N’Ice Chouffe

Just before cracking this gem I shared a bottle of Orval with my girlfriend - I thought that was a musky Belgian ale...but man, this sets the bar. Stored since ’03, this beer has reached a supremely round mellowness that really brings out the big earthiness in the yeast and curbs the edgy alchohol. There is a wonderful breadiness here - something fermented like French - mixed with an extremely smooth buttery hazelnut character. The yeast really comes through a touch sweet - apples or currant. A sprinkling of hops give the fruit a fresh quality - very contrary to the musky yeast and malt. The mouthfeel here is unbeatable, just gooey and sweet with that hoppy freshness. An excellent winter ale, but hell...I loved this and it’s spring.

(Bottle 75 cl) Quite dark, almost chestnut color, with a light brown head. Pretty full-bodied and heavy beer that lacks some finesse. Doesn’t taste heavily like alcohol, but has an unpleasant bitterness. 050599 and 051103

2004 750 Bottle: OK, I expected a real cork in this, oh well. Pours with lively carbonation and a pillowy head; spicy orange-citrusy nose, yeasty and musty notes; sweet, fruity front end with molassas/brown sugar, cola, and dark fruits (dates and raisins); I’m not catching any of the thyme in this; thinning hot alcoholic tinge, tingly carbonation, curacao bitters, and dryish finishing palate seem to balance the potentially cloying sweetness and cut the syrupy body; my hangover is now officially gone after drinking this.

Deep brownish crimson, thick light tan head. Complex nose of spices, berry, dried apricot, dark candy sugar, citrus, herbs, and a hint of wet earth. Flavor is similar with spiced up front sips that gain a near perfect bittersweet hoppiness in the end. This one is all about the balance. Full bodied, zesty carbonation, warming, dry, bittersweet finish. Really nice....

BBD 2009. Robe rouge. Mousse en dentelle épaisse et persistente. Arômes de cerises et de levure. Saveurs de cerises de marasquin et de sucre de candi. Houblon de soutien. J’aime vraiment beaucoup! Très spéciale

Bottle at O’Briens. Thanks to whomever was responsible for this. Caramel, sweet vinous aroma. Quite vinous. Nice. <pun> Hazy amber color with yellowish small head. Sweet, creamy, milky to start. Sweet sugar notes with mild bitterness then takes over. Very nice and easy-drinking.

This was a beautiful deep amber color with a rich citrus aroma. The thyme wasn’t noticable in the taste but the curacao peel really pushed the citrus to the forefront of the palate.

Deep and cloudy red brown with a good big head. Malt aroma with dried fruits and flowers too. Malty flavour, sweet without being overwhelming, some alcohol/wine notes too.