N’Ice Chouffe

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

Sample @ Norøl juleølfestival’07. A cloudy brown beer with a dense, lasting yellowish head. Initial aroma of malt-sweetness and yeast, followed by some pleasant whiffs of wood, mouldy cellar, fruiity acidity and spices. Taste is refined suger-sweeetness and malt-sweetness with notes of berries, yeast, farmyard and wood. Medium to full body. Lingering bitter-sweet finish. A very nice, tasty and challenging Belgian.

Green bottle, 75 cl, best before 05/09/2009, savoured on September 20 2008; eye: brown with golden caramel reflections, hazy, no effervescence, good creamy beige head that remains; nose: malt, caramel, candied fruits, alcohol, slight cigar, light fruity, molasses, yeast; mouth: malt, caramel, candied fruits, alcohol, slight cigar, slight spices, slight fruity, molasses, slight liquorice, yeast, finale in caramelized malt with a good presence of nicely warming alcohol, medium-full body, tingly in the back of the throat, mildly sweet, slightly bitter, silky and creamy texture, below-average carbonation; overall: quite likable FRANÇAIS Bouteille verte, 75 cl, meilleure avant 05/09/2009, savourée le 20 septembre 2008; œil : brune avec des reflets caramel doré, voilée, pas d’effervescence, bonne mousse beige crémeuse qui demeure pendant la dégustation; nez : malt, caramel, fruits confits, alcool, très léger cigare, léger fruité, mélasse, levure; bouche : malt, caramel, fruits confits, alcool, très léger cigare, très léger épices, léger fruité, mélasse, léger réglisse, levure, finale en malt caramélisé avec une bonne présence d’alcool réconfortant, corps moyen-corsé, pétillement en arrière-gorge, moyennement sucrée, très légèrement amère, texture soyeuse et crémeuse, carbonatation sous la moyenne; en résumé : bien aimé

750. Pours deep grainy, opaque ebony with a thicky, goopy, moussy tan head. Enormous dark fruit nose hits you at arm’s length, even from a fairly cool beer. Dust and hay as you reel in the glass. Big thick body but totally free of stickiness or oiliness. Nice soft abundant carb. Heavy roast fruit flavors, wet leaves, leather, tobacco--it’s a super rich mid palate. Nice sharp herbal hop sting to the finish; beautiful contrasting element.

Dark ruby/chestnut red with a small & coarse-bubbled head. Spicy sweet aroma, with blackcurrant, cherry, plum, curacao, cinnamon, thyme, raisins, vanilla, sugar & alcohol. Taste was full & rounded, again very spicy and sweet - caramel, cherry, honey, cinnamon, dark sugar, molasses, alcohol and much more. A huge malt-profile. Slight hoppiness in the finish but the emphasis is definitely on the malt. Mouthfeel was quite thick, not much carbonation. Very nice, indeed.

Bottle. Dried fruit aroma with light spiciness. Dark brownish black color. Flavor was well balanced with slight yeasty sourness that was enjoyable. Very good.

750 ml bottle. Bottle labeled as Limited Edition 2005. Pours copper in color with brown head. Sweet malty and hoppy aroma. Taste is of yeast and malt with a dry finish.

Drunk it from bottle and on tap. A very nice christmas beer. Full bodied and very tastefull.

750ml shared... Pours a deep amber with an average tan head that fades... very pleasant aroma filled spices, apples, raisins, candi sugar and Belgian yeast... light to medium body with more of the same... smooth and pleasing finish... there is a nice holiday sweetness... great.