N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

750ml bottle. Slightly hazy orange/amber body with a huge, foamy beige head. Complex aroma of sweet caramel, brown sugar, dry fruit, spices (coriander, timothy etc), yeast and a tiny but warming hint of alcohol. Possible to just there and sniff at the glass for eternity! Flavor is no disappointment, harmonic, warming, fruity, sweet, caramel, malt, sugar, raisins and spices. Full body and extremely delicious, alcohol is well hidden but very warming. Just love it.

UPDATED: FEB 26, 2011 750 bottle from 2005, and more delicious than ever. I’m a big fan of Brasserie Chouffe beers, but the winter seasonal may be the best. Brownish red with major froth, this one is very complex with candied malts leading the way for a rich bouquet of spice, yeast, and mild fruits. A superb beer that I always enjoy.

On tap at PP Carlsbad. Brown pour. Dark fruit, plum, spice, brown sugar. Pretty easy to drink, but not to complex. Meh, it’s alright.

(From old notes, bottle at Pikkulintu on 2008-01-11) Lots of malts. Rahter heavy bodied. The taste has got some hops, too, which balance the maltiness.

2007 bottle.

reddish amber hued chocolatey brown pour with lots of junk swimming around in it. it*s crowned by a creamy frothy tan head. lots of candi sugar and orange jump out of the aroma. that*s followed by a touch of spiciness, dark fruit, grass, earth and dirty thyme notes. loads of dark sugar richness on the palate but it is not overly sweet. a pleasant bitterness throughout keeps it very enjoyable... flavors of candied orange peel, nutty chocolate, rich malt and medjoul dates come forward before a spicy warm alcoholic finish. the thyme is much more noticeable mid palate and in the aftertaste than in the aroma. it*s certainly full bodied and very rich yet it still maintains drinkability.

there*s a fundamental comfort with the thyme...? 8/4/8/4/15/3.9

Cola coloured body with some tawny tinges. Light tan, large and mainly lasting head that left great lacing. Cinnamon and dull spice on the nose. Smooth taste that grew in richness as the beer warmed, alcohol was well hidden until I tried to drive home, roasted/burnt characters as well caramel and malt. Lively carbonation and a fairly long finish.

750 ml bottle. Christmas 2006. Pours a clear, dark amber with a moderate off-white head that lasted through mid-glass and left no lacing. Pleasant aroma of malt and just a hint of spice. More flavorful than the aroma suggests with thyme, citrus and yeast present with a strong malt backbone. The alcohol was very well hidden. Enjoyable.

Thanks to whomever brought this to the O’Briens gathering last nite. Cloudy brown, sweet, a bit on the yeasty side.