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At the end of the tour there was only one arduous task remaining...
C_storage * At the end, we saw the finished product, stored at 54f for a few weeks before being shipped. Note that the European distribution uses plastic cases for returnable bottles. No cans, any draft... necessary for quality control. We leave the bottling plant and head off to the Abbaye where we stop for a quick photo op of the front entrance. * 1218 x 1453 * (249KB)

C_abbeye * Inside we meet the head brewer Paul Arnott, a Scotsman! Ok, so the monks don't stir the beer by hand... another vision dispelled. * 1790 x 1153 * (222KB)

C_beer_fermenting * Early in the tour we see a new batch of Chimay fermenting. It doesn't get any prettier than this! * 1790 x 1153 * (130KB)

C_centrafug * Moving through the brewery, you find the same level of automation, perfection, and high standards of quality as we saw in the bottling plant. From the high-speed centrifuges to the stainless steel tubing. * 1228 x 1715 * (190KB)

C_under_tanks * The beer is moved from the fermenting tanks to the other stations via more stainless steel piping. The lab made you forget you were in a brewery. The testing, the research, the concern for the yeast was impressive. Of course, being a homebrewer, I made copious brewing notes that will be taken to the grave. * 1593 x 1181 * (213KB)
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C_tasting_comp * There was a tasting in progress and we sampled a week old red. The amount of hops taste was surprising! One of the WA guys commented that it reminded him of a northwest IPA. * 1781 x 1181 * (200KB)

C_the Abbaye * On leaving the brewery, we stopped at the main entrance for a look inside the Abbaye. The grounds and the courtyard are really beautiful. * 1781 x 1106 * (289KB)

C_courtyard * Being cloistered, the only monks we saw were standing at prayer in the hallways. The folks at Chimay made our trip much more enjoyable than we could have hoped for. We thanked them for their hospitality and moved on. * 1772 x 1171 * (336KB)

C_Rochfort * But our beer day wasn't over. We continued on to Rochfort to see how our luck would work at Notre-Dame de Saint-Rémy near Rochefort. * 1209 x 1753 * (219KB)

rochefort_4 * Talk about cloistered! No one was around, so we went into town to buy some #10 and #8. $1.10 per bottle... how much can we carry? Not enough! * 450 x 300 * (55KB)