N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love poured for me, a classic Belgian holiday ale from Capone’s, aged from 2008. The N’ice pour amber brown, dark and thick, not clear at all with a tan head. The aroma is fruity with some berry and clove notes. The flavor is fruity with notes of wheat, then it settles on the palate with a ton of yeast flavor.

750 ml bottle shared by dbsdelight at the Royale- thanks, Dan! 2004 vintage. Pours a cloudy amber color with a small off-white head. Aroma of Belgian yeast, cardboard, fruits (cherries, raisins), spices, caramel malts, and candi sugar. Flavor follows along the same lines with some brown sugar and honey sweetness as well. Medium-bodied, with a syrupy mouthfeel and low carbonation. Not really my thing, but a nice complex beer.

Bottle. Mahogany with a pale beige head. Aroma of white pepper, star anise, dried peaches, sour cherries, prunes, dark toffee, mother of vinegar. Sweet light caramel with some darker sugars, dried and stewed fruits. Peppery and anise drying finish. Noticeable alcohol and slightly syrupy texture is lightened by carbonation and spicy hops, thickened by doughy yeast. This one is bb 10/11 and maybe is a little young - the dry finish cleans up the interesting malt a bit too quickly.

Dark borwn colour. Medium head that lasts a while. Sour and earthy smell. First taste reminds more of a triple. The aftertaste is more like a dark beer with the taste of malt, and some dried fruits. Nice carbonation.

2010 vintage. 750 mL bottle. Poured into La Chouffe tulip. Big beige/dark cream colored head. Long lasting retention. Head eventually settles quite nicely in uneven amounts of foam atop the ale. Little Belgian lacing; less than La Chouffe or McChouffe. Pours dark copper/dark amber tone of brown. Sediment seen when held close to light, though much less than La Chouffe. Malt aromas characterized by molasses, caramel. Caramelized raisins. Plum. Some spice (allspice, nutmeg). Subtle earthy notes on the nose. Vinous funk, though this aroma somewhat covered up by heavy scent of malty sweetness. Hardly any discernable hop aromas. Big molasses taste throughout palate from the dark candi sugar. Some dark dried fruit. Expected more spice taste based on the aroma of this winter seasonal. Hint of grainy/cereal taste seems to surface as ale warms up a bit. Taste, like aroma, has hardly any discernable hop character. Essentially inexistent bitterness. Pleasant caramel on back of palate and finish. Full bodied. Somewhat thick - close to being on border of syrupy. Noticeable alcohol warmth.

UPDATED: NOV 7, 2011 Tap @ Gastropub Tuulensuu.
Pours a dark brown colour, slightly transparent. White, patchy and lacy head. Looks delicious. Aroma of sour fruits, caramel malts and nuts. Flavour of toasted malts, caramel, wood and spices. Full bodied with a round mouthfeel and a warming finish. Smooth and tasty. (7+4+8+4+15)

750 ml bottle. BBE 15.09.2014.
Pours a mahogany colour with a slightly beige, foamy head. Aroma of smooth dark chocolate, strong raisins, berries and wood. Flavour of sweet toasted malts, dark chocolate, raisins, nuts, berries, wood and light spices. Medium bodied, very smooth mouthfeel and soft carbonation. Long, warming finish with some alcohol, sweet malts and nuts. Excellent Belgian Strong Ale. One of my favourite Winter seasonal beers so far.

Scotch-colored with a frothy, tanned head. Red licorice malt aroma with indistinct mixes of Belgian esters. Again, the flavor prominently features red licorice as well as a candi sugar presence swirling amidst diffuse esters. Quite interesting.

2005 bottle sampled Dec 14, 2010.

Five years have been good to this beer. Lovely pour, plummy and gently spiced nose. No sign of oxidation and the flavor integration is superb. An excellent Christmas Belgian strong.