This beer looks and smells great. The aroma is something I can't describe, but it smells very sweet, and almost a slight hint of bourbon or whiskey. It keeps its carbonation very well and pours with a nice foamy head. The taste just fills your mouth with flavors, it's quite extraordinary. It is really a beer that warms you up unlike most beers. I like it. Its interesting to read about this beer from the Chimay website http://www.chimay.com/en/chimay_blue_220.php where they say that this beer gets better as you let it sit over the years. I think I'm going to have to go buy another and hide it away in a dark place for a few years and write an addition to this blog at my wedding or something.
For some reason, I always thought that this was an American craft beer, but it is actually from Belgium. Brewed at Scourmont Abbey, this beer is labeled as something I've never heard of before, as they call it a "Trappist" beer, being that it is a beer brewed by Trappist monks, and the Chimay brewery is one of only 7 in the world that can cary the Trappist label. The following comes from the wikipedia page, and it is quite interesting if you've never heard of Trappist beer before:
The Trappist order originated in the Cistercian monastery of La Trappe, France. Various Cistercian congregations existed for many years, and by 1664 the Abbot of La Trappe felt that the Cistercians were becoming too liberal. He introduced strict new rules in the abbey and the Strict Observance was born. Since this time, many of the rules have been relaxed. However, a fundamental tenet, that monasteries should be self-supporting, is still maintained by these groups.
Monastery brewhouses, from different religious orders, existed all over Europe, since the Middle Ages. From the very beginning, beer was brewed in French cistercian monasteries following the Strict Observance. For example, the monastery of La Trappe in Soligny, already had its own brewery in 1685. Breweries were only later introduced in monasteries of other countries, following the extension of the trappist order from France to the rest of Europe. The Trappists, like many other religious people, originally brewed beer as to feed the community, in a perspective of self-sufficiency. Nowadays, trappist breweries also brew beer to fund their works, and for good causes. Many of the trappist monasteries and breweries were destroyed during the French Revolution and the World Wars. Among the monastic breweries, the Trappists were certainly the most active brewers: in the last 300 years, there were at least nine Trappist breweries in France, six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands, one in Germany, one in Austria, one in Bosnia and possibly other countries.
Today, seven trappist breweries remain active, in Belgium and the Netherlands.
In the twentieth century, the growing popularity of Trappist beers led some brewers with no connection to the order to label their beers "Trappist". After unsuccessful trials, monks finally sued one such brewer in 1962 in Ghent, Belgium.
Chimay only brews 4 types of beer compared to the numerous varieties you can buy from most other breweries. Note to self: visit monasteries and abby's where they brew beer. Would be fun to drink with some monks! As for that, I'd say go get yourself a bottle and hide it away for a special year far in the future. Just make sure it hasn't been refrigerated first! Don't ever re-refrigerate beer that has warmed to room temperature already! Really though, buy two bottles because you should try a before and after for sure. An extremely pleasant beer, and I'm giving it a 10/10. The vintage is listed on the cork, so maybe if you do a bit of digging, you can find a bottle that has already been well aged. My bottle was 8 months old. Try to serve it in a chalice, I have yet to buy one, but it will be my birthday investment.
