Chimay White - Bieres de Chimay, Scourmont
Style:
Tripel
Serving Type:
Bottle
Alcohol by Volume:
8.0%
Aroma:
Brettanomyces is the dominant aroma. Secondary scents are butter and a light grains
Appearance:
Tan and orange body with a thin white head. Very light lacing
Flavor:
Not as sour as the aroma would suggest, but rather bitter. Flavors include dark fruit and a hint of lemon
Mouthfeel:
For the most part this beer is smooth but still quite bitter at times
Overall Impression:
Chimay White is a good beer, not great, but good... For a Tripel, this beer is not as sour or smooth as other Tripels I'd had before. This beer is also quite bitter up front, but it packs a good deal of flavor into the aftertaste. If you haven't had the White from Chimay before, give it a try. Just don't expect it to taste like other Tripels you may have had before.
Chimay is one of those brands that carries a bit of cachet. The name exemplifies Belgian beer for a lot of people. For many, Chimay's Dubbel defines the genre. For the most part there is good reason Chimay is held in such high regard. They do make some fabulous beers... but no one is perfect. Not all Chimay beers are home runs, and the White is more of a grounder to 2nd base. I was a bit disappointed in the Chimay White, I was hoping for a more balanced Tripel that showcased it's sourness. The White is more bitter than I was expecting. There is still a bit of good Belgian sour in this beer, just not as much as the aroma would suggest. This beer smells like a Wit that has just been loaded up with Brettanomyces. The flavor really falls short...
On it's own, the Chimay White is a good beer. It certainly doesn't taste like other Tripels I've had. I'd prefer a more sour beer, or something with a bit more citrus. The Chimay White hides these flavors behind a more than generous bitter component. The bitterness isn't intense but considering the level of sour in this beer... the bitterness was just too strong. There just isn't anything in this beer that balances out that bitterness, perhaps a bit more sweet or sour would have helped.
In the end, I did enjoy this beer. I can't say I'll seek it out when I'm looking for a Tripel to drink but I could see myself picking up another bottle at some point.
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