N’Ice Chouffe

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

Cola coloured body with some tawny tinges. Light tan, large and mainly lasting head that left great lacing. Cinnamon and dull spice on the nose. Smooth taste that grew in richness as the beer warmed, alcohol was well hidden until I tried to drive home, roasted/burnt characters as well caramel and malt. Lively carbonation and a fairly long finish.

2003 Edition This is my first stab at his brew in quite some time. The last "dead soldier" I have is of the 1999 version, but probably purchased in 2001, and the differences are that that one called itself a barleywine on the label, and this one advertises itself as an "ale brewed with thyme and coriander peel." The descriptions on the back label are slightly different, but this new one calls itself a "winter warmer", not a barleywine. Deep, dark reddish brown color, with a prodigious, creamy tan head, fluffy, bilious. overwhelming. Aroma: airy, nutty, spicy, but sadly subdued, at least not providing what I was expecting, though I continued to enjoy it before taking a taste. Fruity, spicy, a wonderful marriage of flavors, richly malted, brilliantly hopped, full of dark fruit (grapes, cherries, plums), various spices, utterly tasty, happily helped by the orange in the mix. Very sublime, very subtle. Full-bodied, full-flavored, wiuth spice and fruit awarding your good taste at every sip. Nice finish, nice texture...just beautiful... Highly recommended.

2003, thyme and curacao peel listed as theme ingredients. Deep brown, head just won't quit. Aroma is spicy, with a hint of wood, maple syrup, and alcohol. Flavors somewhat disjointed. Some orange, herbs, licorice on the finish. Hops wandering around somewhat lost amongst all the flavors as well. Not quite enough malt to balance it out, and the beer still seems sort of closed to me. Fortunate to have a second bottle that will be checked out again in a year, maybe the flavors will have come together better by then.

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.

03.15.05 2003 750ml bottle. Pretty cherry brown with voluminous tan head. Buttery and vanilla aromas envelop my head, some savory spice, no alcohol. Flavors are sweet and light for such a big beer. I’m almost taken back to a great tripel with this beer’s thoughtful tropical flavors, pineapple, mango, guava, but not big fresh fruits, more like slightly cooked fruits in a light pear syrup. Also curacao, toasty coconut, soem toffee. Dark malts carry the way with underlying hints of cellar, burlap, earth, and mild pepper. Wonderful silky texture with plenty of eff. This beer is complex, subtle, powerful, and delicious.

bottle, brown color with nice tan head, overpowering alcohol taste with some cotton candy thrown in, could not taste any of the spices really due to the upfront alcohol bite

Draught at Monk’s in Philly. Reddish acorn-brown, velvety beige head, and heavy lacing. Very leathery aroma and flavor. Dominating malts really fill out the body here however this beer has a lingering sour middle and finish and some respectable bitterness in the finish. Nice sour/bitter balance underneath but a bit too syrupy and malty sweet on top. Advertised as a Belgian barley wine on the tap handle.

Very tasty. Hazy brown with white head. Stornly spiced body with the usual caramel and yeast.