Hainaut · Belgium
Chimay.
Chimay's supple, golden paste yields to the bite with a buttery give, while its washed rind—burnished amber and faintly pungent—dissolves into earthy, yeasty notes reminiscent of fresh bread. The flavor is gentle and savory, with a creamy mid-palate that whispers of the beer used to bathe its rind during aging, finishing clean and mildly tangy.
Rate this cheese
Origin
50.4°N · 4.1°E
The story
How it's made.
Why it tastes that way.
Chimay cheese is made at the Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont, a Cistercian Trappist monastery in Hainaut, Belgium, using the same controlled standards as the famous Chimay Trappist beers.
Cheese production there began in 1876. The rinds of certain varieties are washed with Chimay beer during affinage.
Production · spec
- Milk
- Cow · pasteurised
- Family
- Washed-rind
- Rind
- washed
- Age
- 1–3 mo
- Intensity
- 3 / 5
- Texture
- semi-hard
Tasting profile
What it tastes like.
These bars are a visual read of Chimay's flavour and aroma notes, scaled by the cheese's overall intensity — a quick guide, not a lab measurement.
Aroma
Nutrition · per 100 g serving
What's in a wedge.
A 100 g serving — about a finger-thick wedge. Daily values use the FDA 2020 reference of 2,000 kcal. Expect ±5% variation between wheels.
Serve, cut & store
Out of the fridge,
into its prime.
Guidance for washed-rind cheeses — general practice, not a per-wheel measurement.
Rest
Take it out about 1.5–2 h before serving — cold stiffens the fat and locks up the aromas; cool room temperature is when the flavour shows up.
Cut
Slice in wedges with the rind on — or for a very ripe wheel, take off the top and spoon.
Store
Wrap leftovers in cheese paper or wax paper — never cling film, which suffocates the rind — and keep them in the warmest part of the fridge.
Rule of thumb: the softer and riper, the longer it needs. Thick pieces need longer than thin — and don't leave cheese out much past two hours.
Pairings · Caseo curated
What goes with Chimay.
47 pairings across 6 categories.
Wine
Beer & Cider
Where to find it
Cheese counters.
Counter listings for Chimay are being verified. Check back soon.
Verified counter listings coming soon. Our team updates listings monthly.
Substitutes
No Chimay at the counter?.
These will play a similar role on the board and in the pan.
Take it with you
Want to remember this one?.
Log it, pair it, and keep your own tasting notes — Caseo is free.
