N’Ice Chouffe

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

What a fine product those at Chouffe consistantly put out. Pours very dark brown / garnet with a large rocky tan head that had good lacing. The aroma has lots of spice, dark earthy malt, Belgium yeast and creamy sweetness. Medium / full body that is smooth and slick with a good amount of carbonation that starts of soft and ends sharp. The taste begins with full rich dark caramel malt with some gentle spices, light sweetness, some dark fruits and lots of Belgium earthy funk. The finish brings out lots of spiciness (hops?), then the thyme becomes apparent with some pepper aspects as well. Very enjoyable and it hides the 10% very well.

From capped 750. Pours a deep orange brown with tan head. Nose is light fruits, yeasty and lots of spices, some herbal. Flavor is more of the same. Lots to disect, but mostly herbal spices. Palate is highly carbonated. Pretty good, but a little odd.

#961, Bottle, sampled at the Champaign Urbana Beer Club meeting in December of 2006. Hazy brown, big frothy tan pale head. Nose is sweet and yeasty, bland taste sweeter but sharp, yeasty and malty dark fruity but bland.

Bottle. Dried fruit aroma with light spiciness. Dark brownish black color. Flavor was well balanced with slight yeasty sourness that was enjoyable. Very good.

2005 bottle. One to be savored slowly. Overall, in the grand scheme of things, probably a middle of the road Belgian strong. But I happen to love Belgian strong, and this one was almost perfect in its complexity. Surprisingly light bodied for so much alcohol; Belgians do that best. Did not detect the spices or orange peel, but did detect a judicious amount of hopping. Aroma was mild, considering the style. Very tasty, and a grand winter warmer. Excellent example of a "special" Christmas seasonal.

On tap. Dark brown coloured with a medium sized head. Malty and sweet with notes of yeasts, anis, dark fruits and berries.

2006. cloudy dark brown. large brown head. malt , berry, herbs, and spices in aroma. lots of flavors. (lemon, peanuts, strawberries, other assorted tart berries, freshly mowed grass, unripe black seeded grapes, anise, licorice. sweet and sugary with tons of spices. lots of herbal notes. just wonderful. my favorite la chouffe. 2007 edition is not nearly as good, but i’m still keeping my 06 rating.

On tap at Max’s. Poured a deep ruby with a tan head. Aroma had plenty of malt, and frutis. Sugar and hops were also evident. Flavor was a little muted, but good. Fruit, yeast, caramel malts and some hops. It was good but not what I had hoped for, Ill have to try it again though.