N’Ice Chouffe

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

Bottle at home bbf 08/2010 but its def initly been in the house over a year ... deep red brown ... bready spicy nose .. big rich dark fruit and roat malts ... light spice ... tingly on tongue ... bit over powering ... warming

Sampled at Cellar’s Wine & Spirits in St Paul. 2006 Limited edition (75 cl) pours a semi-hazy caramel amber brew with a fast dissolving creamy off-white head that reveals a creamy ring. Aroma of caramel malt, light dark berries, and a touch of holiday spice. Taste is smooth, creamy, medium to full bodied, very light carbonation with flavors of brown sugar, caramel malt and a touch of berries. Finish is a bit high alcohol with a sweet caramel and berry aftertaste.

750mL bottle, 2005 vintage. Poured fiery reddish-orange wih a coating, well-retained cap of tan head. The aroma picked up dark fruits and dry banana bread with peppery spices, orange peel, and green herbs around.. thick yeasty impression with lesser spice on the back of the nose.. very good! The flavor had a soft bready and dark fruity base surrounded by a great array of spices and heavy yeast.. orange peel, cardamom, cinnamon, and white pepper came to mind.. more fruit and dry spice on the finish. Medium-bodied with moderate-to-high carbonation on the palate.. building warmth that extended to the belly well after the finish.. balance was good, and the mild oxidation really didn’t have a negative effect. Good stuff!

The king of Chouffe. Light head on dark orange colour. Medium mouthfeel. Lace, some yeast, sugar. This is a controlled orange taste and spice beverage, worthy of the sip. Yes there could be thyme. 2006.

Bottle (750ml). Shared with blankboy, GregClow and tupalev - blankboy’s bottle. Poured cloudy deep red-brown with a solid creamy rocky beige head. Lovely aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and brown sugar/caramel roast malt, yeasty, mild alcohol - it smells like winter, wished there were an open hearth nearby. Flavour is spicy, the malt is sweeter, more candyish (hint of candy cane), still a little roasty, slightly chalky, with some herbal notes, citrus zest and alcohol emerge as it opens up and add a welcome pleasant hint of bitterness to the warm malt linger and finish. Mouthfeel is lively, sweet, sticky and creamy - I love these seasonal belgian strong ales, my ears turn red and I get a big goofy grin on my face.

2003 version. Dark brown color. Large foamy beige head. Aroma is malty and spicy. A full bodied Belgian strong ale. Malts are nutty and sweet. Spicy, with coriander, brown sugar and thyme being the most prevalent flavors. Its slightly sweet, yet there is a distinct mustiness as well. Hides the 10% alcohol very well. There is a touch of alcohol burn in the aftertaste, but that’s all. Lively carbonation. Very cool painted/etched beer bottle. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is sweet.

Bottle courtesy of Lou18. Dark hazy brown body witha creamy beige head. (3+) Spicey alcoholic aroam, mild malt and whisps of orange peel. Deep malty flavour base underscores a spiciness aggressively eager to come through. Lightly fruity waves are overshadowed by dominant stereotypically Belgian alcohol character. The booz is prominent but not unpleasant; warming. Fruity Christmasy feel to it. Medium to full bodied palate. Quite nice.

Bottle. Pours a big brown cloudy body with a big head. Aroma and flavor of fruit raisins and peach, light floral hops, and a big etoh warming in the finish. good.