Chimay Tripel (White)
Poured from the 11.2 oz. bottle into a Chimay chalice. This beer pours dark gold/light amber into the glass forming a thick, creamy off-white head. The head stays pretty consistent and leaves a nice trail of lacing. Perhaps Belgian Tripels are not for me. The aroma of this beer starts with a clear fruity presence, but the smell degrades into a Belgian yeast mixed with, I'm sorry to say, hairspray. I think that bad comparison may be due to the hop character, which is obviously different from my Westcoast IPA preference. Just the end of the smell is a bit off for me. The Taste makes up for the smell. Immediately the Belgian yeast shines through with a fruity breadiness that I am learning to embrace. Additionally, this Tripel has a nice, slightly bitter finish that I enjoy preceded by a hint of citrus crispness and light alcohol burn. This beer has a nice mouthfeel at about medium body; however I do feel that the finish is noticibly lighter than the beer itself. A good amount of carbonation also attributes to the perceived weight. This beer actually has pretty high drinkability. Once it has warmed a little and once it's actually in the mouth, the Chimay Tripel is a very easy to drink Belgian. Overall, this beer is ok, probably a little over-hyped, and I still belive the Grand Reserve is by far their best effort. Chimay does deliver a quality tripel with their white label.