About This Beer
Chimay Spéciale 150 (Green) Belgian Strong Golden Ale 75cl 10% brings one of Chimay's most powerful and aromatic beers to a generous sharing format.
Brewed at Scourmont Abbey in Belgium, Chimay 150 combines substantial strength with expressive citrus, floral and herbal aromas.
Originally introduced in 2021 to celebrate 150 years of brewing at the monastery, this distinctive Belgian Trappist beer has become an established part of the Chimay range.
Also known as Chimay Green, it offers a different experience from the brewery's familiar Red, White and Blue beers.
While Chimay Red emphasises caramel malt and gentle fruitiness, and Chimay Blue is recognised for rich dark fruit and warming complexity, Chimay 150 focuses on aromatic freshness, spice and a distinctive dry finish.
Chimay White Tripel provides another golden alternative, but Chimay 150 offers greater strength and a different aromatic balance.
The 75cl bottle is particularly suitable for sharing during a meal, serving at a Belgian beer tasting or presenting as a premium beer gift.
Chimay 150 pours a bright golden colour with a generous white head.
Its appearance reflects the traditional characteristics of strong Belgian golden ales, combining a relatively pale colour with considerable alcoholic strength.
The aroma is expressive and layered.
Fresh citrus notes are accompanied by floral and herbal characteristics, creating an inviting first impression.
Gentle spice adds complexity, while the malt provides a rounded foundation.
On the palate, Chimay 150 offers a combination of soft malt sweetness, lively fruitiness, aromatic herbs and refined bitterness.
The flavour develops gradually, with citrus and spice becoming more noticeable as the beer opens in the glass.
Despite its substantial 10% ABV, Chimay 150 finishes relatively dry.
This dryness helps balance the beer's strength and prevents the malt sweetness from becoming overwhelming.
The beer's lively carbonation also contributes to its refreshing character.
At 10% ABV, Chimay Green is one of the strongest beers in the Chimay range.
Its strength is an important part of its identity, but the beer is designed around balance rather than alcoholic intensity alone.
The interaction between malt, fermentation character and bitterness creates a complex Belgian strong ale.
Chimay 150 is particularly interesting because of its anniversary origins.
In 2021, the brewery celebrated 150 years of brewing at Scourmont Abbey.
The anniversary beer commemorated the development of this longstanding brewing tradition.
Chimay 150 was created as a special release and subsequently became part of the brewery's established range.
Its green label provides a clear visual distinction from the familiar Red, White, Blue and Gold beers.
The beer also demonstrates how a traditional Trappist brewery can introduce new expressions while maintaining its established brewing identity.
Chimay 150 undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle.
This traditional process contributes natural carbonation and allows the beer's character to develop after packaging.
The resulting carbonation helps lift the citrus, floral and spicy aromas.
It also contributes to the beer's generous head and lively mouthfeel.
The 75cl format provides an enjoyable way to appreciate these characteristics with others.
Rather than serving a single individual portion, the larger bottle can be divided into several smaller glasses.
This makes it particularly suitable for introducing friends or family to traditional Belgian Trappist beer.
It is also an excellent choice for comparative tastings.
A tasting featuring Chimay White, Chimay Green and other traditional golden Belgian ales provides an opportunity to explore different interpretations of strong Belgian beer.
Although these beers share elements of Belgian brewing heritage, each offers a distinctive balance of fruitiness, spice, malt and bitterness.
Chimay 150 is particularly appealing to customers who enjoy expressive Belgian yeast character and an aromatic herbal finish.
It also provides an interesting alternative to modern hop-forward beers.
While contemporary IPAs often emphasise intense tropical fruit and citrus hop aromas, Chimay Green balances aromatic character with traditional Belgian fermentation.
The result is a beer with considerable complexity but a distinctly different profile from modern craft IPA.
The larger bottle also makes Chimay 150 particularly suitable for enjoying alongside food.
Its citrus and herbal character complements roast chicken, pork, mature cheese and aromatic vegetable dishes.
The beer's lively carbonation and dry finish help balance richer foods.
For customers choosing a traditional Belgian beer gift, Chimay Green 75cl offers recognised brewing heritage and a generous bottle format.
It is suitable for birthdays, Christmas gifts, dinner invitations and special occasions.
The familiar Chimay name and distinctive green label make it an appealing choice for someone who appreciates authentic Trappist beer.
The beer itself is the same celebrated Chimay 150 found in the 33cl bottle.
The distinction is the larger format and the additional opportunities it creates for sharing, gifting and serving with food.
Discover more authentic Trappist beers in our Belgian & Trappist Beer collection.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Bright golden with a generous, creamy white head and lively carbonation.
Aroma: Fresh citrus, floral notes, aromatic herbs and gentle peppery spice, supported by subtle fruity fermentation character.
Taste: Rounded malt sweetness, citrus fruit, herbal spice and refined bitterness, leading to a long, dry finish.
Mouthfeel: Medium-full and lively with refreshing carbonation, a smooth texture and pronounced but balanced alcoholic warmth.
About the Brewery
Chimay is an authentic Belgian Trappist brewery associated with Scourmont Abbey, located near Chimay in the province of Hainaut.
The abbey was founded in 1850 by Trappist monks who arrived from Westvleteren.
The monks established a community dedicated to prayer, work and self-sufficiency.
Brewing began at Scourmont Abbey in 1862, establishing a tradition that continues to define Chimay today.
Chimay is one of Belgium's most internationally recognised producers of authentic Trappist beer.
The Authentic Trappist Product designation distinguishes beers produced according to specific principles associated with monastic brewing.
To qualify, beer must be brewed within the monastery or its immediate surroundings, under the supervision of the monastic community.
The brewing operation must remain subordinate to the monastery's religious purpose.
Income generated through the activity supports the monastery, its community and charitable work.
These principles distinguish authentic Trappist beer from beers that simply use abbey-related branding.
Chimay's brewing tradition reflects this connection between monastic life and carefully managed production.
The brewery combines traditional fermentation methods with modern brewing expertise while maintaining the distinctive character of its established beers.
The Chimay range includes several internationally recognised releases.
Chimay Première, commonly known as Chimay Red, is the brewery's original beer.
First brewed in 1862, it offers a balanced combination of caramel malt, gentle fruitiness and subtle spice.
Chimay Grande Réserve, known as Chimay Blue, was introduced in 1948 as a Christmas beer.
Its rich dark fruit character and 9% ABV make it one of the brewery's most celebrated strong dark ales.
Chimay Tripel, known as Chimay White or Cinq Cents, was introduced in 1966.
Its golden colour, expressive fermentation aromas and pronounced hop bitterness distinguish it from the brewery's dark ales.
Chimay Dorée, known as Chimay Gold, provides a lighter interpretation of the brewery's Trappist brewing tradition.
At 4.8% ABV, it offers a delicate combination of malt, fruit and spice.
Chimay Yellow is another golden blonde ale in the range, offering citrus and aromatic spice at 6.5% ABV.
Chimay 150, known as Chimay Green, was introduced in 2021 to celebrate 150 years of brewing at Scourmont Abbey.
Its substantial 10% ABV and aromatic citrus, floral and herbal character distinguish it from the brewery's other beers.
Together, these releases demonstrate the diversity of traditional Belgian Trappist brewing.
Chimay 150 holds a particularly interesting position within the range.
Its anniversary origins connect it directly to the brewery's history.
At the same time, its flavour profile demonstrates how Chimay continues to develop new expressions of traditional Belgian beer.
One of the defining features of Chimay beer is the brewery's distinctive yeast culture.
Fermentation contributes much of the fruity and spicy complexity associated with the range.
In Chimay 150, these characteristics work alongside the beer's aromatic hop profile.
The resulting beer offers a carefully balanced combination of citrus, floral notes, herbs and gentle spice.
Unlike Chimay Red and Chimay Blue, which emphasise darker malt flavours, Chimay 150 focuses on aromatic freshness and a dry finish.
Unlike Chimay Gold, which offers a lighter and more delicate experience, Chimay Green delivers considerably greater strength and complexity.
This makes it an excellent example of the range of flavours and strengths possible within authentic Trappist brewing.
Secondary fermentation in the bottle is another important aspect of Chimay's approach.
After packaging, the beer undergoes further fermentation, contributing natural carbonation and allowing its character to develop.
This process is closely associated with traditional Belgian speciality beers.
The carbonation helps lift the beer's aromas and contributes to its distinctive mouthfeel.
Chimay 150 also demonstrates the importance of balance in stronger Belgian beers.
At 10% ABV, it offers substantial alcoholic strength, yet its dry finish and lively carbonation help prevent it from feeling excessively heavy.
The combination of citrus, herbal spice, malt sweetness and bitterness creates a beer that is both complex and expressive.
The brewery's approach reflects the wider tradition of Belgian Trappist brewing.
Rather than relying on a single dominant flavour, these beers are designed around the interaction between ingredients and fermentation.
Chimay Green is particularly notable for its aromatic complexity and balanced finish.
The brewery is also associated with traditional cheese production.
Chimay cheeses provide an especially appropriate pairing with the brewery's beers, reflecting the shared heritage of monastic food and drink production.
For customers interested in Belgian brewing history, Chimay 150 offers an important example of how the brewery celebrated its heritage through a new beer.
Its introduction in 2021 commemorated a significant anniversary and added a distinctive strong golden ale to the Chimay range.
The 75cl format provides an enjoyable opportunity to explore this powerful Belgian Trappist beer with others.
It is particularly suitable for sharing during meals, serving at beer tastings or giving as a thoughtful gift.
Food Pairings
Chimay 150 75cl is an excellent beer for sharing with food.
Its combination of substantial strength, aromatic complexity and a dry finish allows it to complement a wide range of savoury dishes.
The larger bottle is particularly useful when serving several people at a dinner party or tasting evening.
Roast chicken is an excellent starting point.
The savoury character of roasted chicken complements the beer's malt sweetness, while its citrus and herbal notes provide freshness.
Chicken roasted with lemon, garlic and herbs offers a particularly enjoyable pairing.
The lemon reinforces the beer's citrus character, while the herbs complement its aromatic spice.
Grilled chicken is another excellent option.
A simple preparation with olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs allows the beer's flavour to remain noticeable.
Pork is another suitable pairing.
Roast pork loin, pork shoulder and pork served with apple sauce complement the beer's fruity and herbal characteristics.
The carbonation helps balance richer cuts of meat, while the dry finish refreshes the palate.
Herb-roasted pork with garlic and rosemary provides an especially appealing combination.
The savoury meat and aromatic herbs work with the beer's complex flavour profile.
Cheese is one of the most traditional accompaniments to Belgian Trappist beer.
Chimay's own Trappist cheeses provide an especially appropriate pairing.
Their savoury and creamy character complements the beer's malt sweetness and aromatic complexity.
Mature Cheddar, Comté and aged Gouda also work well.
The nutty and savoury flavours of these cheeses provide contrast to the beer's citrus and spice.
Blue cheese can also be an interesting pairing.
The beer's strength and carbonation provide enough character to balance the cheese's intensity.
For vegetarian dishes, roasted vegetables offer an excellent starting point.
Carrots, parsnips, squash and sweet potatoes develop natural sweetness during roasting.
This sweetness provides contrast to the beer's dry finish and herbal bitterness.
A roasted vegetable tart with mature cheese offers another enjoyable pairing.
The beer's carbonation helps balance the richness of the pastry and cheese.
Mushroom dishes can also work particularly well.
Mushroom risotto, roasted mushrooms and mushroom tart provide earthy flavours that complement the beer's malt and herbal characteristics.
A rich mushroom and lentil casserole offers a substantial vegetarian alternative.
Chimay 150 can also work well with aromatic dishes featuring herbs and mild spices.
Its citrus and herbal profile provides balance to ingredients such as coriander, rosemary, thyme and garlic.
Mild chicken curry, aromatic rice dishes and gently spiced vegetable dishes can all be enjoyable pairings.
However, extremely hot chilli dishes may exaggerate the warming effect of the beer's 10% alcohol content.
Moderately spiced dishes are generally a more balanced choice.
Fish dishes can also work well, particularly when prepared with richer sauces.
Baked salmon, grilled sea bass and fish served with herb butter provide suitable pairings.
The beer's carbonation and dry finish help balance the richness of butter or oil.
For dessert, consider fruit-based pastries.
Apple tart, pear tart and citrus desserts complement the beer's fruity aromas.
A lightly sweetened fruit tart provides an appealing contrast to its dry finish.
Chimay 150 is also enjoyable without food.
Its expressive aromas, substantial strength and balanced finish make it particularly suitable for slow appreciation.
Serve it in a Chimay chalice or suitable stemmed beer glass.
A wider glass allows the citrus, floral and herbal aromas to develop and provides room for its generous head.
A moderately cool serving temperature helps preserve the beer's refreshing character without suppressing its aromatic complexity.
Because Chimay 150 undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, some yeast sediment may be present.
Pour gently if you prefer a clearer appearance.
For a dinner party, the 75cl bottle can be divided into several smaller servings.
This allows guests to appreciate the beer without committing to a full individual bottle.
It also provides an opportunity to compare how Chimay 150 interacts with different dishes throughout a meal.
Try More Like This
If you enjoy Chimay Spéciale 150 (Green) 75cl, the Chimay 150 Green 33cl bottle offers the same celebrated Trappist beer in a smaller individual format.
The 33cl bottle is particularly suitable for discovering the beer or including it in a comparative tasting.
Chimay Tripel (White) is one of the most natural beers to explore next.
Also known as Chimay Cinq Cents, this 8% Trappist Tripel offers fruity fermentation character, hop bitterness and a dry finish.
Its lower strength and more traditional Tripel profile provide an interesting comparison with Chimay Green.
For another golden Chimay beer, Chimay Gold (Dorée) offers a much lighter alternative.
At 4.8% ABV, Chimay Gold provides a delicate combination of malt, fruit and spice.
Chimay Yellow is another interesting option.
At 6.5% ABV, this newer blonde ale offers a refreshing combination of citrus, aromatic spice and balanced bitterness.
Its lighter strength and distinctive flavour profile provide a contrasting experience to Chimay 150.
For customers interested in darker Belgian beers, Chimay Red (Première) offers a different expression of Trappist brewing.
At 7% ABV, Chimay Red combines caramel malt, gentle fruitiness and restrained bitterness.
Chimay Blue (Grande Réserve) provides a richer and stronger dark ale experience.
At 9% ABV, it emphasises dark fruit, caramel malt and warming complexity.
For another traditional golden Trappist beer, Westmalle Tripel is an excellent choice.
Produced at Westmalle Abbey, this celebrated 9.5% Tripel offers fruity fermentation character, hop bitterness and a dry finish.
Its strength and complexity make it particularly appealing to customers who enjoy Chimay 150.
For customers interested in strong Belgian golden ales beyond the Trappist tradition, Duvel Original 75cl offers another worthwhile comparison.
Duvel is not a Trappist beer, but its pale golden colour, expressive fermentation character and dry finish make it appealing to customers exploring Belgian strong ales.
Delirium Tremens 75cl is another interesting alternative.
Its fruity fermentation aromas, gentle spice and warming strength provide a different interpretation of Belgian strong golden ale.
The 75cl format also makes Delirium Tremens an appealing choice for sharing.
For customers who enjoy pronounced hop character, Duvel Tripel Hop Citra offers a modern alternative.
Its additional Citra hop character introduces brighter citrus and tropical fruit aromas.
Although Duvel Tripel Hop is not a traditional Trappist Tripel, it provides an interesting comparison with Chimay 150's aromatic profile.
Explore our Belgian & Trappist Beer collection for more traditional Belgian beers.
For customers choosing beer gifts or mixed selections, discover our Gifting collection.
Whether you're planning a Belgian beer tasting, choosing a premium sharing bottle or looking for an authentic Trappist beer gift, Chimay Spéciale 150 (Green) 75cl offers a distinctive combination of citrus, floral aromas, herbal spice and balanced strength.
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