N’Ice Chouffe

Hazy brown hue, with a fluffy beige head, leaving laces, yeasty, spicy nose of herbal thym, with a subtle provençal herb notes, with a fruity raisiny, an orangeish-curaçao accent, some toasted malts, sweet candy sugar, and a coriander aroma follows through a full-bodied palate with a crisp, yeasty, toasted malt character, with candy brown sugar, with some herbs spiciness, maybe thym, sweet curaçao, with a raisiny and plummy fruitiness, within a comforting warmthness mouthfeel from his 10%, leading towards a malty, fruity finish.

This 1996 green bottled brew marked #1230 from a bottle shop poured a small sized head of medium sized clear colored bubbles that were quickly diminishing and left behind a hazy with fine particulate no visible carbonation dark brown colored body and a poor lacing. The aroma was vinous brown malt and dark malt. The flat mouth feel was weakly tingly at the start and at the finish. The flavor contained notes of vinous and brown malt. A bit past its primne I suspect.

This big-shouldered brew was very pleasantly shared with my son-in-law as we sampled Costa Rican ceviches. (Probably not the greatest pairing, but still fun!) Big alcohol, deeply roasted malts, dried fruits, citrusy hints, coriander, yeasty spiciness, brown sugar, and plums. Really well made and exuding quality. This is a very fine winter warmer.

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.

In the 750 mL bottle from Beertopia. Pours a dark brown color with strong red highlights and a thick durable beige head of tiny bubbles. Mildly carbonated body and beautiful lacing remain. Aroma is earthy and orange coriander. Flavor is peppery on the tip of the tongue and the mouth is overcome by a giant wave of raising/plum excitement. Mild, but lingering hop spiciness remains long after the swallow. Plenty of orange flavors reside as well.

Bottle: Poured a deep hazy golden/beige color ale with a huge foamy head with good retention and great lacing. Aroma of spices with some sweet malt and typical Belgian yeast. Taste is quite sweet with some dominating spices and a yeasty spicy finish. I didn’t think the Chouffe yeast came out as much as it did in their other beers. Body was above average with great carbonation and no alcohol was discernable.

2004 bottle courtesy of Tim (IPFreely): Muddy brown with a medium sized off-white head. Rich fruity aroma full of brown sugar and toffee. A full bodied ale with big sweet malts. Hints of cinnamon and orange peels are present in the finish.

750ml bottle, 1996 vintage - I didn’t know what to expect from a bottle this old, but why not? Pours murky dark brown with almost no head at all. The aroma has caramel, dark fruits, and yeast. The sweet malts, fruit tones, and light spiciness blended in the flavor, but was rather mild and and definitely watery. As I feared, this bottle was well past its prime. While the taste was suggestive of a better beer, the age was just too much for it. I’m rating somewhat generously to try to allow for it, but still should try a newer bottle and rerate.