Chimay Cinq Cents (also known as Chimay Tripel) is a Trappist ale created in 1966 by Father Theodore and brewed by Scourmont Abbey. Chimay was the final addition to the core Chimay line. This top-fermented, can-conditioned beer features a complex flavor profile of hops, yeast, and fruit (muscat, raisins) with a dry, bitter finish.
Chimay Triple boasts an attractive golden hue with an impressive white head. Its aroma immediately reveals the beer’s bold complexity. Its pronounced fruitiness is perfectly complemented by floral notes and elegant hints of spice, imparted by the distinctive yeast. A subtle smoky aroma and a touch of vanilla provides a pleasant contrast to the malt’s sweetness. The flavor follows suit, with a velvety mouthfeel perfectly balanced by just the right amount of hop bitterness. Orange zest and red apple offer a refined finish.
Chimay Cinq Cents
- Style: Belgian Trappist Triple Ale
- ABV: 8%
- IBU: 20 to 38
- Profile: A complex balance of mellow fruitiness—with notes of muscat grapes, raisins, and citrus—and a distinct hoppy bitterness with spicy accents of cloves and white pepper
- Color: Golden hue and slightly hazy
- Hops: Primarily uses European Noble hops, with Styrian Goldings and Hallertau Mittelfruh cited in brewing profiles. Hops are added in two stages: once at the start for bitterness, the other at the end to maximize aroma
Hopinionated Rating
- Appearance – Golden with robust head retention
- Aroma – Yeasty, floral, and herbal with sharp citrus notes
- Flavor – A crisp, refined bitterness that balances against a malt base of sweet pear and golden raisin
- Mouthfeel – High body with a tingly mouthfeel
- Overall Impression – If your looking for a Trappist Ale that includes many of the classic Belgian ales, this beer is just one of the Chimay lineup that deserves a taste. Chill and serve at 45-50 degrees Fahrenheit
Hopinionated Rating – 4.0/5
Sip or Skip – Sip
Explore Similar Beers To Chimay
If you enjoyed the complex balance of “fruitiness—with notes of muscat grapes, raisins, and citrus” found in this brew, you might enjoy these other Belgian classics:
- Westmalle Tripel: Often considered the “benchmark” for the style, it offers a similar dry, peppery finish and high carbonation.
- Tripel Karmeliet: A non-Trappist Belgian Tripel known for its incredibly creamy mouthfeel and a 3-grain bill (barley, oats, and wheat) that provides a sweet, refined malt base.
- La Trappe Tripel: This is a Dutch Trappist ale that leans a bit more into the honey and malt sweetness if you prefer something slightly less “bitter” than the Cinq Cents.
- St. Bernardus Prior 8: If you want to stay within the “Abbey style” but try something darker, this Dubbel offers deep raisin and plum notes that mirror the “red apple” notes mentioned in the review.
Let us know what you think of Chimay Cinq Cents.
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