Chimay Launches Grande Réserve Barrel-Aged Ale
14 Apr 2016 --- For the first time, Chimay has utilized its original Christmas brew, Chimay Grande Réserve, with triple fermentation and maturation in wooden barrels to create their latest addition to the Chimay Trappist family — Chimay Grande Réserve Barrel Aged.
The flavor profile of this brew not only embodies its original characteristics of Grande Réserve with a fresh yeast fragrance, slight notes of caramel and vanilla, but also builds the profile to include an incomparable rounded, oak flavor.
The uniquely triple fermentation process starts during the brewing process, then in the wood cask and lastly in the bottle. For this specific batch, oak-aged barrels were used to create the first round of Chimay Grande Réserve Barrel Aged. However, the same barrel type will not necessarily be utilized for each brew going forward; the type of wooden cask used to mature the beer will slightly alter the flavor profile each time allowing unique characteristics to shine through with each batch. The ale matured for four (4) months inside the wooden barrels.
Unfiltered and unpasteurized, this Belgian strong ale is an exceptional ale with 10.5% alcohol by volume. Chimay Grande Réserve Barrel Aged is available in the 75 cl (25.4 fl. oz.) bottle format only and is ideally served at cellar temperature (50 to 54°F). It will be available in the United States as early as this month or June (depending on geographic location). It is a rotating item which means it will not be available year round.
