Chimay Bleue (Blue)

Brewed by Chimay
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Baileux, Belgium

HEAL ICY BUM ! The beer is beautiful. It pours a dark brown that shimmers when held up to the light, with a yeasty froth of head. It smells mysterious. The drink is smoky, bordering on dry but with a distinctive flavour of malt. This bottle was in its second year and I loved every minute of it

This is an absolute pleasure of a beer. It looks beautiful, when the correct glass is used the head is lovely. It smells lovely, and drinks... well, I’ve almost not a bad wold to say about it. The only thing I can say wrong about it is the Chimay white is better, but I think that’s just down to my taste.

Bottled 2008: This pours a deep brown colour with a red hue, off-white fluffy head that lasts long. Milk chocolatey, yeast aromas with a tad of flowers and oranges. Malty sweetness in the flavour, complemented by raisins and chocolate. Can’t taste the roasted malt. A warming mouthfeel with a pleasant (not boozy) "burn", medium carbonation and restrained bitterness. Sounds crazy but for such a big beer it is almost thin (in the finish) and very drinkable. I need to try this beer cellared, by now I somehow don’t feel it...

It’s one of the best beers that I have ever tried. If you visit Belgium - try this beer!

Aroma of yeast. Flavors of yeast, spice, malt and some cherries. Very drinkable.

Mmmmm! I love this beer! If I had the money, i’d drink it every day! 750ml, ’08 bottle. Poured into Chimay goblets for the full experience. Beaut amber/ruby colour, with nice tan head. Nice complex flavours of yeast, alcohol, dried fruit (figs?), caramel... mmm.

Since I don’t like to use flowery terms in describing beer I’ll just say that after living in both the Netherlands and Belgium this is one of the best beers I’ve ever had. I’ve been drinking this for years and other than Rochefort 10, Westy 12 and the St Bernardus Apt 12 this is about as easy to drink and tasty beer you can find.

My first beer to rate. 750ml 2009 Grande Reserve blue label. Tan color long lasting head. Dark amber body with a pleasing light smell. Slight malty taste which I could enjoy anytime of the day. I think I’m going to enjoy tasting beers better than wines! Cheers!!