N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Spicy, peppery nose; deep ruby color. Quick sweetness up front turns to a spicy, cinnamony middle with a sharp, peppery finish that is dry and chalky. Not as complex as I expected, but great balance. Medium body - not as fat as I thought either. The alcohol was unnoticeable in the flavor profile.

Alcohol interferes with aroma -meaning, I guess, that I don’t detect anything strongly. Dark ruby brown color. Flavor is malt, accompanied by unassignable fruit. A bit sweet, but that’s expected. The malt overpowers the hops at the finish. Very drinkable, but perhaps a bit of citrus would balance things.

Orange/amber color with a moderate light tan, lasting head. Spicy yeast, orange and malt aromas. Very herbal in flavors, with light white pepper, sage and thyme. Malt backs up the spiciness, along with a touch of dark sugar dryness. A bit young, maybe, but quite fulfilling now. Alcohol well hidden.

This beer poured a very dark amber color and formed a foamy light tan head that left circular lace. A good deal of carbonation is present. An aroma of malt, caramel and raisins. A flavor of malt, toffee and raisins with hint of other spices. A finish that is a touch bitter and has the warming aspect of the alcohol.

UPDATED: DEC 10, 2005 ***Re-rate***2003 Bottle... This has aged well. Smells a lot like like Westy 8; tastes much like Rochefort 10... IMO! Upgrage from 3.8 to 3.9...***2002 bottle... I was going to save this bottle for at least a year, but fuck it. It’s very cold outside, I’m sitting in front of a warm fire watching a good movie with the woman of my dreams and my two favorite hockey teams just skated to a 1-1 tie (Caps and Habs). I’m celebrating! The aroma is malty, soapy and yeasty with notes of winter spices, dark bread and just a whisper of toffee, red wine and warm alcohol. The high ABV is incognito. This ale is a nice, sparkling clear, amber hue with a copper tint. Large, frothy beige head leaving cool lacework. Mostly, but not fully, diminishing... much like my several thousand shares of WorldCom stock. If only... well, I’d be a wealthy man, but nevermind that. The flavor is malty and vineous up front with a burst of caramel and dark fruit. Well-balanced with plenty of spice, hops and alcohol on the backside. Just the least bit pungent and bitter with small notes of cinnamon, clove and honey butter. The candy sugar breaks through, but only slightly. Full-bodied with a fizzy & oily mouthfeel and heavy carbonation. Long, warm, alcoholic and somewhat dry finish. Slightly woodsy. This bottle could have used another year of aging, but a very fine, spiced dubbel just the same.

750 ml bottle. Dark reddish mahogany colour. Tall light beige fluffy head that clings to the glass. Crystal clear. High carbonation level. Light raisiny aroma with a hint of candi sugar. Some soapy aromas and the traditional Belgian yeast character. Münchener malt. Medium-bodied. A bit sugary, but there is quite a bit of malt here as well. Balanced. The alcohol can be noticed, but is well hidden. Hints of black pepper and sweet raspberries. Very drinkable given its strength. Nice.

UPDATED: JAN 24, 2004 Draught at Monk’s in Philly. Reddish acorn-brown, velvety beige head, and heavy lacing. Very leathery aroma and flavor. Dominating malts really fill out the body here however this beer has a lingering sour middle and finish and some respectable bitterness in the finish. Nice sour/bitter balance underneath but a bit too syrupy and malty sweet on top. Advertised as a Belgian barley wine on the tap handle.

Aroma consists of dark malts, fruit and anice. Bit bready and some yeast. Dark brown coloured with a lasting, off-white head. Taste is sweet, malty, anice again. Some bread. Balanced taste.