N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

This beer has another nice fruity nose on it, even more so than the Mc Chouffe I just had. It also has that slight tart note to it and I get aromatic notes of sour plums, raisins, even some prunes (to differentiate from the plum notes). There is also a nice sweet spicy note to this, that is almost a fruity spice note; either way it accentuates the fruitiness.

The taste of this beer starts out tart, like a tart fruit, and finishes with a nice sweet mix of fruit and sweet spice; like clove, mace and allspice perhaps. The finish also has a slight note of chocolate and more so even a hint of roasted malt, though both are quite subtle. This is quite rich, it really works as a night cap. It is a nice balance between the tart and the sweet character.

<font size=-4>Sampled on tap at: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/arizona/scottsd Brewing Co, Scottsdale, AZ<font size=-1>

2008 tap at the Blind Tiger. Candi sugar sweet aroma, notes of banana, hay and vaseline are apparent. Prickly, icy mouthfeel, with good sugars and mild herbals. Some rum & shandy notes are present. Nice yeast and body in this, but not too complex. Surprisingly drinkable at 10%.

Mostly clear, reddish brown with medium density, white, clinging head. Sweet perfume aroma, hint of citrus which hit me quite impressively with the first taste. Then it mellowed a bit into a more robust and complex assemblege of fruit and spice. The alcohol propels the aroma here, and it becomes quite obvious later on in the flavor as it lingers beneath the malty overtones. Quite good, but I'm not inclined to give it high praise. (on tap, Monk's, Philadelphia)

Bottle from 2007, opened to celebrate early May 2010. Malty, lightly spicy nose, yeasty with coriander and perhaps nutmeg? Dark chestnut pour with russet edges and a creamy beige head. Malty, strongly peppery, smoke, tastes and awful lot like a Scotch Ale to me, light spice, well-integrated alcohol. Dry, maybe a little rye spiciness as well? Not boozy at all. Rounded, very malty, full body with just a little prickle left. Certainly no signs of oxidation or wear. Mature and really rounding into its own, very nice!

2006 bottle. Great sweet aroma, malty with plum, raisin, vanilla, a bit of chocolate, sour apple, and toffee. Light orange peel and some underlying spicyness. A little bit of vapory character. Fruity rich and lightly hopped. Aroma is very comforting. Dark coppery brown clear with thin off-white lacing head. Medium-heavy watery body with medium carbonation - goes down very easily, with a bit of warming. Starts sweet with bread, deep fruity esters, plum, some vanilla and spice, woody. Orange peel and some bit of spice in there, a bit herbal but very mellow. Candy sugar, marshmallow, toffee, and light toasted grain. A bit of alcohol, slight warming. Finish is sweet but dried enough by the little bit of hops and floral spicyness. Not sickly sweet as many can be, and leaves you with a nice mellow sweet aftertaste. This is a really nice beer to enjoy on a cold Thanksgiving day.

750mL bottle, 2007 vintage. Pours a clear, medium reddish-brown color; decent light tan head with good retention and solid, mixed-bubbled lacing. Soft raisin and cola notes dominate the aroma, followed up by a solid yeastiness, dates, and light spicing; the alcohol is very well-hidden in the nose; loads of dried dark fruits and restrained sweetness. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: good levels of carbonation; following the aroma, lots of dried dark fruits (raisins, dates), yeast, cloves, and white-pepper spiciness; a very restrained, intricate Belgian strong, although I wasn’t completely taken in by the depths of the malt character; very upfront in its dark fruit character, some spice, but lacking an appropriate level of density at the core; very good, but not nearly as good as many of my favorite Belgian strong ales; still, careful in its presentation considering its youth; just a touch rough around the edges. Long finish: dried dark fruits, solid yeast and dough coming through; soft ending; very well-hidden alcohol throughout.

75cl, from De Hopduvel Gent, complex Winter brew, hazy, rocky head, very good

Dark brown with a light brown head. Aroma is sweet, heavy malty, dried fruit, yeasty and spicy. Flavor is rather sweet. Smooth and soft. 211207