This is our third Chimay beer for this site. If you remember, Chimay is one of very few beers that are designated as Trappist Ales. (To find out more about Trappist Ales, click here.) Our first Chimay review was of their Red label. All three of them are similar but jump one percent ABV per version and have some notable differences as well. Chimay White has 8% ABV and comes in a characteristically (for bottle-conditioned ales) thick bottle.
When I poured this beer it had a golden-orange body, which was very effervescent in the glass. Also similar to many Belgians, this beer had a foamy billowing white head, one that you might still find after leaving the beer for an hour.
Aroma-wise, the beer had candy sugar qualities and some very noticeable cola attributes. Alcohol aromas also made their way to the nose on this one. Yeast, which lent some spice, was also pretty prevalent in the smell. It may or may not mean much to a lot of you, but there was the smell of home-brew wort in the beer. Some very restrained hops were also notable.
When I tasted this beer, it had a nice, spicy hop taste on the tongue. The beer also had a nice mouth-feel because it was so finely carbonated. The candy sugar that is characteristic to Belgian Ales could readily be tasted. Alcohol punched its way through on the palate. Cola notes came through and faded into a slightly dry and bitter finish.
What can you say about Chimay on their 25th anniversary of being in the U.S.? I think that all one could ever say is that their beers are tremendous examples of quality.
Mike’s Rating:
Overall Satisfaction: 
Among other Belgians: 
Among other Trappist Ales:
