N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

2003 Edition This is my first stab at his brew in quite some time. The last "dead soldier" I have is of the 1999 version, but probably purchased in 2001, and the differences are that that one called itself a barleywine on the label, and this one advertises itself as an "ale brewed with thyme and coriander peel." The descriptions on the back label are slightly different, but this new one calls itself a "winter warmer", not a barleywine. Deep, dark reddish brown color, with a prodigious, creamy tan head, fluffy, bilious. overwhelming. Aroma: airy, nutty, spicy, but sadly subdued, at least not providing what I was expecting, though I continued to enjoy it before taking a taste. Fruity, spicy, a wonderful marriage of flavors, richly malted, brilliantly hopped, full of dark fruit (grapes, cherries, plums), various spices, utterly tasty, happily helped by the orange in the mix. Very sublime, very subtle. Full-bodied, full-flavored, wiuth spice and fruit awarding your good taste at every sip. Nice finish, nice texture...just beautiful... Highly recommended.

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

2007 bottle at Barrio’s tasting courtesy of Butters. Pours a murky brown with a beige head. Aroma of dried thyme and Belgian esters. Medium bodied with a fine Belgian effervescence. Flavor of dark wheat malt, spice, candi sugar, and yeast. Detectable alcohol on the finish, but not overbearing. Good beer.

Draught @ the Dilly Deli. Pours a rich dark brown with ruby highlights and a fine tan head. The aroma is caramel, spices, and sweet fruit. The flavor is again caramel, spices(maybe a hint of corriander), sweet fruit, brown sugar, and toffee. Thick and syrupy. Alcohol does make an appearance, but not in a bad way.

The nomes will not fail you! I haven’t had a bad one from these guys yet, and this is no exception. Murky brown appearance with a very complex flavor. It taste cherries, raisins and plums. Loads of dark fruit exist here along with some caramel and alcohol. Good one!

Thanks to Tim for sharing. Deep ruby, off-white head. Nose is cocoa, caramel malt, fruits. Flavor is cocoa, caramel, yeast, cherry/strawberry.

UPDATED: JAN 20, 2004 Malty and juicy with a belgian yeast flare. Lovely herbal, leafy tones placed over a chewy malt bedding. Decadency in a glass.

750 ml bottle, 2005 bottle drunk April 2008. Pours a brown color with a small tan head. Aroma is alcohol, spices, pines, earth, and something akin to sweet sugar candy. Flavor is about the same, brown sugars dominate, caramel, spice, and malt with notes of cherries.