N’Ice Chouffe

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

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.

2003. 750 ml bottle. Reddish brown, and clear, tan. Nice lasting head. Musty fruit aroma, and hoppy. Sharp and hoppy flavor. Thin and thick. Malty. Enjoyable.

Malty and juicy with a belgian yeast flare. Lovely herbal, leafy tones placed over a chewy malt bedding. Decadency in a glass.

I had to get a jar of thyme out of the cabinet to sure, but yep this has a strong nose of thyme. Some doughy yeastiness, caramel and soap. The flavor is mostly yeasty, some spiciness that is probably both thyme and yeast. Finish is dry, with some hops, and an alcoholic burn. An interesting specialty ale, not something serve without a reason. I’m using the rest to cook with my thanksgiving turkey.

Dark brown in colour with a long lasting beige head, excellent lacing. The aroma is vinous, malty, some plums, apples and spices. The flavour is spicy, noticeable alcohol, very plummy, some bubblegum, yeast, light citrus. Sweet mouthfeel, medium body, medium/high carbonation. Finishes long, warming and fruity.

The plums really come out more as this warms up but so does the alcohol. This is good but at this points its not getting any better.

750ml bottle obtained in a trade with TheCheeseMan, thanks Dan.
Opened on June 14, 2008.
Vintage 2003.

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.

750ml bottle, 1996 vintage - I didn’t know what to expect from a bottle this old, but why not? Pours murky dark brown with almost no head at all. The aroma has caramel, dark fruits, and yeast. The sweet malts, fruit tones, and light spiciness blended in the flavor, but was rather mild and and definitely watery. As I feared, this bottle was well past its prime. While the taste was suggestive of a better beer, the age was just too much for it. I’m rating somewhat generously to try to allow for it, but still should try a newer bottle and rerate.

Bottle: Pored a dark black/brown with a tan brown head. Smell was that of sweet candy and caramel. The taste was a sweet sugary flavor.