As a beer enthusiast, quite a bit of the beers I drink are things I haven't had before.
And if besides beer, you like wine, and whisky, and whatnot, well, there's only so much alcohol I wish to consume, for health reasons.
And therefore, it happens that I have a long list of favourite beers, but I very often realise that I haven't drank them in a long which, since there's always something new still waiting in the fridge, or on the menu of the local bar.
So for once, I decided that all of the new stuff can wait, and I had myself a good old blue chimay.
It is a gorgeous beer, which starts to come into it's own now that the temperature is starting to drop.
The aroma begins with fruits and chocolate. The taste sweet, delevoping through caramel into spicy coffee tones, before returning to the sweetish fruitishness.
The alcohol is present at 9%, giving it a long and warm finish, though it is never harsh.
But what stands out to me for this beer, even more than the flavour, is the mouthfeel. This beer has a luxurious thick feel, coating your mouth in a flavourful balm.
It is a beer which pairs well with sweet desserts, strong cheeses, or meats with strong sauces. But my preference is to have one by itself, in the evening, whilst taking the time to savour it.
This is a beer which benefits from some temperature. Do not drink it icecold froma fridge, but keep it in your cellar, or garage (if it is meant for semi direct consumption. Keeping it for years in a garage will not be a good idea), or if you only have a fridge in an appartment: take it out some time in advance. A coupld of degrees more will open this beer up like a flower.
CHimay is a Trappist brewery, and besides the Chimay beers, they also product the beer Mont des Cats. In fact, Mont des Cats is a trappist abbey just across the border from Belgium in France. By being a trappist abbey, and having the beer brewed in another trappist abbey, it was hoped that they could benefit from the trappist label, but so far that has not happened. So untill the day that Mont des Cats will be brewed in their own brewery, it will not be a trappist. (though that does not mean it can't be good beer).
Cheers