Chimay Triple / Blanche (White)

Brewed by Chimay
Style: Abbey Tripel
Baileux, Belgium

My favorite Chimay to date. Not sure why I haven’t rated this before, but here it goes. The aroma is full of nice complexities like honey, apples, yeast, sweet malt and graham crackers. Medium carbonation with a huge, frothy seafoamy white head with some nice Belgian lacing. Flavors are yeast, light fruits, marshmallows, caramel, and spices. Very nice beer and perhaps Chimay’s best.

Pours a thick and fluffy cloud like head. Body is darker, a brownish colour. Floral aroma accompanied by some hints of spice and fruit. Taste is herbal/spicy with some fruity hints. A strange tasting beer, but a strange delight.

Bottle 75 cl, Gold-blond colour, normal head. Lots of spices in the aroma, some citrus also. Astringent, spicy taste, Bitter finish.

(Bottle) Pours a bit hazy and light amber. Wheaty, sourish aroma with fruits, spices and some yeast. Tiny hints of floral tones. A bit fiery flavour with malt, wheat and lemon. Some spices and a light peppery tone. Sourish and citrusy bitter finish. Hints of candy sugar and caramel in both the aroma and flavour. Medium body

On tap at the Sharper Edge Bistro. Pours a light, cloudy gold with a frothy head that entices. The aroma is light citrus/fruit, spices and yeast. The taste is great: a spiced and fruit mix, a real presence of hops, a great bitter/sweet mix, and a strong dry finish. Really good. Easy to drink but also complex and well made.

on draught. Very cloudy orange, fine lasting head. There’s a very rich aroma of cloves, grains, sweet wine, and a boquet of fruit. This is ridiculously smooth with elegant sweet malts. Raisins and spice highlight the sweetness making a perfect balance. I would have to scrutinize this harshly to find something unappealing at all.
[Oct 3, 2007]
Had this on tap again. Pretty good stuff. It lacks a bit of the cohesiveness or depth of a few outstanding tripels, but this is a pleasing quaff any time.
-------&# 16, 2007]
Sampled in a blind tasting. This was the darkest of the four tripels, though crystalline, with a very tall white head. The nose on this was flat and muted by comparison. It was slightly metallic and acrid with less yeast character. The flavor redeems the beer with hints of sweet rolls, honey, and mild spices. The level of esteriness is fair. This is a good beer, but definitely was lacking next to the competition.

75cl bottle from Willow Bend Liquors (Tampa, FL). Pours a dark golden/orangish/honey color with a thick frothy white head that slowly settles to about one finger. Good head retention. Aroma is ripe fruit, apple, spice, yeast, bread and complex aged cheese. Flavor is yeasty and fruity with notes of bread, honey, and hops. Light to medium body with a slightly bitter finish.

Draft at Zeno’s. Very pleasnat aroma. Nice and crisp. Keeps a thin head. Very hoppy taste with a well balanced palate. Very good tripel. Cheers!