Rouge (Red)
Bières de Chimay
Beer Geek Stats
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- From:
- Bières de Chimay
- Belgium
- Style:
- Dubbel
Ranked #6 - ABV:
- 7%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #4,231 - Avg:
- 4.15 | pDev: 10.84%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 23, 2022
- Added:
- Nov 20, 2000
- Wants:
- 336
- Gots:
- 1,149
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Notes:
Known as Première in 0.75l bottles.
The Chimay Red is the oldest of the Chimays. Its coppery color and sweet, fruity taste make it a particularly tasty dark ale.
The Chimay Red is the oldest of the Chimays. Its coppery color and sweet, fruity taste make it a particularly tasty dark ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by NeroFiddled:
4.48/5 rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
Small bottle. Age unknown, but prior to the fairly recent packaging change-over; and aging is not really needed with this beer. Cloudy reddish-brown with an orange cast. The light tan head wants to rise out of the glass at first, but eventually subsides to a very creamy 1/8" head that holds throughout the serving and leaves some nice lace. The aroma is lightly fruity (dark fruits - raisin, plum, fig... and maybe some lighter fruits as well), lightly phenolic (even some minor bubblegum), gently citrusy, somewhat woody, somewhat sweet, softly spicy (clove) and subtly leathery. The body is light/medium but with a very soft, smooth, and creamy palate from a very fine, natural carbonation. The flavor is somewhat rich with a fruity, bready malt flavor, some yeastiness, and some light grassy hops that round and balance. It finishes semi-dry with a light spiciness that lingers. Although it may appear one-sided at first, a closer examination will reveal that there's much more going on. That's what makes this beer work so well - its great balance and finesse. The flavors and aromas don't reach out and grab you individually, but rather act as a whole, which gives it complexity as the varied characteristics are slowly revealed at different times throughout the serving. Highly drinkable, and quite enjoyable.
Oct 07, 2002
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
by NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania
Small bottle. Age unknown, but prior to the fairly recent packaging change-over; and aging is not really needed with this beer. Cloudy reddish-brown with an orange cast. The light tan head wants to rise out of the glass at first, but eventually subsides to a very creamy 1/8" head that holds throughout the serving and leaves some nice lace. The aroma is lightly fruity (dark fruits - raisin, plum, fig... and maybe some lighter fruits as well), lightly phenolic (even some minor bubblegum), gently citrusy, somewhat woody, somewhat sweet, softly spicy (clove) and subtly leathery. The body is light/medium but with a very soft, smooth, and creamy palate from a very fine, natural carbonation. The flavor is somewhat rich with a fruity, bready malt flavor, some yeastiness, and some light grassy hops that round and balance. It finishes semi-dry with a light spiciness that lingers. Although it may appear one-sided at first, a closer examination will reveal that there's much more going on. That's what makes this beer work so well - its great balance and finesse. The flavors and aromas don't reach out and grab you individually, but rather act as a whole, which gives it complexity as the varied characteristics are slowly revealed at different times throughout the serving. Highly drinkable, and quite enjoyable.
Oct 07, 2002
More User Ratings:
4.31/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by AlexandraDen from Canada (ON)
Popped a big thick 750mL tall brown bottle. Deep amber to the browner end of copper, it pours hazy with yeast and unfiltered goodness and a foamy two and a half finger head that recedes into a spotty cap with thick, clinging ring of foam around the glass. Large bubbles pop up, not in a line, just one by one, from the ethereal dark brown bottom.
Malty, sweet, caramel, yeasty esters on the nose are primary. Doughy and bready, and you’d be forgiven for smelling banana. Particularly good amount of spices, cloves and cinnamon. Little bit peppery but the general character stays to the sweet side and reminds mostly of that.
Flavourful and pleasantly balanced profile, not as strong as their other beers. This can easily be a plus or a minus depending on what you want from your beers. Deep savoury yeasty esters that border on doughy but are more restrained interact with the sweet caramel malt and gentle toasty flavours that never border on cloying. Clove and peppery spices present here. As for fruits, I get a lot less dark fruits than others do. Plum and raisin might be present, but they taste fresh and gentle, and banana is just as present. Maybe it’s the foamy carbonation giving it a lighter touch on my palate or something else. The alcohol is well hidden which likely adds to the lighter character that gives a more spicy-light phenolic touch that leans towards lighter flavours rather than deep raisiny-fig-pudding ones. Definitely some molasses here though.
Medium-ish bodied with a higher level of carbonation, the finish is barely touched by any hops or buttering presence and is lightly sweet, again, not cloying. Bready malts with a touch of yeastiness stays on the palate, and mild spice character reminds, the light pepper impression of white peppercorn and the sweetness and spice of cinnamon, light vanilla, and currants. The good carbonation level and tendency to highly foam when it hits your tongue gives the taste palate a unique spin that is a bit lighter and very nice, it’s not quite creamy or smooth but sort of a merge between them both. I chalk it up to the great way this beer blends palates and tastes.
Ah dubbels, the interesting beer that’s not between, but occupies little spaces between a doppelbocks, Belgian strong dark ales, and Tripels. Hard for me to localize how it fits, and my palate is unrefined, but I try! Chimay Red mixes things together that arguably comes out in a perfect cohesive blend. What can I say? I love malt, sweet, spicy beers. Definitely an excellent offering from Chimay, their Blue still my favourite, but this is as good or potentially better than white? Have to try both again. All the Trappist beers are just delightful, and the yeast is great for my stomach. Excellent beer to round out my 100th review!
Apr 23, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by AlexandraDen from Canada (ON)
Popped a big thick 750mL tall brown bottle. Deep amber to the browner end of copper, it pours hazy with yeast and unfiltered goodness and a foamy two and a half finger head that recedes into a spotty cap with thick, clinging ring of foam around the glass. Large bubbles pop up, not in a line, just one by one, from the ethereal dark brown bottom.
Malty, sweet, caramel, yeasty esters on the nose are primary. Doughy and bready, and you’d be forgiven for smelling banana. Particularly good amount of spices, cloves and cinnamon. Little bit peppery but the general character stays to the sweet side and reminds mostly of that.
Flavourful and pleasantly balanced profile, not as strong as their other beers. This can easily be a plus or a minus depending on what you want from your beers. Deep savoury yeasty esters that border on doughy but are more restrained interact with the sweet caramel malt and gentle toasty flavours that never border on cloying. Clove and peppery spices present here. As for fruits, I get a lot less dark fruits than others do. Plum and raisin might be present, but they taste fresh and gentle, and banana is just as present. Maybe it’s the foamy carbonation giving it a lighter touch on my palate or something else. The alcohol is well hidden which likely adds to the lighter character that gives a more spicy-light phenolic touch that leans towards lighter flavours rather than deep raisiny-fig-pudding ones. Definitely some molasses here though.
Medium-ish bodied with a higher level of carbonation, the finish is barely touched by any hops or buttering presence and is lightly sweet, again, not cloying. Bready malts with a touch of yeastiness stays on the palate, and mild spice character reminds, the light pepper impression of white peppercorn and the sweetness and spice of cinnamon, light vanilla, and currants. The good carbonation level and tendency to highly foam when it hits your tongue gives the taste palate a unique spin that is a bit lighter and very nice, it’s not quite creamy or smooth but sort of a merge between them both. I chalk it up to the great way this beer blends palates and tastes.
Ah dubbels, the interesting beer that’s not between, but occupies little spaces between a doppelbocks, Belgian strong dark ales, and Tripels. Hard for me to localize how it fits, and my palate is unrefined, but I try! Chimay Red mixes things together that arguably comes out in a perfect cohesive blend. What can I say? I love malt, sweet, spicy beers. Definitely an excellent offering from Chimay, their Blue still my favourite, but this is as good or potentially better than white? Have to try both again. All the Trappist beers are just delightful, and the yeast is great for my stomach. Excellent beer to round out my 100th review!
Apr 23, 2022
4.23 by clm9 from North Carolina on Apr 20, 2022
4.37/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Perioddicals from Texas
L - Shared a 12 oz bottle poured into a Dogfish Head Signature glass. Dark brown thick light tan head on aggressive pour. Minimal lacing. Has alcohol legs
S - Sweet and buttery. Dark fruits. Maybe Mulled wine or after dinner wine in there. There is a caramel scent in it too.
T - Taste follows scent with sweetness and dark fruits. Fig, plum, and possibly banana. Some booziness in the taste. No bitterness at all. There is a malty caramel or toffee that shows up as it warms up.
F - Good carbonation and cola consistency that smooths out as you drink
O - Overall, this is a fantastic beer. Very drinkable with no bitterness (a little booziness) and a lot of flavor. After trying Chimay Blue, White, and Red, I enjoyed this Red a lot. While the Blue seemed like a Winter beer, and the White was a good beer for light hops, the Red seems great for regular drinking and I will definitely add it to my annual rotation.
Apr 15, 2022
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Perioddicals from Texas
L - Shared a 12 oz bottle poured into a Dogfish Head Signature glass. Dark brown thick light tan head on aggressive pour. Minimal lacing. Has alcohol legs
S - Sweet and buttery. Dark fruits. Maybe Mulled wine or after dinner wine in there. There is a caramel scent in it too.
T - Taste follows scent with sweetness and dark fruits. Fig, plum, and possibly banana. Some booziness in the taste. No bitterness at all. There is a malty caramel or toffee that shows up as it warms up.
F - Good carbonation and cola consistency that smooths out as you drink
O - Overall, this is a fantastic beer. Very drinkable with no bitterness (a little booziness) and a lot of flavor. After trying Chimay Blue, White, and Red, I enjoyed this Red a lot. While the Blue seemed like a Winter beer, and the White was a good beer for light hops, the Red seems great for regular drinking and I will definitely add it to my annual rotation.
Apr 15, 2022
4.02 by not2quick from Missouri on Apr 12, 2022
4.47/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by Kulikov from Pennsylvania
L: beautiful hazy amber with a foam that lasts for the entire glass.
S: yeast forward, not too strong, but pleasant.
T: tastes of toast and toffee with fruity aftertaste, well balanced with yeast and hops.
F: wonderful mouth feel, pleasant foam and thickness.
O: truly excellent; a readily available leading example of the style.
Mar 30, 2022
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
by Kulikov from Pennsylvania
L: beautiful hazy amber with a foam that lasts for the entire glass.
S: yeast forward, not too strong, but pleasant.
T: tastes of toast and toffee with fruity aftertaste, well balanced with yeast and hops.
F: wonderful mouth feel, pleasant foam and thickness.
O: truly excellent; a readily available leading example of the style.
Mar 30, 2022
4.02 by ItsYourBoyBlue from Washington on Feb 06, 2022
5 by Shan-man from New Jersey on Feb 06, 2022
4.77/5 rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by jimmah120 from Minnesota
11.2oz bottle
Dark copper color, boozy smell, taste is tons of fruit esters and wheat and booze. Chewy and powdery and yeasty goodness
Jan 29, 2022
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by jimmah120 from Minnesota
11.2oz bottle
Dark copper color, boozy smell, taste is tons of fruit esters and wheat and booze. Chewy and powdery and yeasty goodness
Jan 29, 2022
5/5 rDev +20.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by JRGargis113
This is my favorite Fall and Winter beer. I have loved it for 20 years. It has not always been available to me which makes it that much more special.
Jan 28, 2022
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by JRGargis113
This is my favorite Fall and Winter beer. I have loved it for 20 years. It has not always been available to me which makes it that much more special.
Jan 28, 2022
4.17/5 rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by sjrider from California
Bottle pour - opaque ruddy brown color with huge foamy beige head clinging to the glass for the duration.Nose is spicy and yeasty. Taste follows with some maltiness and a bit of stone fruit. Lingering spice on the finish. A fine dubbel.
Jan 05, 2022
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by sjrider from California
Bottle pour - opaque ruddy brown color with huge foamy beige head clinging to the glass for the duration.Nose is spicy and yeasty. Taste follows with some maltiness and a bit of stone fruit. Lingering spice on the finish. A fine dubbel.
Jan 05, 2022
4.39/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by UnoBeero
Chimay red was the last of the Chimay range I had the pleasure of trying, as it was difficult to find in my area of Ontario Canada.
Nose: Spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, apple, fig, mild alcohol heat and rich wheat and barley. Somewhat of a grape or red wine scent, currants perhaps.
In the Glass: Bold and beautiful rich frothy head.
Palate: Complex but simplistic, heavier on the malt side, with moments of a cidery overtones and some spice.
Finish: Warm and candied.
4/5 I would say this is my least favorite of the Chimay range , but nonetheless it is a fantastic ale.
Dec 31, 2021
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by UnoBeero
Chimay red was the last of the Chimay range I had the pleasure of trying, as it was difficult to find in my area of Ontario Canada.
Nose: Spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, apple, fig, mild alcohol heat and rich wheat and barley. Somewhat of a grape or red wine scent, currants perhaps.
In the Glass: Bold and beautiful rich frothy head.
Palate: Complex but simplistic, heavier on the malt side, with moments of a cidery overtones and some spice.
Finish: Warm and candied.
4/5 I would say this is my least favorite of the Chimay range , but nonetheless it is a fantastic ale.
Dec 31, 2021
3.44 by irishevans from California on Dec 27, 2021
4.1 by Danzifer from Ohio on Dec 25, 2021
4.38 by VolatileAgent7744 from Kentucky on Dec 22, 2021
4.25 by Fordcoyote15 from Pennsylvania on Dec 20, 2021
3.75 by Tenebris on Dec 16, 2021
4.39 by j37geogaddi from Massachusetts on Dec 16, 2021
4.31 by SViterileroux74 from Texas on Dec 11, 2021
4.35 by eluvah from New York on Nov 20, 2021
4.58/5 rDev +10.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by eatsluggs from Oregon
I must have it again!
Nov 20, 2021
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by eatsluggs from Oregon
I must have it again!
Nov 20, 2021
4.45/5 rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by TheFrustratedBiomed
Just very interesting, and a great evolution as it is warming up.
Nov 13, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
by TheFrustratedBiomed
Just very interesting, and a great evolution as it is warming up.
Nov 13, 2021
4.46 by Rhetion from Florida on Nov 03, 2021
4.15 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota on Oct 25, 2021
4 by altrio on Oct 04, 2021
4.14 by Daneve76 from Australia on Sep 27, 2021
4.41 by Darboux from China on Sep 16, 2021
4.02 by 88caprice from Virginia on Sep 12, 2021
3.68 by Nyarko-San from Pennsylvania on Sep 05, 2021
4.25/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by GuyFawkes from Illinois
Unknown vintage; drank 8/31/21 @ the Yarchives.
Murky dark orange rust appearance.
A slow pour yielded a big, fluffy white head; a thick curtain of tree-rung lace.
Mulled cider, clove & banana notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Mulled cider, clove & banana flavors; solid classic dubbel vibes. I'd have another!
Sep 01, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by GuyFawkes from Illinois
Unknown vintage; drank 8/31/21 @ the Yarchives.
Murky dark orange rust appearance.
A slow pour yielded a big, fluffy white head; a thick curtain of tree-rung lace.
Mulled cider, clove & banana notes in the nose.
Medium mouthfeel.
Mulled cider, clove & banana flavors; solid classic dubbel vibes. I'd have another!
Sep 01, 2021
4.6 by Miles_Nilges from New York on Aug 12, 2021
4.3/5 rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Rug from Massachusetts
Bottled
Chimay Blue is a god-tier beer. Red is one that is not quite as acclaimed, but if it matches the quality of Blue I will be very impressed. Also, despite my love for Belgian beers, I have not had very many Dubbels, though I thoroughly enjoyed the one’s I’ve had. Let’s see if this legend lives up to the hype
Pours a murky mahogany color with 3 fingers of creamy off white head that very slowly fades to a cap and leaves minimal lacing
The nose here is beautiful balanced with the dark fruit and subtle spice complementing the chewy malt. I’m picking up on aromas of gold raisin, fig, dark toffee, allspice, brown bread, clove, and a hint of caramel
This focuses on the malt way more heavily in flavor, but works in its advantage. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting raisin, sticky toffee, brown bread, light black cherry, and white pepper. The swallow brings notes of sweet black cherry, clove, doughy malt, light vanilla, molasses, and caramel
A medium full body pairs with very gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth and luxuriously creamy beer. Finishes mostly dry with a wonderful sweetness
Such a wonderfully crafted beer, absolutely perfect for a warm summer night. I’d get it far more frequently if it wasn’t $8 a bottle
Jul 28, 2021
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by Rug from Massachusetts
Bottled
Chimay Blue is a god-tier beer. Red is one that is not quite as acclaimed, but if it matches the quality of Blue I will be very impressed. Also, despite my love for Belgian beers, I have not had very many Dubbels, though I thoroughly enjoyed the one’s I’ve had. Let’s see if this legend lives up to the hype
Pours a murky mahogany color with 3 fingers of creamy off white head that very slowly fades to a cap and leaves minimal lacing
The nose here is beautiful balanced with the dark fruit and subtle spice complementing the chewy malt. I’m picking up on aromas of gold raisin, fig, dark toffee, allspice, brown bread, clove, and a hint of caramel
This focuses on the malt way more heavily in flavor, but works in its advantage. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting raisin, sticky toffee, brown bread, light black cherry, and white pepper. The swallow brings notes of sweet black cherry, clove, doughy malt, light vanilla, molasses, and caramel
A medium full body pairs with very gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth and luxuriously creamy beer. Finishes mostly dry with a wonderful sweetness
Such a wonderfully crafted beer, absolutely perfect for a warm summer night. I’d get it far more frequently if it wasn’t $8 a bottle
Jul 28, 2021
3.93 by Madchiotis on Jul 24, 2021
3 by XmnwildX12 from Minnesota on Jul 18, 2021
4.04 by blissfulNemo from Michigan on Jul 12, 2021
4.55/5 rDev +9.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by DanfromVan from Canada (BC)
I like the red Chimay as it gives the taste of a Tripel with a lighter ABV of 7%. Complex beer with many of the fig/banana/ sweet candy flavours of others, without a lasting hangover. This bottle was a little light on the effervescent side, and the head was gone in a flash, with not much for carbonation through the ending dregs.
I am preparing myself for our annual holiday, Canada Day, when I will only drink the colours of the flag, Red and White.
Next up, Chimay White!
Jun 25, 2021
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
by DanfromVan from Canada (BC)
I like the red Chimay as it gives the taste of a Tripel with a lighter ABV of 7%. Complex beer with many of the fig/banana/ sweet candy flavours of others, without a lasting hangover. This bottle was a little light on the effervescent side, and the head was gone in a flash, with not much for carbonation through the ending dregs.
I am preparing myself for our annual holiday, Canada Day, when I will only drink the colours of the flag, Red and White.
Next up, Chimay White!
Jun 25, 2021
4 by aasher from Indiana on Jun 20, 2021
3.76 by trevorpost from Pennsylvania on Jun 19, 2021
4.63/5 rDev +11.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by DrBill1962 from Florida
Extremely tasty. Not too high ABV. Fantastic looking beer in a wide tulip glass I actually bought in Brugge at Half Moon Brewery.
Jun 06, 2021
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by DrBill1962 from Florida
Extremely tasty. Not too high ABV. Fantastic looking beer in a wide tulip glass I actually bought in Brugge at Half Moon Brewery.
Jun 06, 2021
4.75 by Enomas from Portugal on Jun 04, 2021
Rouge (Red) from Bières de Chimay
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
5191 ratings