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I think I like Belgian beer

post #1 of 101
3/20/07 at 8:35pm
Thread Starter 
I bought a case of 24 Chimay blue label recently, really on a whim and counting on the supposedly good reputation.

I quite enjoy the beer. I don't drink it with any food, just the beer itself, in a chalice-like glass. Despite the 9% alcohol content it's not really noticeable. It's got wonderful aroma and minimal bitter aftertaste, somewhat sweet/caramel-like. I'm hooked. The price is somewhat steep compared to others though.

I'm in the process of trying some of the other Trappist offerings.
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post #2 of 101
3/20/07 at 8:39pm
There's a lot of great stuff from Belgium. Look beyond the trappists as well, some really good micro and macro brewed stuff from that country. Just be warned, I find that a lot of Belgian and Belgian-styled beers have high sugar content which can lead to Belgium-sized hangovers.
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post #3 of 101
3/20/07 at 9:32pm
A particularly good value for those in the US are ales from Ommegang, a Belgian-style brewery in Cooperstown NY. They're about 20% cheaper than the standard Trappists.
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post #4 of 101
3/20/07 at 9:43pm
Belgian ales are a vice of mine. If you want a nice primer, http://www.amazon.com/Great-Beers-Be...815004-7724737

Don't know why it is so expensive; IIRC there is a newer printing...
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post #5 of 101
3/20/07 at 9:44pm
Stellaaaa
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post #6 of 101
3/20/07 at 9:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by trampish View Post
Stellaaaa

Ewwww... Belgium's equivalent of Bud. Heh.
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post #7 of 101
3/20/07 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kent Wang View Post
A particularly good value for those in the US are ales from Ommegang, a Belgian-style brewery in Cooperstown NY. They're about 20% cheaper than the standard Trappists.

If you're going to count pennies Unibroue is a better brewery in my opinion.
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post #8 of 101
3/20/07 at 10:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by texas_jack View Post
If you're going to count pennies Unibroue is a better brewery in my opinion.

Why not pay $1 more and get the Chimay red instead
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post #9 of 101
3/20/07 at 10:24pm
I noted you want to try more... Now, with real Trappistes, there are only 7 places that make the stuff. 6 monastery breweries in Belgium and one in Holland. Widely regarded to be the best beer PERIOD is the Rochefort 10. Not cheap but if you can find it... good lord. Chimay is the easiest to come across. Orval is relatively easy. Westmalle and Westvleteren, well, the first relatively accessible, the latter... well lets just say that you should consider yourself VERY lucky if you come across it. Gray market beer (seriously). Achel is not as difficult to find but can be challenging. Lastly, the dutth one, Koningshoeven's La Trappe is relatively easy to find in the USA. Drink well and be merry! P.s. Abbey ales are not trappist ales. Trappistes are either directly affiliated with or brewed by a Trappist (Cistercian) monastery. Abbey ales could mean anything from having the brewery on the grounds once occupied by an abbey to absolutely nothing to do with Trappist monks,.
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post #10 of 101
3/20/07 at 10:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by skalogre View Post
Ewwww... Belgium's equivalent of Bud. Heh.
You have to start somewhere... I generally don't even like beer (most of the stuff you find people drinking is just plain bad) but my Norwegian friend turned me onto Stella Artois and I found it trumped anything else around. I've noted the other names in this thread and intend to research it extensively through imbibing.
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post #11 of 101
3/20/07 at 10:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by trampish View Post
You have to start somewhere... I generally don't even like beer (most of the stuff you find people drinking is just plain bad) but my Norwegian friend turned me onto Stella Artois and I found it trumped anything else around. I've noted the other names in this thread and intend to research it extensively through imbibing.
Good man (finally, an appropriate place for me to use this smiley!) On a sidenote, for years I almost never drank beer until a friend had me try some of his Fraoch. Damn that stuff was good, then I went off on a wild journey of maniacal beer research and tasting...
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post #12 of 101
3/20/07 at 11:08pm
Not a fan of Trappistes beers, wish I knew more about beer so I could describe the taste. I'm mostly into local microbrews.
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post #13 of 101
3/20/07 at 11:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tiecollector View Post
Not a fan of Trappistes beers, wish I knew more about beer so I could describe the taste. I'm mostly into local microbrews.

Which ones?
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post #14 of 101
3/20/07 at 11:44pm
Doubt you've heard of them. They are brewed in house at some local, non-chain places a few blocks away from my apartment. I really like Deschutes Brewery too up in Oregon.
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post #15 of 101
3/21/07 at 1:06am
Delirium, Hoegaarden. Case closed.
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