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Chimay Dorée
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Chimay Dorée
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Ah, Chimay Ales. For most of the time I have been a beer enthusiast, a maven
of malt, a guru of brew, there have been-Chimay Ales. From the start, there
were three: Chimay Red
Cap, Chimay Grande Reserve,
Chimay Cinq Cents (aka White). These three formed a veritable triumvirate of Trappist beers against which all others were judged-of course they did! They were the very first such beers of which I did partake.
Let me say it again: from the very start, there were three. Way back in the mid-eighties I used to frequent a liquor store called Mac’s Liquors in tiny West Warwick, Rhode Island. The owner was very wine savvy, but also carried as many good beers as he could find. I remember brews from Sierra Nevada, Anchor, Samuel Smith’s, Boulder, and Belhaven being staples. Some of the more intriguing brews, though, were those of Chimay. Now, good beer made in America may have been fairly novel around this time period, but it was old hat for the brewers at the Abbey de Scourmont in Belgium. Still, we didn’t see many crown-capped 750 ML bottles of beer in my neck of the woods, so when a crusty old employee at Mac’s suggested I try “Chimee” beer, I said what the heck. And I did. My first buy was rather pricey for those days: $19.95 for a crated three-pack of 750 ML bottles of each Chimay brew. It was worth every penny, and I am so glad I took that plunge into the world of Trappist ales in general, and Chimay beer in particular. Chimay beers are produced in a monastery, and that is what makes them trappist. Chimay also makes cheeses, and the profits from the sale of both beer and cheese support the operation of the monastery and go to charity. Chimay beers are good, and you can feel good about drinking them.From those early days of my craft beer appreciation, there were always three. OK, you say, you’ve said that enough; what’s your point? My point is simple: today, there are four. With the advent of Chimay Dorée (Chimay Gold), there are now four. I first saw Chimay Dorée for sale on Craftshack.com, and a bottle of it immediately went into my shopping cart. Later I did see it at Total Wine, but when I bought it from Craftshack Covid was spiking and it was better to shop online than in a store. From the label: The exceptional yeast isolated by Father Theodore, combined with the purity of the highly protected water of the abbey’s well, gives Chimay its unique richness. Since 1862, Chimay’s secondary fermented ales have neither been pasteurized nor filtered and only natural ingredients are used. Beer brewed at the heart of Scourmont Abbey, Chimay Dorée, previously reserved for the monastic community, their guests, and their colleagues, is now yours to savor, with its refreshing aromas of hops, coriander, and orange peel. Chimay Dorée has an alcohol content of 4.8% by volume and I paid $5.61 for my single from Craftshack. Total Wine sells it for $21.99 the 4-pack, or $6.99 the single-it was actually less expensive from Craftshack for a single bottle. Chimay Dorée pours to a brilliant golden color, until I swirl and rouse the yeast in the bottom of the bottle and decant into my glass. The beer has a thick fluffy white head and a coriander and banana laden nose. Taking a sip, the beer is light and crackery up front, wheaty with a bit of caramel malt too, if only a bit. Orange peel and coriander come out immediately, with some funky yeasty notes too and green peppercorn, and a hint of clove.A very tasty Trappist ale indeed, and a refreshing and drinkable one. Less complex perhaps than the rest of the Chimay line, but it would pair nicely with Chimay cheese and a hunk of dark bread I think. I’ll have to try that and get back to you.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box. *Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer. (B)=Bottled (D)=Draft
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