N’Ice Chouffe

Bottled(750ml). -Reddish/brown coloured, medium sized off-white head, alcoholic and dried fruits nose. The taste is very fruity and light spicy, alcohol is quite noticable and the finish is mild sugary. Nothing more nothing less than good.

750ml bottle. 2005 vintage, aged 3 years, drank on 12/31/08. pours reddish brown with creamy tan head. nose of toffee, dark fruit, subtle port notes, with clove and orange peel. flavors are much of the same, finish is a bit short, the age seems to have done this well as I’m liking this a lot more than fresher draft versions I’ve had in the past. Is it just me or do dark belgian strong ales tend to get better with a few years of age?

0.75l bottle courtesy of ogivlado (thanks!) who shared it with me and heavy. Poured a hazy reddish brown colour with a medium-big persistent off white head. The nose is complex, dusty, with notes of caramel malt, fruit (orange), some spices and alcohol. The taste is sweetish, alcohol again, sticky maltiness with some orangey notes. The thyme actually shows up in the taste, noticable near the end. Tasty, ok enough.

750ml - 2006 - Aroma of dark fruits, holiday spice and a touch of citrus. Pours dark brown with a small head and good lacing. Flavor matches aroma. Palate is smooth with a tart finish. Not a lot to say, but a great tasting brew.

Draft at Isaac’s: Poured a dark cherry color with a small head. The aroma was sugary, fruits, plums, and raisins. The flavor was delicious, sweet, raisons, sligltly malty but finishing smooth. Overall, a great beer.

Pours a muddy chestnut with a very fizzy head that dies almost instantaneously. Very carbonated, but a thing spritzy feel to it. Flavor is good, malty with an herbal bitterness. It’s got a bit of a syrupy quality, but overall a nice beer.

Appearance: Dark mahogany-hued body with an inch of creamy-looking, off-white head. Very delicate, powdery lacing on the down. Smell: Sugary, boozy nose with notes of caramel, dried fruits, earthy spices, and orange extract -- it smells like a slice of fruitcake with a shot of liquor poured over top. Taste: Sweet mix of dark candi sugar and caramel upfront followed by dried cherries and a shot of what you’d expect raisin schnapps to taste like. Small savory, peppery hint along with a taste of dried, bitter orange peel. Light bitterness throughout. Sip of spiced wine. The alcohol particularly comes through on the dry finish. Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. A bit chewy, a bit sticky. Drinkability: The drinkability for this big, warming, spiced concoction is fair. Another fine beer from a fine brewery.

2007 edition. Dark mahogony color. Aroma has spicy overtones with a nice malt presense. Semi-sweet flavor with the spices, not too powerfull. Has a mild richness to it. Very enjoyable and pleasant.