N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Bread-like dough, bitter orange and spices in the sugary aroma with some pine-like hops also notable. Opaque brown-copper with decent off-white/tan head that recedes to partial cover. Spicy and very sweet flavour with some acidity in the finish that takes the edge off. Lasting bitter-orange aftertaste. Complex and intriguing, subtle, lasting flavours. Very soft in the mouth but carbonation is engaging. Alcohol not at all apparent except for a slight warming. Bottle enjoyed with beerbuzzmontreal, Lubiere, MartinT, Rastacouere and SimonB.

Medium coarseish beige lasting head. Deep dark translucent red body with vigourous carbonation. Fruity yeasty bready licorice and spice aroma. Dry sharpish licorice and fruit taste with spicy peppery notes. Considerable alcohol heat as well as carbonation in the mouth. Dry wooden spicy alcoholic licorice aftertaste. Some chocolate, too. Surprisingly light in body and taste. Very nice! (0.75l bottle, a Christmas gift from hcalsos.)

UPDATED: MAR 6, 2004 750 ml bottle, shared with MartinT, Rastacouere, and Simon_Patrice. Very dark brown, nearly opaque, medium to large head. Potent, pungeant barnyardy-spicy (thyme) nose. Medium sweetness, lightly acidic, thyme and orange flavors, very well-balanced, light and effervescent and drinkable. Wonderful.

Lovely smell of brown sugar and dried fruit. Sweet and sour, well balanced, warming. Very Belgian in the best sense of the word.

On tap at Stone. Cloudy dark brown with a thick creamy white head. Earthy aroma of dark fruit, yeast, chocolate, and caramel. A rich smooth taste of chocolate, dates, figs, and the hops come through in the finish.

750. Pours deep grainy, opaque ebony with a thicky, goopy, moussy tan head. Enormous dark fruit nose hits you at arm’s length, even from a fairly cool beer. Dust and hay as you reel in the glass. Big thick body but totally free of stickiness or oiliness. Nice soft abundant carb. Heavy roast fruit flavors, wet leaves, leather, tobacco--it’s a super rich mid palate. Nice sharp herbal hop sting to the finish; beautiful contrasting element.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow & tupalev -- my bottle. Pours a hazy reddish-brown with a good size off-white head. Sweet, sugary aroma of malt, spices and alcohol. Complex flavour of sweet malt, spices, alcohol, brown sugar, citrus and herbs (thyme and the like). Full bodied. Wow, this is a great beer and a pleasant surprise -- fantastic!

Bottled(750ml). -Reddish/brown coloured, medium sized off-white head, alcoholic and dried fruits nose. The taste is very fruity and light spicy, alcohol is quite noticable and the finish is mild sugary. Nothing more nothing less than good.