Beer of the Season

Chimay Bleue

Comfort food in a Bottle

Article originally published in GTG Downtime Extra! – WDT Triathlon Countdown August 2011

Vital Statistics:

Brew Basics

Origin – Happy Christmas!

The Cistercian Trappist monks at Chimay have been developing their beers and cheeses since 1862. In 1948 they isolated the the yeast strain that’s still in use today and later in the same year they introduced a Christmas beer which in time became Chimay Bleue

Chimay Bleue is also available in 75cl bottles, in which it’s named Grand Reserve, and 150cl bottles, named Magnum Grand Reserve

What’s so special about Trappist Beers?

Essentially, to be called Trappist the beers must be brewed within the boundaries of the monastery or under the direct supervision of the monks. The brewery also has to be run with a monastic ethos and any profits over and above those needed to run the monastery must be used for charitable and social causes

Its good to know that with every sip you are helping a worthy cause!

There are seven Trappist breweries, six in Belgium (Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westvleteren and Westmalle) and one in the Netherlands (La Trappe)

More info: Notre-Dame de Scourmont Abbey

Glossary:
  * AI, or Alcoholic Index is a key parameter in the temporal equation defining (perceived) Drink Time
    Ref. ‘Quantum Qorner’ Alcohol Induced Time Dilation Effect
 ** The official GTG product review rating scale:
    Coal (pants) Charcoal (bearable) Gravel (average) Ash (good) Platinum (ace)
*** Westmalle Tripel Relativity Index: higher resolution drink-specific rating comparing beverages to the benchmark Westmalle Tripel,
    which itself rates the theoretical maximum of 10, with Platinum rated brews being in the range 9-10
    For more information on the GTG reviewing system see Downtime Review Guide: Reviewing Principals and Ratings Systems

Follow @TownGaz