N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Pours a beautiful opaque chocolaty brown with a fine-bubbled head. The malty and strongly spicy aroma has a firm hint of chocolate. Flavor is rich with a nice balance of hops and malt, as well as an overtone of cloves and a hint of sweetness. Finish is lively and tingly.

Opens with a light "happy-to-see-you"-gush, just little enough to save almost everything into the glass. Pours a bubbly, foamy, off-brown murk into my trappist glass, leaving me curious towards its potential. My doubts are soon washed away by the delicious Belgian brown sugary notes, washing around in my mouth like waves on the shores of the Baltic sea. A distinct malty caramel flavor backed up by raisins and plums add to the feast; this is a very good beer. Points off, however, for not exactly being a Christmas brew - it’s much too similar to other, all-year-non-seasonal Belgian Strong Ales to deserve any such special attention, despite its cute Xmas label. Nevertheless, I’ll be drinking this again before Xmas! :-)

750ml bottle. Pours dark murky brown with small tan head. Aromas of caramel, dark fruits, and dark malts. Flavors of dark fruit, caramel, toffee, and dark malts. Mouthfeel was average. Kind of just tasted like a thick brown ale with some Belgian influence.

I don’t know why it is, but I just don’t see the big whoop regarding the Chouffe beers. This one was better than most. I’m rating one I had a couple years back and have one on hand here, a ’97. But, I don’t know why I’m keeping it. Maybe hoping that age will turn silver into gold. Doubt it tho. Now you take the Chouffe Coffee Liquer and mmmmm, mmm!

This was a 2008 bottle. Nice earthy aroma with some bread and dark fruits. Murky brown pour with a tan head. Lots of particles floating around. Taste is very mellow and well balanced. Fruit comes through with the earthy malts. No hint of alcohol until you feel a burn on the throat. Dry and refreshing finish. My top Christmas/winter brew to date. And holy shit, be careful with this one. It sneaks up on you.

Bottle: Nice fluffy off white to light beige head, disappears quick. Beer color is dark amber red-ish brown. Smell some dark fruit, spices and hint of hops and yeast Taste is fine mix of dark fruit (prum, raisin) and dark spices. Taste a slight bitterness of the hops but more dark sweet spicier. Also hints of dark sugars, malts and hints of caramel. Well balanced, nice winter brew.

One year old keg at The Little Delirium Cafe. Pours a very thick, opaque brown colour with a thick light tan head. Aroma of caramel, treacle, leather and alcohol. Alcohol is quite present overall. Big caramel flavour with treacle, black pepper and light grassy notes. Quite dry with a foamy mouth-feel. Not sweet. Mild carbonation and CO2 prickle. Lovely.

UPDATED: FEB 14, 2008 Dark raisen in color, creamy malt head. Smells of wine and sweet prunes. Tastes peppry, with notes of leather and fruit. Finishes clean with little after taste.