicy yeast notes, rich bread flavors. Very nice!

Shared a 75 cl bottle with a good friend at Zomerlust. Cellar-cold, it had timid head. Perhaps it had done some time in a cellar. It was neither outspoken fruity nor bitter, not sweet and sour neither. Some graininess in its mouth feel (dust). Modestly lasting after-taste. It is balanced and that goes hand in hand with less clear palate. Too high priced compared to the 33 cl version which seemed more tasty to me. Therefore, on memory, I give palate more than this bottle deserves, same with overall imp. Appearance can sure do better next bottle.

Poured from a bottle at The Abbey Brewing Co. (Miami Beach, FL): Well balanced flavors- raisins for sure, Belgium malts, hazelnut and a distinct tartiness of fruits. Drinkability: A good sipping beer. Rebuy: Right away. #099 on 22082009, DG.