Chimay Grande Reserve

Chimay Blue or Grande Reserve as it is known when bottled in a 750ml bottle is the jewel in the Chimay crown. It is a top fermented beer that is re fermented once in the bottle. The beer is not pasturised and is characterised by its ability to develop in the bottle over a number of years.

Origin: Scourmont Abbey, Belgium

Alcohol/vol: 9.0%

Style: Strong Dark Ale

Average Rating: 8.75

Nectar of the gods.

Danny’s tasting

Chimay Grande Reserve or Chimay Blue is the Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade of the Chimay trilogy meaning it’s better than the sequel (White) and is equal to the original (Red) though for different reasons. (god I hope there isn’t a fourth Chimay as I’m getting sick of making the movie sequel analogies)

The beer is laid down for some 5 yrs or more (like Grange Hermitage in that respect) and develops a port like flavour and is noticeable darker than the Red and White. It is the highest alcohol content of all three and is priced at approx $8.99 per 330ml stubbie. I think every true beer aficionado needs to delve into the family food money at least once in their lifetime to sample it. It’s one of those things.  Just do it justice and try it on a special occasion and for gods sake have a clear palate when you do otherwise you might as well have a Becks.

Chimay is beer made by monks for monks (or anyone with $8.99). Its taste is Big, it’s bold, it’s Biblical. The true path to heaven runs through Chimay people so you know what you have to do. Rated at 8.5 or be damned.

8.5

9.0

Craig’s tasting

I have waited to conduct this review. Surprisingly enough I haven’t been waiting for inspiration or the right words. I was waiting to conduct what I believe might be the worlds highest altitude review of a Belgian beer. You heard me correct. I am taking the terms cool and groundbreaking to a whole new level.

With my current cruising altitude being exactly 10,699 metres or around 35,095 feet in the old scale. What better way to conduct a review and show my respect to God than by getting as close to his house as possible. His house being a cloud of no fixed address of course. After all, he is the ultimate creator of all things good and bad.

For me this beer has a dry fruitiness made manly by a chest hair creating alcohol content of 9%. The combination of which creates a smoothness that can not be matched. Well perhaps if you were to drink a litre of Castrol engine oil you may experience it but I am almost certain that the Chimay would win hands down on taste.

And as I wind up my first review at altitude I want to remind everyone of two things. Firstly if you would like to drink an outstanding beer. Then purchase Chimay Grande Reserve. Secondly if you want to have 27 beers on a flight between Sydney and Los Angeles make sure you get an isle seat because pissing your pants is not cool even if it is at altitude.

CRAIG

DANNY