N’Ice Chouffe

Brewed by Brasserie d’Achouffe (Moortgat)
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Achouffe, Belgium

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.

2008 Edition, brought up from the cellar and served cool - Off white head that dissipates. Brown body, a tiny bit watery on the mouthfeel. The aroma and taste are what make this brew. Sweet, balanced, malty majesty. Warms up nicely, smooth. Quite a treat. 750 mL

Bottled A dark brown coloured beer with a little head. The aroma has candy sugar, spices and a little licquorice. The taste is similar with spices to the fore. Notes of coal in the mouth. Warming.

Appearance: Dark brownish red. OK amount of shortlived white head. Aroma: Prunes, dark malt. Some alcohol. Taste: Dark fruit and malt. Vinous. Slight alcohol, warming. Info: 750ml bottle, 25/12-2008

strong spice, boozy nose as well. flavor is of slight malt, relatively strong sweetness and heavy spice. still comes across a bit hot on the palate, more then id like but then again as it says on the label, this is best as a winter warmer, cellar temp in a tulip or schnifter. this doesnt have alot of the things i like about the other chouffe beers which is unfair for me to hold against it, but its still a solid beer at worst. one of the most appropriate seasonal beers i can think of off hand, try one before it gets too hot outside.

2004 Edition. Very smooth with the sugars and spices coming through. No hotness and a very smooth mouthfeel. Quite enjoyable and Ill be looking forward to the couple of bottles of the 2006 version Ive put away.

0.75L bottle, murky brown colour with some reddish taints smaal stable head. spicey aroma with some unusual spices, i detected cumin and saffron, also some vanila. Spicey flavours, clove and cinnamon, scent of orange peel and some mellow white fruit, all souronding a big malty backbone Alcohol is strong and a little overpowering. Body is not to big for such a strong brew, sour aftertaste with some notes of dried fruits.