N’Ice Chouffe

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

UPDATED: SEP 8, 2009 2004 Bottle, pours a clear dark brown but looks to be a medium ruby when held up to a light, off-white head, nice lacing that shimers on the glass as it moves with each drink, aroma of chocolate dipped berries, dark candy, caramel and malt aromas, dark bread and faint funk fragrance in the background, dark tree bark, faint mint fragrance, faint alcohol in the background, flavors of blond brownies, some chocolate, I felt some alcohol warmth on the palate, dark malt, caramel, has the pepper on the finish, dark candy flavor, faint herb and spices (from the Thyme?), plum, blue berries, sort of a faint taste of berries dipped in nectar and dripped onto my tongue flavor, the alcohol does not not grow as this ale warms which is a good thing, there is a tingle of bitterness on the tongue to balance the sweet, this was lively on the tongue, light on the palate, has good carbonation, a thin to medium mouth feel, a nice drink to stay warm during the Winter nights.

750ml, 2006 bottle. Syrup colored pour with a loose beige head. Slightly tart smelling with a little sweetness in the back that doesn’t really balance it. A tiny bit of alcohol comes through, but it’s really well hidden. The flavor is really interesting - tart but slightly fruity, with some bread and nut notes. Really actually very nice. Slight pithy bitter finish. Well done.

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.

750mL capped bottle. Cloudy amber pour with off white head and lacing down side of glass. Good carbonation and malty sweetness with a little hop at the end. Alcohol very subdued. A relatively easy drinking strong ale.

Approx. 10 oz. pour on tap at Blue Nile in Minneapolis. Poured into a Maredsous glass. Sampled immediately prior to the Surly two release on 1-23-08. Yeasty, mostly clean but occasionally musty, strong aroma. Tobacco, banana, pear, celery, orange, and cardboard scents. The smell is complex, appetizing, and very nice. It is reminiscent of that of a dunkelweizen, believe it or not. Pours a hazy, medium brown with an orange/tan hue and a moderate amount of uneven, cream-colored head. Produces extensive lacing. Classic taste of a complex, strong, dark, Belgian ale. Raisin, coffee, dark chocolate, spice, bread, orange, and milk chocolate flavors. Candy and dark fruit sweetness. Tart, bitter, earthy finish. Hearty, dirt-bitter aftertaste. Thick, smooth, frothy, oily, and lively in the palate; satisfying. N’Ice Chouffe is a strong brew across the board and well worth a try.

0.75L bottle, murky brown colour with some reddish taints smaal stable head. spicey aroma with some unusual spices, i detected cumin and saffron, also some vanila. Spicey flavours, clove and cinnamon, scent of orange peel and some mellow white fruit, all souronding a big malty backbone Alcohol is strong and a little overpowering. Body is not to big for such a strong brew, sour aftertaste with some notes of dried fruits.

Draught from rattle - pured dark. Smallish head nice lacing. Dark fruits etc malts. Pretty good.

2007 bottle. Pours brown with a nice off white head. Aroma is full of dark fruits and esters. Flavor is nice slightly roasty caramel, dark fruits, and a bit of candi sugar. Very good.