Today’s installment of Beer and Comics brings you Chimay Red.  Chimay Red, is the baby bear of the Chimay family.  Weighing in at a mere 7% by volume, it is the trappist equivalent of water.  However, what trappist monks deem as water, the rest of us should revere as the holy blood of the great unicorn god.

I didn’t cool this at all, room temp all the way.  While this is great for the flavors, it makes it a pain in the ass to pour!  This poured a delightful copper brown that I have come to know and love, and generally revere as being the epitome of beer color.  It poured a (pain in the ass) thick khaki colored head, which strangely dissipated rather quickly…  However, what you’re seeing in this picture above, is what it still looks like after 20 minutes. The lacing just does not go away.  Well played trappist monks, well played.

What can you say about the smell?  Well, it smells belgian.  Characteristically belgian in every form and facet.  Very estery, slightly sweet, no hops; belgian.

The taste can be described much as the smell.  This is the taste of a fine belgian ale.  It has a rather bubbly mouthfeel, and strangely light, but this is characterstically belgian as well.  It’s a bit sweet, and definitely fruity.  Bananas, pears and the like.  Sure, this sounds like every other belgian, but honestly, this should be the benchmark.  If you are not as good as Chimay Red, refine your technique, and do over until you’re better.

7.5