N’Ice Chouffe

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

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.

2005. Dark brown/ruby. Lively, fizzy, light brown cap. Earthy, peppery, funky yeast, dark fruits (mostly figs and raisins, some plum in there as well), spices, fresh herbs, sweet and roasty caramel malt, subtle floral and bitter hops, and a touch of warming alcohol. Aftertaste of pumpernickel, anise, caramel, earth, and the funk. Full, balanced palate. Well carbonated while at the same time soft and smooth. Excellent brew and is not pasteurized.

Aroma gives thistles, ginger and yeast. Tste is similar a slittle sweet but generally very balanced. Alcohol is hidden to a remarkable level. The easiest 10% 75cl iv ever had.

Dark browny red with beutiful white head. Aroma and taste is of dark fruits, spices and alcohol. This has the average Christmas beers sweetness - this is very pleasant though. Full body and and creamy texture. One of my favorite christmas beers. NICE indeed! Rerate feb. 09. 0,2 down . . .

2004 bottle. Dark ruby/brown with a perfect tan head, made of tiny carbonation bubbles, lasts almost entire bottle. Great lacing. Aroma is a strange combination of citrus, dark fruit, faint alcohol, (more as it warms), and spice. Except I am getting a minty/parsley like spice/herb. Flavor is on par with all the top belgians IMO. Big sweet malt base, residuel sugars, plum and cherry, even faint banana, pepper, alcohol. Smooth creamy mouthfeel. Underated IMO. Catching quite the buzz after milking this thing for two hours!

Bottle: Pours a red color. Deep dark red ... almost no other colors at all. A thick, tall fluffy light tan head. Smells of hops ... suprised to smell that in a Belian Strong Ale, especially one as highly rated as this one. Also some musty skunk in there, as well as alcohol, citrusy/lemon, and a little spice. The flavor is raisins, a litttle touch of hops on the finish, dry crisp finish despite the wet malty front. A little nuttiness and some cherries and other fruits.