[euge]

I splurge on a a bottle of Chimay fairly frequently. I like the Red though they're all interesting and good or great usually. The last bottle of Red was freakin fan-tastic.

Nutty, a bit hoppy and malty. Clean tasting and in balance. It was like falling in love again.

Tonight the bottle's like a nasty ex-girlfriend. Metallic throughout. Sour. Astringent.

I remember when the Red was less than $6. Now it's $12. And it's never consistent. Maybe it's me but that's my experience.

[tschmidlin]

I've had similar experiences.  I won't buy it anymore unless it's on tap, and usually the places that have it on tap have morew interesting beers for me to drink anyway.   

When it's good though, it's really good. 

[punatic]

Chimay Cinq Cents!

[anthayes]

I've had similar experiences.  I won't buy it anymore unless it's on tap, and usually the places that have it on tap have morew interesting beers for me to drink anyway.   

You need to move to Europe. I have never had a bad Chimay and drink plenty of them.

Life without Chimay would be diminished.

Ant Hayes
Tonbridge, Kent

[MDixon]

What's funny is Chimay was the first beer which was distributed when we changed the laws in NC and upped the ABV percentage. Because it was first on the market it went in everywhere. I can get it at almost every grocery store. So one day I have to drive at least 3 hours to get it and the next it's 5 minutes away.

I've always found it to be pretty consistent, but I don't often reach out for a bottle...YMMV

[capozzoli]

gods beer.

 Sweet elixir of life.

I had one on tap last night for the first time, then the second, third (blur).....Im not sure how I got home and I cant find my truck.

[uthristy]

You need to move to Europe. I have never had a bad Chimay and drink plenty of them.
Ant Hayes
Tonbridge, Kent

Preach on brother, preach on

I'm  often asked `is the beer really better in Belgium, short reply is a solid YES! put a six pack in your car for a couple months, then compare to a fresh bottle and see for yourself.

[punatic]

I'm  often asked `is the beer really better in Belgium, short reply is a solid YES! put a six pack in your car for a couple months, then compare to a fresh bottle and see for yourself.

You've hit upon why I started brewing.  My parents lived in Bavaria for eight years during the '80s.  I would go to visit them and drink the local Bayerisch weissbier.  Awesome!  Everything I found in the States was old and nasty; a total waste of money. 

So I started brewing my own.  It took a while to get it right.  Those banana and bubblegum-like phenols were tough to emulate back then. But, even my first attempt at a weissbier was ten times better than the stale stuff I found on the shelf.  Weissbier is definetly one style of beer where the local brewey has the home field advantage.

[dannyjed]

I luv a good Chimay red every once in a while   I've never had a bad one, but i have another question.  Does Chimay still use their fermenting yeast for bottling?  I was thinking of making a starter from one.

[punatic]

Has anybody else noticed that they use Chimay bottles for whiskey bottles on the TV series Deadwood?

[denny]

Does Chimay still use their fermenting yeast for bottling?  I was thinking of making a starter from one.

AFAIK, yes.  As Stan pointed out in BLAM, with so much of the fermentation strain around, it doesn't make sense to use a different yeast.

[euge]

I'm beginning to think that it how the Chimay is handled. The last awesome one was out of the cooler at Central Market where there's a "beer expert" on hand. The one last night was a warm one from a dusty shelf above my head and god only knows (and the stocker) how long it's been there.

But... I've had good ones off that shelf before.

I'll still buy it (sigh) because when it's good it's something else altogether and inspirational. I'm gonna buy a couple of the small bottles today from the fancy beer store and see.

It's like a bad relationship. Just keep going back for more...

BTW, I think the brewery uses malt extract and hop extract?

[bluesman]

Really like their beers.  I like the red best.  Can't say I have ever had a bad beer from this brewery.
Authentic Trappist Products at their best IMO.

[narcout]

I luv a good Chimay red every once in a while   I've never had a bad one, but i have another question.  Does Chimay still use their fermenting yeast for bottling?  I was thinking of making a starter from one.

Isn't it Wyeast 1214?

[denny]

I luv a good Chimay red every once in a while   I've never had a bad one, but i have another question.  Does Chimay still use their fermenting yeast for bottling?  I was thinking of making a starter from one.

Isn't it Wyeast 1214?

Yep.