N’Ice Chouffe

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

25.4 oz bottle. Pumpkin brown with a big head that settles to a skin. Moderate lacing. Standard yeasty-funky Belgian nose; thyme is evident but subtle. Crisp and bracing. Orangey with mild mulling spice. Sweet malts give it a holiday touch but still drinks like a blond.

2003. Dark plum with a full, lacing head. The aroma is fruity, malty and alcoholic. Orange, cherry, alcohol, caramel, varied spices and candi sugar. A nice, full mouthfeel. The flavor is fairly strong with fruit, alcohol and spice (in that order) taking over. Who brews beer with Thyme? Probably a lot of people, but this is new to me, despite having a '99 bottle two years ago. Very interesting and really quite tasty. I wish they had another when I purchase so I could lay it down and experience aged N'Ice again.

2006- Pours dark brownish amber w/ a full, semi creamy froth. Aroma of dark belgian rock candy. Medium nectar w/ mellow residual effers creates a soft creamy texture. Sweet yet refined and balanced. Flavors of dried fruit rollup w/ spices. Cherry, plumb, cocoa, melon, moscato grapes, bubblegum dust, bark, molases, The finish is finely bittered just enough to allow the moderate sweetness to linger. Not cloying. No medicine or cherry caughdrop. Very pleasant. Highly recommended.

75cl bottle from Systembolaget. Dark brown body with a tan head that completely dies. Sweet and spicy aroma with caramel, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Flavor is simailar; very sweet with spices dominating. Cinnamon and vanilla. Full and creamy body. Almost too sweet to drink the whole bottle, but good to sip on a glass with dessert.

2007, 750 mL bottle courtesy of Butters at the Barrios Nashville tasting. Poured a muddy brown color with ruby red highlights and a two finger off white head. The aroma was thyme, coriander and a sour note. The flavor was very spicy, with some warming alcohol, and a bit of metal on the tip of the tongue. The palate was average, with a very dry mouthfeel, average carbonation and a medium body.

2005 vintage 750 ml bottle. Pours a coppery dark amber with a medium sized creamy beige head. Aroma of dates, plums, prunes, caramel and light brown sugar. Taste is slightly sweet with hints of dark fruit, light brown sugar, caramel, toffee and malt. Very nice.

Very sweet, rich, caramel and brown sugar, dark fruits. Extremely spicy as well. A bit over the top, really, though reasonably nice.

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.