Beer – #130 – Chimay Rouge (Red) / Première
After a day of watching cricket (NZ v England at Eden Park) I decided that my mood might be best served by a retreat to a Belgium beer – a Chimay Rouge (Red) / Première. Brewed by Chimay
Style: Abbey Dubbel and that all happens in Baileux, Belgium
Chimay Red is noted for its coppery colour which makes it particularly attractive. Topped with a creamy head, it gives off a light, fruity apricot aroma produced by the fermentation. The taste perceived in the mouth is a balance confirming the fruity nuances noticed in the fragrance. Its taste, which imparts a silky sensation to the tongue, is made refreshing by a light touch of bitterness. To the palate, the taster perceives a pleasant astringency which complements the flavour qualities of this beer very harmoniously. This top fermented Trappist beer, refermented in the bottle, is not pasteurised.
This then the 750ml bottle of 7% ABV and that’s about 4.1 Standard drink units.
I’ve noticed that sitting in the sun watching cricket turns me as red as the label on the beer. However I digress…..
The bottle is delivered with cork and cage, which adds to the excitement of this. It’s fizzy of course, and there is an aroma of yeast, which fades. There isn’t a nosefull of malts that follows though. The taste is hidden by the fizzy tongue feel but you do get the malty taste you’re looking for in a Belgium beer of this type. It is a dark dark amber colour which promises a lot.
But reality is that this isn’t all that and a bag of chips, it’s less sweet on the tongue and somewhat underdone on the nose. Which disappoints. Unless I’ve set the bar too high. It’s not really all that bad, and sitting back and thinking about it I’m actually enjoying it, despite it’s short comings and the slightly alcohol after burn that it delivers.
For some though this might be slightly sour as a beer, and there isn’t enough warmth from the malts to off-set that, and you could come away thinking that this is ‘thin’ on taste and body. I have no idea if this would improve with age, bit late now I’ve opened it, and I can’t image a beer cellar set up, can you imagine the temptation.
The pdubyah-o-meter would love this 8 from 10 despite all that. There are better Abby ales than this that are readily available, but if this was it you’d still be in for a good time.
Related articles
- Beer – #124 – Mc Chouffe (pdubyah.com)
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- Binche, Belgium: a pilgrimage to beer heaven (telegraph.co.uk)
- A Beginner’s Guide to…Chimay (morebeerforme.wordpress.com)
A life just as ordinary 