La Chouffe

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

Poured a substantial golden brew that was not translucent. The head was medium, white, creamy, and laced. The aroma had that musty sourness to it, sweetness, spice, and yeast. The flavor was spicy, sour, dry, and a bit sour. A’Chouffe seems to like dry hopping their brews as I’ve noticed with the three I’ve had. The palate is lightly carbonated and imparts a good mouthfeel. An enjoyable belgian.

750ml. Bottle $8.99 Binny’s Orland Park La Chouffe poured a beautiful glowing golden into it’s own tulip. A big dense 2+ finger white head formed on the pour and settled to a 1+finger meringue like cap. Big sticky lacing gets left behind after each sip. Great looking beer. The first thing pulled out in the aroma is clean semi-sweet pale malts. Coriander soon follows along with a faint spicy yeast. Grassy hops come along on the backend. Surprisingly clean malt aroma is a nice surprise. Each swirl makes the nose on this beer come to life. The flavor starts off with those clean pale (bottle states Pilsner) malts. Again much like the aroma the coriander shows up mid palate and is quickly joined by a sprinkling of spicy yeast. Juicy peaches and pear mingle around in there as well. The clean maltiness shines throughout. The Saaz give a very pleasant grassy bitterness on the swallow. Very well put together beer. Medium to light bodied with lively carbonation. The carbonation prickles the tongue and then the hops give it a swift kick. The body lightens throughout the swallow. This is a super easy beer to put away. I find myself having to slow down. If you’re not careful the bottle will be gone in the blink of an eye. I’m not always a big fan of spiced ales but D’Achouffe hit the nail on the head with this one. A truly enjoyable Belgian Golden with clean flavors. 5/13/07

A swirling fury of carbonation hides beneath a deep, dense head. Yellowish-tan in colour, the body is soft, hoppy, and spicy (coriander). The finish is mellow with the spicy character of Hallertau hops

75cl bottle from the supermarket. Cloudy orange/amber leaving sheets of white lacing . Aroma of "Froot Loop" cereal, yeast (banana), flowers, and apple with some spice notes. Flavor of lighty sweet bready to biscuity malts with some light citrus. Mildly spicy finish. Medium bodied with fine carbonation. Prettty good global Belgian strong ale--Nice golden fruity character with a spice profile that’s restrained and complimentary.

Bottled (750ml), gift from Michael and Anjoo.
Golden, pretty beer with an attractive, shiny white head. Spicy, uplifting hop flavour. Progressive flavour with real complexity. Really enjoyed this beer, particularly for the depth of flavour that I had forgotten was possible (currently living in Barcelona).

(La grande Chouffe, 1500 ml, best before end of 2000) Hazy orange color white head. Quite fizzy for a beer that old. Nose of apple, cookie and Grappa. Oily texture.Taste only of apple, no bitterness, notes of acidity and soft sweeteness. I should have drink it four years ago, but interesting.

Bottle. Large, white, rocky head into semi clear dark golden body with plenty of sediment action. Great lacing. Pear, honey, yeast, corriander, and perfumed notes are all present in the aroma. Flavor is sweet from start to finish. Lively carbonation. Different than most...not strong on the yeasts but still a strong brew.

Bottle. Large fizzy white head that mostly lasted. Clear sparkling golden color. Yeast, coriander, fruit, perfume, spice. Medium to full bodied with a lively carbonation and light alcoholic texture. Moderated sweet flavor with some spicy bitter alcoholic notes. Warming sweet finish.