N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Pours an almost Cola like color with an offwhite head which disappates but still laces nicely. Malt and yeast aromas abound. Initial sparkly attack which fades to a nice malty/sweet finish with a long aftertaste. Very nice beer.

Floral, ginger, butterscotch, alcohol. Remarkable for the palate. Aftertaste kind of sweet and spicy.

From a 75cl bottle, the 2003 edition (no I couldn’t wait very long...) Pours into the goblet a dark brown, almost pitch black with a thick tan head. Some dark reddish hints around the edges. Smells heavenly. Spicy and yeasty. Alcohol flavors but mixed in with orange peel aromas and sticky sweet malt aromas too. Very inviting. My limited palate will not do this beer justice. Spicy and sweet. Orangey flavors, fruity. The fruity yeasty flavors meld wonderfully with the dried orange peel flavors and I am unable to descern where one ends and the other begins. The thyme mentioned on the bottle is evident in the background. The bottle also states that it is brewed with "alot of dark candy sugar" and they do not lie. Lots of sweet, sticky molasses-like flavors. Hints of brown sugar? Lots of sweet malty flavors that I can’t identify. Just know that they are good flavors. Mouthfeel is sticky and the finish surprisingly bitter. Lots of those molasses tones stuck to the roof of your mouth. With all of this big flavor, very very drinkable. The perfect beer for a cold snowy evening. This beer only gets better as it warms. The bottle suggests 60 degrees. My cellar is close to 50 at this point but it warms beautifully. Easily my favorite Chouffe beer. I just have to get some to cellar before this winter is over, I can only imagine how this would taste with a year or two under its belt.

Limited Edition 2008 - From the big bottle, this brew poured murky amber color with plenty of n’ice beige foam, lasting for days. The aroma is boozy and fruity, with apricots and definite herbaceous and bready notes. The flavor is intense and complex. It’s got all the sweet Belgian yeastiness you could want, with a bit of toffee as it warms and some sweet/sour fruit peeking through, maybe like a dark grape(?) I would say it’s got a medium finish with nice caramel and malt prevailing there. Has a very soft mouthfeel with well moderated carbonation. This is everything a Belgian should be! N’Ice work! (couldn’t help myself)

UPDATED: DEC 28, 2008 On tap at The Wellington, Hull, UK, also from bottle. Excellent beer, pours deep dark brown/black with a big tan head. Smell is good belgian yeast, hops, alcohol and spice. Taste is wonderful hops, dark spices, sweet raiseny fruits and a warming lightly alcoholic finish. Even better on tap. Dangerously drinkable, great xmas beer!

Bottle. 22.5 oz. (2007 Limited Edition) Drank this Belgian Strong with Vinny and Sean. Popped the cork and the aroma immidately smacked me in the nose. Boquet of spices, malts, caramel, and sweet fruits. Thick, beige head, almost solid. FIrm body, creamy texture, and a magical finish. A truly epic brew enjoyed by surprise on sunny afternoon. Highly, highly recommended.

2008 Bottle. Aroma of fruits and alcohol. Hazy amber body with thin head, lacing body. Flavor is filled with fruit and citrus with a hint of hops and malts... slightly tart with a dry finish... a nice warming power and very enjoyable

the theme of this brewed belgium product seems very festive and taste in that way as well. Brewed with 5 types of spices it is simply amazing!