N’Ice Chouffe

It is absolutely freezing here in west Oz so what better beer for choice upon the season than a winter warmer. From the bottle into a La Chouffe tulip. Chestnut tinged, ruby red body, bright, sparkling and very well conditioned in a showing from its minute, wispy, streaming carbonation. Head rose up the flue in typically good Chouffe fashion to set an inch and a half thick and drabbed its way down the glass well as I drank. Big, deep, dark malts lurk in the aroma under some strong, sweet toffee and candi-apple notes. Nice trickle of Merlot in there gives it a vinous quality and it has a little volatile alcohol shining through that gives it a pleasant warming, wintry depth. Heavily woody and spicy in the mouth, nicely herbal with a good balance of sweetness to not leave it too dry. There is cloves, cinnamon quills, turmeric and a hairs breadth of lighter drier spices like warming nutmeg. It is vinous as well; nice strong showing of fermented plums, bitter black currents and dry red wine. It’s body is not overly big, but it has a haunting presence in the mouth, only prickly in carbonation. Finish shows a lot of alcohol and phenolic spice, as it should with the qualities of the palate. It is warming, mellowing and dry, leaving a feint film on the palate (?). Plums begin to dominate as it warms but it doesn’t lose its bite. It’s nice, but not extraordinary. Heavily alcoholic, herbal and warming, it suits its style!. Not too bad at all. (75cL, 2009, Int’l Beer Shop, W. Leederville)

Pours a cloudy red brown with a two finger creamy beige head. Aroma of graham crackers, dust, powdered sugar, plums, raisins, cherries, and earthy hops. The taste shows the 10% ABV better than the aroma, though still doesn’t taste as strong as it is. Flavor is the same as the aroma with the addition of the thyme and misc spices--which isn’t terribly strong, though does complement the other flavors quite well. Highly carbonated, medium bodied. This actually sort of reminds me of a dubbel--especially the St. Feuillien Brune--only more alcohol. Very good.

Pours deep red with a large beige head. Malty, sweet aroma, with lots of sugar (candy and brown), some caramel, and a unique berry-ish smell. Only a hint of thyme and orange peel. The spices assert themselves a bit more in the flavor. Big fruity taste, with the usual dark fruits as well as a touch of sweet orange or peach. Ends on a bit of earthiness. Good.

2004. Pours a clear garnet color producing a huge, fluffy, pillowy beige head which maintains itself nicely throughout the glass. Thick lacing adheres to the sides of the chalice. Aroma is sweet, fruity and complex with notes of brown sugar, malt, black cherry, raisin, orange peel and various spices. Delivers a fantastic mouthfeel with lots of lively carbonation combined with a pleasant creamy smoothness due to the hefty body. Flavors also very complex. Starts out with sweet notes of brown sugar, caramel, ripe fruits (cherries, apples, oranges) and then slides into a mildly bitter peppery spiciness (coriander and thyme are definitely perceived) with a dash of warming alcohol in the finish. Would be a great beer for the fireside in the winter. A good excuse to go buy and cellar some more!!

Dark brownish red body, large head, great lacing. Aroma is malt dominated with sugar, spices, caramel, chocolate and darker fruits. Medium to heavy bodied, very smooth drinking. Fairly sweet. Flawless for what it is, but I was hoping for more in aroma and flavor.

Aroma: malt, hops, fruity, alcohol, raisins, sourish, nice yeast. Appearance: dark redbrown w/ whitebeige head, clear. Flavor: bittersweet, pretty balanced, sourish aftertaste. Palate: full-bodied, fluffy, yeasty, sticky aftertaste.

Thick offwhite head on a dark orange body. Smooth and complex taste with many fruity hints. Went down very nicely. Spices, fruits, sugar, strong but no obvious alcohol taste. Nice aroma too. A very tasty experience.

Poured a murky orange brown color with a very fluffy head that laced great and lasted for the duration of the drink. The aroma was spicey with dark fruits (raisins, figs, plums), bananas. Flavor was pretty complex, spices most prominent, dark fruits, candy sugar, the whole nine yards typical of the style. The alcohol was definitely strong and somewhat astringent, as this could have used some aging. Mouthfeel was moderately bodied and somewhat creamy for a Belgian. Enjoyable.