Mc Chouffe

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

Aromas of cinnamon and spices in addition to characteristic malts but an otherwise uncomplex nose. Perhaps I had it served too cold. Semi-opaque brown. Pours with a big creamy head. Certainly a good beer.

The 750ML bottle poured a deep brownish ruby red beverage with a huge frothy cream colored head that settled to a small creamy head that was completely lasting and left good lacing on the glass. The aroma was characteristic of a Belgian strong ale ... pungent, fruity and spicy notes caress the senses with hints of leather, malt and cotton candy hiding in the recesses of the palate. The body was full with soft carbonation and a smooth, creamy texture. The flavor started out sweet and stayed that way throughout the long finish. There is a subtle alcohol warmth at the end as well.

The aroma is something of a whisky malt, reminiscent of Adelscott. Very dark ripe fruit color with beige head that ringed rapidly. Medium body. Creamy carbonation. Flavor of ripe fruit, including some strawberry. It then moves to gritty malt, coffee, and some light bitter. The alcohol can be sensed. It’s absolutely delicious.

On draft. Black beer with brown highlights and a lacy, vanilla head. Faint aroma of malts and dark fruits. Awesomely balanced flavor with notes of roasted coffee and prunes. Mildly bitter hops and a touch of whiskey. Lightly dry with a malty-bitter finish.

Brown with a small- off-white head. Notes of caramel and malt, slightly roasted. Hoppy, yeasty with a hint of friut. Full body with a sweet finish.

Bottled. Beer is clear medium-dark brown with a small, off-white, frothy, mostly diminishing but lasting head.<P>The aroma is malty with moderate/heavy notes of toasted grain, moderate caramely toasted bread crust, shortbread; Hoppy with moderate notes of resin/pine, honeysuckle; Yeasty with a light doughy note of basement; Moderate miscellaneous note of spicy, woody alcohol, syrupy stone fruit.<P>The flavor is moderate/heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter with a long, warm, moderately sweet, trace bitter finish.<P>The body is full, the texture is watery/velvety and the carbonation is lively.<P>Lots of layers and rich warmth.

Pours with a huge yet quick, sand-colored head over a rubied-mahogany body loaded with yeasty granules of joy. A lingering metallic presence detracts from an otherwise pleasant aroma. Tart and wooden with stone fruits and moldy cheese. Diverse flavor moves from tart yeasts to lightly sweetened earthiness to cherries and some dark fruit. Palate can’t seem to make up its mind with a thin viscosity that seems watery yet finishes dry. As the last yeasts pour in, the mouthfeel becomes full and almost creamy (gaining a point) and I can imagine I’m drinking the draught version. Esters sneak in and become rather robust late. In all, I very much enjoyed this and wish I can remember where I bought it .

<font size=-4>750ml bottle from an unknown location.</font>

Bottle. Sweet fruity nose is very exotic - first impression was of pomegranate and mango. Ruby-mahogany pour, very dark and nearly opaque with strong visible carbonation and a large, creamy, rocky tanned head that creeps up the sides of the glass. Taste, too, is exotic, flavors mentioned before but with peaty malt, wood, and light figs entering in. Crisp and playful mouthfeel, full body. Not really dry at all, though the woodiness almost serves the purpose. Earthy, spicy undertones, blending extremely well with the sugar. No real hop presence. Touch of warmth from the alcohol. Class and memorably unique!