Chimay Premiere (Red)

Belgian beers are known for their bitter taste, frothy heads and high alcohol content. Primiere does not disappoint.

During my adventures throughout Europe last fall, I missed this, but I did drink the Chimay Reserve (Blue) and several other Trappist ales. Seven monasteries in Belgium and the Netherlands produce Trappist ales, which have become world-renowned brands such as Chimay, Rochefort and Westmalle.

Drinking:

I poured the Red into a free goblet I got with my Chimay (sweet deal) and it produced a reddish-amber liquid with a very frothy head that lasted for several minutes, due to the high carbonation. The smell was sweet with hints of various spices within it. This beer is far from the translucent American canned beer because of the yeast and sediments introduced during the beer’s top-down fermentation.

Taste:

The Chimay Red was surprisingly drinkable, unlike certain other like Rochefort Double which I had in a bottle in Brussels. The Red doesn’t taste that boozy, despite having 7% ABV, but it could still deter some less adventuresome beer drinkers. There is a bitter taste that mixes with the sweet aroma: a sign that the hops are doing their job. The spices add a nice flavor that almost warms you up as you drink it, even if the Red was in the fridge.

Impressions:

This beer really has class, but it is not something you would want to play beer pong, caps, or flip cup with. It is a beverage to be thoroughly enjoyed. As it comes in 750ml bottles, in addition to the 330 ml which I tried, it can serve as a one stop classy pregame. Come on, only a baller drinks out of a freakin’ goblet.

Party Value: 1/5

Taste Value: 4/5

Class Value: 5/5

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