Chimay Grande Reserve

[Mookow]

I'm being boring tonight and staying in, doing homework, etc in preparation for finals. But I figured I'd try a new beer or two, to cut down on the boredom.

I bought a bottle of Chimay Grande Reserve (blue label). I'll update this with my reactions after the head finally settles out. I dont think it is going to be worth the price of admission, but I figured I might as well try it once. It was $9.50 for a 750mL bottle, 9% ABV. Basically, the most expensive bottle of beer in the liquor store.

EDIT: OK, I dont see this being as being worth the $10/bottle, even if it does pack the punch of 4 cans of Bud Light. Taste is smooth, slightly sweet, somewhat lower than normal carbonation. Quite smooth for a 9% beer, you cant tell there is any alcohol in it at all. I was hoping for a bit more bitterness/body/something. It just doesnt have much flavor to it. It does seem like it would be a very good ambush beer, in that you have no sensation of any alcohol bite, yet it is 18 proof. Seems more like a wine than a beer though :disgust:... and I am definitely not a wine guy.

When I pay a couple dollars for a bottle of beer at the liquor store, I like to drink something that may be consumed with a fork. This just doesnt have enough body for me. It is smooth though.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Belgians are definitely an aquired taste. Honestly I am not a Belgian lover - I prefer my beer to have a lotta hops, and Belgians have none. Belgians are brewed with a LOT of grain - they are often triple-brewed (i.e., the water passes through three straight batches of grain), and you end up with a very high specific gravity, and alcohol content. This is at least part of the reason they are so expensive.

As a general matter I think the English developed the most interesting palate of beers (from high-hop pale ales and IPAs to black stouts). Although many people like German beers, I find them generally boring - their Rheinheitsgebot (the German brewing purity law) means they can only use water and grain, and beer with no hops tends to be dull IMO.

 

[andylawcc]

are you serious? 9 bucks?

I remeber I can get them quite cheap from trader joe's. (maybe it is a smaller-than-750ml size)

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
are you serious? 9 bucks?

I remeber I can get them quite cheap from trader joe's. (maybe it is a smaller-than-750ml size)

Was it blue label though?

 

[luvya]

Had it once, thought it was smooth but bitter. Maybe I should try again.

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: luvya
Had it once, thought it was smooth but bitter. Maybe I should try again.

Hehehe... if you think this is bitter, try some Arrogant Bastard and/or Double Bastard. You'd probably sh!t yourself.

 

[andylawcc]

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: andylawcc
are you serious? 9 bucks?

I remeber I can get them quite cheap from trader joe's. (maybe it is a smaller-than-750ml size)

Was it blue label though?

I completely forgot about the Chimay's price, coz I was concentrating stocking up with Mississippi Mud, Samuel Smiths and Charle Shaws (boo!) to keep my alcoholic inventory at operational level.
but I faintly remember the red biege and blue are the same price. like 2.59.


I also tried Arrogant Bastard (which is extremely difficult to find/buy), it got some distinctive flavor and I liked it. At one point I thought I was drinking weed.

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: andylawcc

Originally posted by: Mookow

Originally posted by: andylawcc
are you serious? 9 bucks?

I remeber I can get them quite cheap from trader joe's. (maybe it is a smaller-than-750ml size)

Was it blue label though?

I completely forgot about the Chimay's price, coz I was concentrating stocking up with Mississippi Mud, Samuel Smiths and Charle Shaws (boo!) to keep my alcoholic inventory at operational level.
but I faintly remember the red biege and blue are the same price. like 2.59.


I also tried Arrogant Bastard (which is extremely difficult to find/buy), it got some distinctive flavor and I liked it. At one point I thought I was drinking weed.

LOL! Try to find some Double Bastard.

 

[andylawcc]

Mookow. Where you live and where you buy them Bastards?

also, I still have trouble buying Samuel Smith Oakmeal Stout (even in LA).

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
Mookow. Where you live and where you buy them Bastards?

also, I still have trouble buying Samuel Smith Oakmeal Stout (even in LA).

Ohio. The nearest place I can buy them is my local liquor store, roughly half a mile away 😛

Actually, if you want, I wouldnt have a problem shipping you some, I'm just not sure about the legalities of that... I'd have to check that out,

 

[andylawcc]

that's extremely nice of you... but that's alright, I don't want my neighbours think I am a desperate underage kid that need to drink so bad that he needs somebody to ship him beer two states away.

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
that's extremely nice of you... but that's alright, I don't want my neighbours think I am a desperate underage kid that need to drink so bad that he needs somebody to ship him beer two states away.

Well, there is always this...