Chimay Blue
by Stacey Langille
(Nova Scotia)
Chimay Blue: Nasty, says Stacey Langille
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Chimay Blue (9% ABV)
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This may be the worst beer I have ever had the chance to drink.
Since 1862 the Cistercian Trappist monks of Chimay have been developing the production of Trappist beers. You would think by now they would have a product that had a pleasant taste. Based on me forcing down a glass of Chimay Blue, I would say they have a way to go yet.
I love beer and consider any chance to try a new one an exciting experience. My tastes vary and I encourage my friends to try new beer, especially dark as most traditional beer drinkers tend to shy away.
It is very rare that I will find a beer I am not happy with and in this case repulsed by, but there is a first time for everything.
One of my friends received a bottle of Chimay Blue for a birthday present and wanted to share in his bounty. Previously I had shared several different dark style beers with success and so far he was really warming to expanding his taste. He was told it was an expensive treat and would really enjoy its unique characteristics.
Unique was the right word as we sat down to try this "present". The smell was the first thing I noticed, with a fragrance like the green bin a week after Valentine’s Day. Rotten flowers were never one of my favourite dishes.
Upon tasting this brew the "rosy" touch was accentuated and wanted to come back the other way. The only saving grace was that we decided to share this treat so the glass did not take long to down.
The bottle is cool to look at and the cork is a fancy addition, but the horrible taste just would not go away. The experience left us glad it was over. I am not sure what those monks are doing to this particular brew but whatever it is I would say stay away or risk being turned off dark beer for life.
The following is my editing of a Chimay promo for this beer: "I say take a bottle of Chimay, uncork it, smell it, and pour it down the drain to save someone else a bad drinking experience. Then allow this incomparable liquid to pour slowly into its sewer home. Then just close your eyes and savour that it is gone and won't be back.
You are not wasting an ordinary beer, this is a Trappist beer, a beer of tradition that you are wasting!"
Cheers!
