Chimay Dorée

Just a post to report an unusual find.




Well, about all of the information I can find on-line is summed up at this Wikipedia post.

Apparently and based on many trips by the bar's owners to the Chimay monestary, the bar is able to purchase small amounts of this fourth type of Chimay. At close to 20 dollars per 33 cl bottle, the novelty factor may be about the biggest thing going for this beer. Compared to the other three Chimays, the alcohol content is low (4.8% ABV) and the flavors restrained although quite good.

Also occasionally available are Petite Orval (Orval's monestary-only pale ale) and Westmalle Extra (Westmalle's monestary-only pale ale). To try all three in one night is too pricey for my blood but I'll try to report back (as well as accidentally place the empty bottle in my coat pocket again) if and when I do taste these other beers.

Wow, great stuff. Thanks, Bridgestone.

Are we to assume this is at Hopleaf?

Octarine wrote:Are we to assume this is at Hopleaf?

I would think not, though if anyone offered it in Chicago, it would probably be Michael, who I believe has offered other brews "off the record."

From the Wikipedia link, it sounds like this is an entire class of beers pretty much unsold in bars and such.

I'd love to be wrong, though.

I'm so sorry to tease, everyone.

This beer was purchased at a pub named "Akkurat" in Stockholm, Sweden.

Why do I, a Stockholm resident, post on a Chicago-centered board? Well, honestly, I like the crowd here. Although my posting does, sometimes, create some confusion.

If it makes things any easier, it's a rare beer here, too. Heck, it's a rare beer in Belgium! My intent was merely to show off a find and inform that Chimay (and a few other well-known Trappist breweries) produces an additonal beer that few people know much about.

Akkurat Restaurang & Bar
Hornsgatan 18
Stockholm, Sweden

Bridgestone wrote:Why do I, a Stockholm resident, post on a Chicago-centered board? Well, honestly, I like the crowd here.

Bridgestone,

The feeling is most certainly mutual. Really enjoyed your dry-age beef post, the 60-day really does look like the gold standard.

Very cool that you have a New Braunfel's in Sweden. You buy it there or have it shipped over?

Enjoy,
Gary

Thanks G wiv!

The New Braunfel's was actually picked up at the Swedish equivalent of Home Depot about 5 years back. They had gotten a shipment of about 5 that they were having a hard time selling and weren't honestly even certain as to why the showed up. I "helped them out" by taking one off of their hands...

Since then, I've seen a couple of similar smoker/grills for sale here and there but nothing seems to have the quality of the New Braunfel's. And having one in a completely barbeque-free country can be a life-saver every now and then...

Last night while having a sangria, at People's, a glass with Chimay written on it caught my eye. They serve the beer here, but I am not sure it is the same one as the above picture. It might have been in a different bottle.

People
1560 N. Milwaukee
Chicago, Il
773-227-9339

Here's a picture of the four chimay beers:



I very strongly suspect you saw one of the three widely available varieties, rather than the Doree.

The three more common types of Chimay were available at the Trader's Joes near me. I can't recall what I paid.

Jonah