La Chouffe

Brewed by Brasserie d’Achouffe (Moortgat)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Achouffe, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

750 mL Champagne-type Bottle. Murky yellow-gold body with a very sudsy white head that stays and seems to want to cling all over the sides, leaving a set of foamy ribs as it is sipped. The aroma is an intriguing and complex one of sweet malts, grains, and fresh fruits and produce as found at an open market; there is a celery leaf-like sharpness to it. The flavor is as complex as the aroma; sweet malts and grains, and if the smell of a fruit and produce stand was a flavor, this is it. It is very intense. There is a little hint of coriander leaf there too. The aftertaste is the same as the flavor but less intense. Rich silky creamy finish. The sediment at the bottom of the bottle tells me it’s unpasteurized and it gets a bonus point right there. Be careful, deer beer drinkers: that high octane will take you like an undercurrent.

Definitely not the first or last time I had this great beer. Little hazy, light brown beer with bubbly foam. Full sweet aroma of peach, yeast, hops, grass. Loads of flavour in here. Quite sweet at first but with a refreshing bitterness later on. Good kick from the alcohol completes it. A great classic beer, even after having many of them.

Pours a cloudy golden colour with a thick bubbly head which retains nicely. Spicy, slightly fruity notes. Very smooth overall, alcohol warmth only on finish.

Bottle: Pours a copper color, modest white head with decent retention - a bit of lacing here- there is a floating element in this brew as well. This brew has a nice spice note, almost what you would expect for the style. There is a slight soapy, metallic character initially -I blame it on the bottle - Flavors improve naturally - A touch of that typical Belgian sugar sweetness, nice spiciness and it is a touch bitter as well. I enjoyed this brew. It seems unremarkable for me , however.

75cl bottle from Alko. Poured hazy orange color with a frothy, soapy looking white head, long lasting lacing. Aroma is orange peel, yeast and some alcohol. Flavor is fruity, served very cold I could detect some vague metallic notes, but as it got warmer, no more. Very fruity and spicy. Nice and refreshing, certainly will try this again.

Spices and yeast, not really my thing this one, a bit too sweet. Why would I be drinking this if I can get Duvel for the same price and just as easily?

Bottle 75 cl. Pours goldenhazy colour with a white head. Aroma of fruits, spices and honey. Flavour of wheat, dry citrus and some spices. Aftertaste is a mixture of sweetness and bitterness. Refreshing beer this one.

750ml Bottle (Drink Baar, Tallinn) - Hazy amber in colour. Fruity and slightly spicy aroma with hints of apricot and hops. Fruity and hoppy taste with hints of apricot, tea and spice.