Mc Chouffe

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

Slightly cloudy ruby-brown colour with a moderate tan head. Malty, spicey aroma. Flavours of caramel malt & brown sugar with a slightly medicinal tang and a warm finish. Thanks to jercraigs.

750ml bottle poured dark brown with a big creamy tan head that stays well and laces good. Aromas of caramel malts, and lots of earthy dough notes as well. Flavor is caramel upfront with some good fruity notes in behind that some peat and lots of scotch. Palate is smooth rather well carbonated and fairly creamy on the palate. Not bad.

750 ML bottle, best before End 2006: Very subtle in all ways. I would never guess this is a 8.5% beer. Lacks any true direction or flavor besides its Belgian flavored yeast. I'm going with VENOM and wishing that I saved mine for a year or two.

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/scottsd Brewing Co, Scottsdale, AZ<font size=-1>

Boittle. Pours dark brown with a nice head and delicate lacing. Aroma is an old barn that once housed spices and hay. Earthy tones in the nose as well. Very spicy flavor, with cinammony yeast being very noticeable. A bit of carrot seems to be in the finish somewhere. Very earthy and demanding. Palate presents a quickly fading flavor that leaves an acidic bitterness. It’s a little better than average.

Bottle 8% (from Bitter Virtue). Toffeish slightly earthy hop presence, dried fruits and chocolate. A little spicy yeastiness. Not as sweet as it initially seems which is a good thing. Alcohol has a slight presence but is not overly noticeable. Full rounded body but not overly sticky. Nice flavours and suprisingly light on its feet.

Bottle. Hazy deep ruby/copper, with a big head that slowly disappears. Earthy malty aroma, with yeast, some spicy hops and a little sweetness. Medium bodied, smooth but quite high carbonation. Very dry finish.

On tap at Les 3 Forquets, Gouvy - Another beer I can’t believe I hadn*t had it before: Nice eggshell white head on the dark mahagony colored brw. Lot’s of malt in the nose also chocolate and alcohol. Woody, caramel and toffee in the taste - medium sweet but pleasant. Cloves finsh. Nice.