N’Ice Chouffe

Dark red amber colour with a rich head. Spicy and malty aroma. Spice (ginger) and caramell flavour. Sweet and warming. Tastets like Christmas.

I had to get a jar of thyme out of the cabinet to sure, but yep this has a strong nose of thyme. Some doughy yeastiness, caramel and soap. The flavor is mostly yeasty, some spiciness that is probably both thyme and yeast. Finish is dry, with some hops, and an alcoholic burn. An interesting specialty ale, not something serve without a reason. I’m using the rest to cook with my thanksgiving turkey.

This beer has another nice fruity nose on it, even more so than the Mc Chouffe I just had. It also has that slight tart note to it and I get aromatic notes of sour plums, raisins, even some prunes (to differentiate from the plum notes). There is also a nice sweet spicy note to this, that is almost a fruity spice note; either way it accentuates the fruitiness.

The taste of this beer starts out tart, like a tart fruit, and finishes with a nice sweet mix of fruit and sweet spice; like clove, mace and allspice perhaps. The finish also has a slight note of chocolate and more so even a hint of roasted malt, though both are quite subtle. This is quite rich, it really works as a night cap. It is a nice balance between the tart and the sweet character.

<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>

Amber with a nice lasting creamy offwhite head. Aroma is malty, a bit yeasty, creamy, with some mild spices, vanilla, milk chocolate and some wheat. Malty flavor, a bit fruity, some figs. Very nice mouthfeel ,nice lasting and a great body. Kinda malty finish with some alcohol.

On tap. Dark reddish brown colour with a nice beige head. Great sweet spicy aroma. Flavour og malt, sugar, caramel, spice and toffee. Ends up with a great warming feeling from the alcohol.

Bottle: Red brownish colour with a creamy minor shortlasting head. Taste of fruit and spiced. Well balanced, but a very alcoholic finish. Draft: much better beer than the bottled one, much more aroma and taste

Dark hazy reddish brown, big creamy beige head with long duration. Yeasty aroma of anise, cherries, coriander, dark plums, wood and pepper. Yeasty flavour of caramel black berries, spices and toffee with a acidic undertone. Long yeasty finish of plums, cinammon, figs, dried cherries and alcohol. Nice one!

Tall wine styled green 75cl bottle with a big cap and no cork. 2004 Edition - Deep dark mahogany cloud with a bloodish hue within. The perfect medium sized cap grows up quickly from the pour. Its dazzling soft whipped foam is very lovely and its color is lightly off-white with a slight sandy cover. Lacing is delicate and lasting in sheet lined dangling thick strings. One fine looking glass Aroma is lightly perfumey and complexing with a dark tender fruity zip of dark berries, raisin, prune, orange zest, and starfuit. Larger then life sitting on top is one complex alcoholic spice with tinges of metallics, flowery vineous powder, pepper, thyme, and ethonalic-like heat. Taste is nearly as complex with a simple, delicate, and firm display of dark grapes, raisin, orange, and dark candied sugar. Semi mild mid range spice and alcohol noted throughout. A bit peppery and floral. Almost minty with very microscopic tin tannins making the alcoholic warmth a bit earthy and softly dry. Feel is finely carbonated and forward with a full body and fluffy, tingly texture. Dark, mildly fruity and malty; sugary soft and nearly doughy. Smooth overall and balanced with a great little additional spicy warmth and one greatly adorned quiet dryness. Warming, soft, darkly sweet, and quite good and drinkable for 10%. A very nice Belgian brew. Recommended.