Mc Chouffe

11.2 oz bottle: This one opened with little evidence of carbonation, but poured with a fairly large head anyway. It died off rather quickly, however. It is a fairly opaqur brown color. The nose was nice, with notes of caramel, yestiness and fruits, although there was a slight hint of a peatiness. The taste has a bit of a roasty taste and dryness that wans’t expected. A bit of the peatiness in the taste also, as well a a bit of caramel and smokiness. Interesting...

aroma of malt and the smell of white grapes. brownish ruby color with medium off white head. i dont detect any smoked ingredients. flavor is light bodied, watery, and malty with a grape flavor. decent but not for a scotch ale.

This beer is an almost clear, deep amber color that has ruby highlights when held up to the light. It is topped by a thin light brown head. The aroma s slightly tart with notes of dry raisin character, bits of toffee, a touch of roasty almost coffee-like notes, and a finish that reminds me of rum.

The taste is rich with a fruity sweetness that is a mix of raisins, figs and a hint of toffee. The finish has a light, though sharp bitterness and a certain astringency or spiciness that is fermentation driven. Either way these notes in the finish provide a great balance to the sweet, fruity character found up front. This beer has a really nice balance to it that makes it quite enjoyable. It is rich and satisfying with out being cloying, or even without destroying the smooth drinkability of this beer.

<font size=-4>Sampled on tap at: <a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Place/arizona/scottsdale/papago-brewing-company/137.htm>Papago Brewing Co, Scottsdale, AZ<font size=-1>

A Mes rate: Very much as you would expect. It’s pretty much a dark La Chouffe. Yeasty nose with some caramel. Nice red brown colour with a chunky long lasting pillowy head, leaving lots of lace. More caramel in the flavour plus pretty much everything you find in the La ie; lots of sweetness and fairly apparent alcohol. Quite malty too. Reasonably complex and fairly enjoyable.

(75cl bottle) Huge off-white and lasting head. dark brown colour. Malty aroma, some grains/cereals. Toasted. Full and creamy body with soft carbonation and a bitter finish.

Bottle. Dark brown with a large light beige head. Caramel, malt yeast and fruit in the aroma. Quite an effervescent, medium to full mouthfeel. Malty, caramel taste with raisin and some spices at the finish. Well hid alcohol until the strong and late warming. Quite highly carbonated which downgrades the mouthfeel a bit. Very good.

Reddish brown body. Champagne head. Nose was fruity, malty, raisins, spices. Lively carbonation tickled the palate. Flavor was sweet and clean and crisp that ended in a nice, warm alcohol glow.

Bottled. Brown beer with a beige head. Sweet and malty aroma. Warming, sweet and malty. Rating: 6-3-7-3-15-3.4. 051028

Bottle, 33cl. It’s a more or less clear beer, dark amber body topped by a beige, finger-thick head. Typical Belgo-sweet sugary nose with a good dash of alcohol and dried fruits. There’s roasted malts in there as well as a spiced note it seems. Sweet, malty flavor with dried fruits and roasted malts. A good alcohol warmth plays with my mouth and throat, and some bitterness lingers. Full-bodied and well carbonated. The finish is lasting and maybe a bit warm for this beer, but overall I really enjoy it. Well worth a revisit or two. 091102