Bières de Chimay S.A. Chimay Grande Réserve (Blue) (2015) – Belgian Strong Dark Ale at 9% ABV (C$5.15 at NLC Stavanger, 330 ml, best before 31-Dec-2020, acquired 12-Apr-2016, reviewed 13-Jun-2020)
Appearance: clear ruby brown with one fat finger of fluffy ivory head, good retention and spotty lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready yeast, cherries, raisins, cloves. (8/10) Taste: moderate-high sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish medium duration warming slightly astringent finish. (4/5)
The Great Cellar Drink Down continues. What? I’m in quarantine, so I can’t get anything fresh, and who knows how long my collection will go into a storage unit after we pack up here and find a new house – could be months, easily, subjected to wild temperature variations. No, better it end here, with dignity: cue the swelling orchestra.
This will nearly conclude my attempt at extended cellaring on Chimay varietals – it’s the last of my Blue, and I have just another 2016 vintage Red left. I last tried this same vintage almost a year ago, when I directly compared it, at four years’ cellaring, to the subsequent year’s vintage at three years’ cellaring. At the time, I concluded these are already aged sufficiently when bottled, and there’s little or no benefit to be gained by further ageing. Now, at five years, and approaching the BB date, I note just a hint of astringency in the finish, that suggests it might have turned the corner and started a long slow decline in quality. It’s subtle, but regardless it’s clear that keeping these for more than four years (or maybe three) accomplishes nothing. (16/20)
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
