Chimay

Red

ABV 7% • Vol 330 ml • bottle • Belgium • Expensive • Flavour 7.5 • Bottle Conditioned
Other beers from Chimay
Other beers from Belgium

This is a trappist beer brewed by Chimay, and was an experimental review in which we tried the beer with the abbey's house cheese (Chimay met bier). We found that the stickiness of the cheese on the palate helped the beer go down more easily. The beer has yeast and fruit (plums) in the nose, but a surprisingly dry flavour, with a more subdued fruit content (raisins?). There is a hint of citrusy bitterness in the attack, but this fades fairly quickly and the overriding quality is more spicy - cinnamon and five-spice - reminiscent of a bread pudding. Aftertaste is a little bit citrusy, slightly bitter, and fades and mellows fairly quickly. A very pleasant, easy-to-drink example of the genre, but maybe a little less complex than some of the stronger trappist beers.

OBBD reviewer: Sparks

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Review updated 02 December 1998

Comments

Chimay 'red cap' is full-bodied and slightly sweet with a hint of berries and also has one of the best aftertastes of any beer to be found!
David Levine

Chimay red is very drinkable and very easy to aquire the taste of. I do prefer the more complex blue Chimay myself (it really is a classic).
P J Pitt

Unlike other specialty Belgium bottled beers I've had Chimay is more mellow and not as fruity. In fact, the fruit flavor was a nice addition, but not overkill. It was quite hopsy and smooth. A pleasant surprise. You should try it out! [Score: 8]
Kris Embry

Though this is less complex (not to mention slightly less powerful) than the blue, I find Chimay Red deliciously drinkable, and definitely better for sharing with those who haven't yet been initiated into the world of Trappist brews!
Matt Azzara

More fruity than Blue,but still fantastic,It would be easy to live on these trappist beers.
Mr Folio

Soft as duck down and twice as tasty. The alcohol monster sneaks up on crepe soled shoes to slap you around the head after a while - but by then you don't really care. The clove has lulled and numbed and whispered and you have either succumbed or complained. A stange and interesting brew. Take off your armour and let it seduce with its perfume. A warm and attractive beer that suffers from expectation. It ain't the world's best, but it is damn good.
Silk Tork

This really is an easy to drink Trappist beer. At first I thought it was a bit thin in the middle until I realized that I had been lulled into not paying attention to the wonderful flavours by its unexpected smoothness. The fruit in the taste is subtle and understated. Very, very nice beer!
James Wood

Rather too understated, I'm afraid! This rather watery beer is a pale imitation of the fruity, full-bodied Chimay Red of old, and is now inferior to many Abbey ales, let alone the rest of the Trappists. Westvleteren 8, or even Westmalle Dubbel, are infinitely superior renditions of the same style. 5 out of 10.
Oliver

I keep a few of the larger sizes on hand for a special treat. The slightly fruity flavor, combined with the higher alcohol content, makes for a wonderful experience
Sam Guy

I've already written a comment.....but I just had to say... Silk Tork, what a review! Shit mate, pass me the dictionary. What a joy to read. And the scary thing is.....fairly well spot on too!-Cheers.
HopsHappy

Beautiful frothy head. Nice fruity feel, but not overpowering. A dry flavour, tremendous colour and tastes more mellow than the Blue. Slightly bitter but a great aftertaste. What an easy drinking, great allround beer
HopsHappy

Beautiful beer, one of the best I've ever tasted. Can't wait to try the blue.
Gomer

33cl bottle, at the White Horse at Parsons Green, London. Served in "appropriate" Chimay glass (whether those wide chalices really ARE the most appropriate for savouring complex beers, is a discussion of its own). Unfortunately served far too cold - you’d think White Horse waiters knew better. For good measure, the waiter poured the beer along the side of the glass, which prevented the beer from "opening up", the head disappeared quickly and the beer kept too much carbonation. The beer has a brown colour, aroma of leather, balsamico vinegar and barnyard. Flavour is quite dry, well hopped, elements of leather and tobacco. Hints of cardamom and ginger. Aroma and flavour improves somewhat as the beer slowly warms up, but altogether this remains my least favourite of the Chimays - give me a "Bleu", please! Still a decent beer, but with the Trappists I expect more. Will re-rate when I personally control the temperature and the pour. Unlike the Blue and White, the Red is unfortunately not available in Norway yet. 7.5/10.
Sigmund

The best beer I've ever had. But so expensive.
Tony George

Just polished off a 5yr old 750 ml bottle. I got tinges of bananas, cloves and cinnamon. Christ the alcohol is well hidden. Delicious. An easy 8.5.
HopsHappy

Brewed to perfection by those Trappist Monks!?! I tried it in Sausage, Nottingham. They've got a wide selection of beers from Belgium, Germany, Czech, France etc. You can check out their full range at www.sausagebar.com
Dave C

Another excellent beer from 'les Belges'!
Francis, Canada

December 2007 - currently available in Tesco's beer sale at a mere £1.32. My only previous experience of Trappist Ale was a near-perfect Rochefort 8, so this was going to be up against tough competition. However, it easily upheld the Trappist reputation. A powerful malty smell was equalled with strong malt on the tongue at first. A silky-smooth texture helped it go down frighteningly easily - you could knock back bottles of this with frightening rapidity, until you eventually fell asleep with a contented grin. The aftertaste is mellow fruits - maybe apricot and stewed plums? Went very well with a white chocolate and raspberry bread and butter pudding!
wheresthepath

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