From now on three of the Chimay Trappist brewery in Namur Province’s beers will be available in cans. The launch of the new canned Chimay beers coincides with the 175th anniversary Notre-Dame de Scourmont Abbey, where Chimay beer has been brewed since 1862.
The three beers that will now (also) be available in 33cl cans are Chimay Dorée, Rouge and Triple. They range in strength from 4.8% to 8%. Meanwhile, for the time being at least, Chimay Bleue and Verte that have higher alcohol contents will remain available in bottles only.
The Abbey has been working on the development developing the canned versions for more than three years now. Preliminary market trials of the canned beers have already been conducted in the United States and Japan, both countries where craft beer is far more commonly available in cans than it is here.
A first
Canned beer accounts for around a one third total of beer consumption in Belgium, never before has a Belgian Trappist beer been sold here in can. The Chimay brewery’s CEO CEO Pierre-Louis Dhaeyer told the press agency Belga that decision to sell the beer in cans goes beyond marketing. “Cans offer better protection from light exposure, thus preserving the beer’s quality”.
Fall in consumption
There is a broader trend of declining beer consumption. Chimay’s production dropped from almost 190,000 hectolitres before the coronavirus pandemic to 167,000 in 2023. Profits also fell significantly, from 2.8 million euro in 2022 to just over 800,000 last year. Almost 80% of Chimay's production is consumed domestically.