N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

This beer poured a very dark amber color and formed a foamy light tan head that left circular lace. A good deal of carbonation is present. An aroma of malt, caramel and raisins. A flavor of malt, toffee and raisins with hint of other spices. A finish that is a touch bitter and has the warming aspect of the alcohol.

UPDATED: DEC 10, 2005 ***Re-rate***2003 Bottle... This has aged well. Smells a lot like like Westy 8; tastes much like Rochefort 10... IMO! Upgrage from 3.8 to 3.9...***2002 bottle... I was going to save this bottle for at least a year, but fuck it. It’s very cold outside, I’m sitting in front of a warm fire watching a good movie with the woman of my dreams and my two favorite hockey teams just skated to a 1-1 tie (Caps and Habs). I’m celebrating! The aroma is malty, soapy and yeasty with notes of winter spices, dark bread and just a whisper of toffee, red wine and warm alcohol. The high ABV is incognito. This ale is a nice, sparkling clear, amber hue with a copper tint. Large, frothy beige head leaving cool lacework. Mostly, but not fully, diminishing... much like my several thousand shares of WorldCom stock. If only... well, I’d be a wealthy man, but nevermind that. The flavor is malty and vineous up front with a burst of caramel and dark fruit. Well-balanced with plenty of spice, hops and alcohol on the backside. Just the least bit pungent and bitter with small notes of cinnamon, clove and honey butter. The candy sugar breaks through, but only slightly. Full-bodied with a fizzy & oily mouthfeel and heavy carbonation. Long, warm, alcoholic and somewhat dry finish. Slightly woodsy. This bottle could have used another year of aging, but a very fine, spiced dubbel just the same.

2002 bottle -- Red-orange color with a thin beige head (I decanted it slowly) that lasted all the way down the glass. Complicated nose with musty sweet yeast and spice. I noticed the bitter orange peel mostly with strong spice compliments. Alcohol well hidden and very tasty belgian beer.

Big foamy head. Beautiful ruby dark color. Aroma has coffee and licorice. Malty flavor with lots of licorice and cinnamon. Strong alcohol burn. Long licorice and cinnamon finish. A very nice beer with just a bit too much herbs.

2002: Yummy. ok i will say more. my nose is plenty busy trying to pull in all of the wonderful aromas involved in this beer. there is a hint of orange in the nose that makes it defferent from any other beers that i have tried recently. as it warmed up more the thyme did start to show itself, but show itself slowly. the flavor is very complicated as well, lots of malt spices and fruit. the orange and the thyme mix well with the alcohol. the aftertaste has hints of hops and then more sweet fruityness. my only real problem with the beer is the carbonation, as with most belgians it is very highly carbonated and i wish that this beer would be flatter and fuller bodied so that the flavors would roll around in my mouth more rather than dancing across my togue like crazy modern dancers.

2002: Malty, complex nose. Very nice mouthfeel. Decent helping of candy sugar. Sweet and "hot" flavors and senses. Thyme in the foreground, bitter orange peel in the background. Bitter finish. Thyme seems to blend well behind the alcohol, but it's presence is much too noticeable. 1999, in comparison (aged 3 years): Maltier, sweeter, much less spicy (Thyme is in the background more) and it has a gentler carbonation. Unfortunately, it seems to have a fruity, "cardboard-like" nose, with "boxed-fruit" flavors, however you want to take that. While I enjoyed both, I didn't have a favorite; kind of liked some elements from each... and could've done without some elements of each. Either way, pretty good stuff, I'm just being critical.

On tap:. Dark red coloured with a decent medium lasting head. Lots of spiced in the aroma (seems like i""ve tasted coriander in all the beers tonight). Besides the coriander taste, this beer has a destinct taste of christmas. Theres cinnamon, green cardamom and cloves in the flavour. Has some sweetness in the palate.

Brown with good light brown head. Light spiced carmel nose. Flavor is very malty and very yeasty with medium alcohol heat

[draught] Dark with a very big and frothy head. Some banana, yeast and malt in the aroma. A little alcohol and lots of Christmas spices in the flavour. A very spicy and warming Winter brew.

Quite bitter, low carbonation. The alcohol is pretty well hidden. A nice winter warmer.