N'Ice Chouffe - Brasserie d'Achouffe

plaztikjezuz

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pours a deep dark brown with a pillowy beige head that falls into a thin blanket, leaves a nice lace down the glass.
the aroma is rich with carmelized malt, citrus, and unidentified spice/herb (guessing it is the thyme) with a hint of alcohol.
the flavor is heaven rich with maltiness and cirtus, thyme, candied sugars, hint of bitterness.
the mouthfeel is a little thin but that is perfect to the style.
beer is very drinkable but most enjoyed on a cold night.

Serving type: bottle

01-04-2006 02:56:06 | More by plaztikjezuz

lordofthewiens

Maine

4.55/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bought this at Tully's; hadn't seen it there before. The bottle said Limited Edition 2005. An extraordinary , complex beer. It was a medium brown color with a coffee-colored head and some nice lacing. It had a distinct spicy odor, very warm, almost like a red pepper. Tasting was a revelation. It was sweet, orange, spices, some malt, and a nice warm aftertaste. A little bubbly for my taste. The alcohol is not noticeable at first, but it certainly sneaks up on you. Be careful with it.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2006 19:17:05 | More by lordofthewiens

GClarkage

California

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

12/31/04- Purchased at Beverages and More in Colma, CA

Presentation- 750 ml bottle with a little knome dude on it. Best before end of 2009, poured into my Duvel glass. Version 2004.

Appearance- Huge nice foamy head, a darker amber-brown color, but very light lacing.

Smell- New scents abound here for me. A decent amount of sweetness. Maybe it's the thyme or curacao I am smelling? Needless to say there is some kind of fruit in there.

Taste- Sweet, but not overly sweet. A citrus taste to go with some sweet plums or raisin-date kinda taste. Very tasty.

Mouthfeel- Quite full mouthfeel, but the ABV doesn't hit you as hard as most 10% beers. It caught me off gaurd and made it easier to consume. Perfect mid range carbonation.

Drinkability- The only thing holding it back is the ABV, which does sneak up on you. Nice buzz at the end of the bottle. Very good beer that will be getting cellared if I can get a couple more.

Version 2003....

Quite different....a huge and I mean huge thyme flavor. Almost so that it was making me gag. In the future I will be sure to taste before buying multiple bottles. Pass on the 2003...probably past it's prime.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2005 17:44:35 | More by GClarkage

bjohnson

Massachusetts

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a dark plum or prune color with purple highlights. Frothy and bubbly one finger cream colored head. Nice retention on the head.
S: Very fruity and fresh with pears and apples. Dark fruits of figs and prunes also are noticeable. Sweet and sugary with brown sugar notes. Spicy.
T/M: Full and thick in the mouth with spicy and sweet fruity notes bursting onto the taste buds. Spices, orange peel, apple, pear, figs, and dates. Sweet caramel and brown sugar round out the fruity flavors. Very smooth with just the right amount of carbonation. Slight hop presence in the finish. Toasted malts are also there, but not too big. Decent yeasty aftertaste. A tad hot and boozy, but it's actually nice.
D: Creamy and smooth. Excellent drinkability. More spicy than the other noels I've had this season so far, a bit fuller, and cheaper to boot. High abv doesn't cloud the senses and is hardly noticeable.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2007 02:39:49 | More by bjohnson

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.53/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2008 edition. Sent by mnwags as a nice surprise in a recent trade.

Murky, muddy look, like dirty old puddle water in a glass; speaking of dirty, the head is a dirty white--fluffy, creamy and producing incredibly clingy lace.

Aroma is a nice melange of exotic spices, milk chocolate, raisin, dark grape, and alcohol. The stronger scents, like spices and alcohol, just barely dominate the mellower and more vinous smells.

The flavor is total complexity and pure Belgian wonder. Unique too. The thyme this is brewed with can be detected, as can a softer cocoa powder element. The thyme doesn't spike out, fortunately, and the 10% alcohol only adds what it should, which is additional spiciness and a welcoming, cozy warmth. Various fermented fruits come to mind also. A hint of mint; healthy dose of orange; even some caraway. All this is swirled together and the result is a mellow beer that is intensely flavorful while not being heavy at all.

The airy and slick mouthfeel only helps matters...it's fairly creamy, mildly carbonated, and slightly sticky. A ghost of citrus bitterness in the finish, along with a consistent layer of smooth and silky cocoa.

WOW. That's about all I can say. This is amazing and a great beery delicacy...as are all the other beers by Achouffe. (Gesundheit!)

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2010 23:25:27 | More by Metalmonk

RoyalT

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance – The head came right out of the bottle. It poured a beautiful, fine, tan white. The body is an extremely dark brown, cloudy and carbonated.

Smell – This opened up wonderfully in my Chimay glass. The deep yeast aroma is laden with dark fruits and sugars. I can almost taste the dates, figs, overly ripe apricots, and brown sugar. I’m tasting this with a Lebanese dish I just made that involves making bread, so the kitchen is filled with a wonderful aroma of yeast, bread, and fruit.

Taste – This is terrific. The classic flavors come out in force here. This is a very thick blend of toasted malts and bready yeast. The fruits are bigger at the tongue. The figs and dates are huge! The sugar is present as well, making this an extremely well-rounded ale.

Mouthfeel – This is full in the mouth. You’ll want to eat this one with a fork. There’s a small sting of alcohol, which is amazing for an ale with a 10.0 ABV. The carbonation is big and top notch.

Drinkability – I had to drink this exceptional ale while making disgusting, sour faces so that my wife would think that it was horrible. No, seriously, this is a fine example of the style and well worth the ten bucks or so that I paid for it.

Comments – This is the 2002 Edition and is a seasonal winter ale, so it’s been sitting for almost a year. It tastes just right, so maybe this is something to age off the shelf. Either way, this is awesome and would make a great Christmas gift.

Update – I first reviewed this in 2003 with a year-old bottle, so thought I’d revisit this classed in 2005 with an ’04 vintage.

The beer is wonderfully balanced and extremely complex. The curacao that they use in the brewing process ads a particularly inviting dimension to the ale. The fine Belgian yeast stands out in my mind as exceptional, and I really enjoy the way that the sweetness moves in and out of the flavor profile. This is an incredible beer!

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2003 04:01:16 | More by RoyalT

TheLongBeachBum

California

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 75cl green glass wine style bottle that has a screen printed label. N’ICE CHOUFFE in red and white lettering adds a Christmas feel to this offering, as does the scene of the Chouffe Gnomes stooped around a small burning fire set against a snow covered village scene. This is an annual brew, and my sample is clearly labeled as Limited Edition 2002.

Appearance: A dark winter-brown body clear and free of any deleterious matter at first, later in the pour some yeast clouds appear. The dirty white head is massive at first, but it slowly rescinds, excellent lacing. Good carbonation, classic appearance.

Nose: Caramel mixed with some yeasty fresh bread odors. Curaçao is prevalent in the middle with brown sugars. The thyme adds a refreshing summer herb garden aspect in the ending.

Taste: Lightly sweet malts, some restrained caramel and a spicy feel at first, no doubt from the curaçao peel. The middle is all malt with some feint hints of an alcohol lick. The ending is the best part for me though, an excellent balance of malts laced with thyme which adds a very refreshing fresh ‘minty’ dimension to the end of this strong beer. I grew thyme in my Garden in England, who would have thought it would be put to such good use in beer?!! I’ll have to remember that!

Mouthfeel: Nice, solid, full-bodied ale that is not overwhelming, or alcohol dominant. The sweet malts add some bulk to the beer, whilst the thyme at the end lightens the load.

Drinkability: Well a 75cl at 10% ABV is never going to be a “downer”. However, the whole bottle afforded me several Goblet Glassfuls and steadfastly accompanied me easily throughout the night. Gets better, much better, and much easier to drink, as it warms - which means that the end of bottle soon disappears.

Overall: This offering, as the label does actually recommend, really needs to warm to around 60°F before it gets chance to reveal all of it’s complex nuances. As such, straight from the fridge, your impatience may well mean that you are far from impressed at first.

The 2002 is good to go right away if you see it on the shelves of your local beer store. But don’t believe the label hype about Cellaring – this beer is at its best around 2 years old and starts to head south after 3-4 years, sometimes quickly in my experience. It is better "fresh" I think.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2003 06:02:38 | More by TheLongBeachBum

yelterdow

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2005 Edition. Served in a Duvel tulip at cellar temperature. Bottle reads "BEST BEFORE END 2010". I will have to hoard a few of these for the years to come.

Appearance- Juicy, glorious berry red with raisin brown highlights... looks like it could be Rodenbach's heftier cousin. The explosive, four finger head pops and hisses into a thin mat floating on the surface. Lacing is moderate and sporadic, with island-like cling.

Smell- Huge, dark candy sugar and malts with alcohol-soaked spices of curacao peel and thyme. Monstrous and god-like are not overexaggerations of the aroma here... I am sitting here getting drunk off the smell. This is a winter brew built to last, and it has enough going on in the nose to probably cellar for years. If you blended a vintage ruby port with a quadrupel, this is what it might smell like.

Taste- Berry-like fruits plow through the festival of malt and spices, holding nothing back with regard to strength. Full, round, overwhelmingly huge (but not at all to a detriment) this has a balance that could be thought impossible for a beer of 10%. Of the great offerings from Brasserie D'Achouffe, this is actually my favorite.

Mouthfeel/Drinkability- Near perfection... Slick, rolling, and luscious in the mouth. The tiny bubbles whisk the gigantic, heavy strength of the beer elegantly down the gullet, leaving no harshness or cloying whatsoever. Each time I enjoy a bottle of this edition (2005), I walk away feeling like this beer is one of Winter's great treasures... and one to come back to again and again.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2006 03:03:18 | More by yelterdow

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Delicious beer! Typically Belgian S. D. Ale in that it's very berry like in flavor, sweetness, tartness, and intensity. Sweetened with cotton-candy sugars, barley malt, and spices. Full and rich on the palate without becoming thick or heavy. Sweetly alcoholic, but swirled around the berry tartness. Lightly woody, musky, dates, and figs. Finishes lightly sweet, tart, and spicy. Looks very much like prune-juice, but tastes much better. A firm, rocky head tops off this juicy beverage.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2006 17:55:51 | More by BEERchitect

stephendr

California

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Dull gold murky appearance – nice white head white however, the head does not last long– nose is malty , prunes , raisins , cereals , and oats , caramel , musty , and moldy very sharp – medium sweet sparkly body – initial taste is sweet then turns acidic, and malt , dried prunes , citrus flavor - aftertaste is medium with a creamy, acidic and roasted malts *2003 edition*

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2006 04:52:26 | More by stephendr

chris19571978

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I must say I really enjoyed this beer. Especially the dark candy sugar. The inside of the bottle smelled like melting chocolate. Amazing. I loved the orange rind and the smooth malty taste. The bottle is also great. The finish was excellent as well. The dark candy sugar came out at the end. I would definitely drink this again!

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2007 21:15:36 | More by chris19571978

DPFRD

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2007 Limited edition reviewed on 1-11-2011.
750ml in Affligem Chalice.

A- Dark brown with a blush encapsulated by caramel. Head comes strong, audibly disturbed and dies quick.

S- Yeasty notes are beset by strong tones of dark fruits and clove spice, finishing bitter sweet.

T- Date and prune jump start a ride into a peppery explosion of clove and hop bitterness amid a grassy background. Very complex, with an aftertaste as magnificent as the sip. Alcohol is barely detectable but noticeable if searched for.

M- Full bodied, creamy great carbonation.

O- Amazing brew, so easy to drink, so enjoyable, so exotic. Wish there was another waiting for me. It aged incredibly. You won't believe this beer is as strong as it is... It's so complex and has such a nice yeast presence.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2011 07:24:40 | More by DPFRD

RickS95

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2008 vintage

It's an attractive beer, pouring a deep, rich, spicy looking brown. Lots of particles suspended in the liquid. The head is bright white providing great contrast with the beer, but lacks solid retention.

Strong dark fruits in the nose, really rich smelling. Very wine-like bouquet, but with a bit more fruitiness and a little malt backbone. As it warms, the thyme and orange scents are more noticeable. When it really warms, the curacao finally presents itself.

Taste is more dark fruits--raisins, figs and grapes. The funky Belgian yeast is present and wonderful. Some candy sugar as well. Alcohol is mildly present in the finish.

There's a lot of sweetness, but it's balanced nicely with some citrus acidity, a bit of hoppy bite, some heat from the alcohol and the malt. Despite the minimal head, there's plenty of carbonation to keep the finish slightly dryish. Full bodied.

Overall, I love this beer. No major flaws. Easy to drink. Hides the alcohol well. Wish it wasn't a seasonal beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 04:44:02 | More by RickS95

jnn4v

Virginia

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured November, 2009 from a 2007 bottle. I'd had it before a year earlier, and age has helped a lot. It was good to begin with, and has only improved from there.

A: Honey-brown color. Almost opaque and a bit hazy with some sediment. Minor head, about 1/8 to 1/10 of the glass.

S: Magnificent. Smells of honey, balsamic vinegar, dark fruits, brown sugar, and toffee.

T: This tastes excellent. Honey, fine balsamic, candy, marzipan, dried apricots, toffee, and caramel. The closest beer I've had to this would probably be Cuvee Van De Keizer, although this is far more honeyed. Almost reminds me of an aged Raison d' Extra, but with Belgian characteristics layered on top.

M: Very good texture. Completely appropriate for the style. Nice, full-body mouth feel.

D: Alcohol is evident, with a moderate burn on the aftertaste, but the flavors are so good that this is definitely drinkable. Very good.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2009 02:41:36 | More by jnn4v

ShadesOfGray

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

One of my top 10 Belgians...very yummy and enjoyable! Pours from a 750ml bottle stating limited (vintage 2007), dark with large head. Head is creamy and solid. Lasts quite some time and laces beautifully. Aroma is sweet and strong, with overripe raisins and dark sugars. Smokey malts.
Very satisfying! Tastes heavy and complex with a creamy swallow. Lots of Belgian yeasts, dark over-ripe fruits...raisins, figs, dark sugars. Alcohol is definitely noticeable at room temp. Drank at around 60 degrees. Not overly carbonated at all. Very good beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 18:13:29 | More by ShadesOfGray

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured into the chalice crystl clear amber brown with an almost tan head which rose well and fell slowly to lace the glass.

The aroma was spicy and interesting with a a nice citrusy punch coupled with a strong dark fruit character. The bottle lists thyme, but the spice in the aroma came across as more of a zesty spice, probably due to some alcohol phenolics. The dark fruits were mainly raisins and prunes and were well executed.

The flavor was nicely done with a well achieved level of spice which contained a moderate citrus presence. The spice was difficult to determine and even with the thyme listed on the label was not a flavor that came to mind. The flavor contained a healthy portion of dark fruits with raisin and prune flavors which complemented the citrus and spice.

The finish was dry with a lasting spice contribution and dark fruits well done into the aftertaste. The body was above medium and the carbonation level was moderate. The alcohol barely makes a presence and only really was a factor in the aroma, even the warming after consumption was low. A very nice beer, unsure why I had not reviewed it before, but a welcomed addition nonetheless!

750 ml bottle. Limited edition 2005 on from silk screen.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2006 23:09:06 | More by GCBrewingCo

Cyberkedi

Georgia

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a beautiful opaque chocolaty brown with a fine-bubbled head. The malty and strongly spicy aroma has a firm hint of chocolate. Flavor is rich with a nice balance of hops and malt, as well as an overtone of cloves and a hint of sweetness. Finish is lively and tingly.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2008 22:24:07 | More by Cyberkedi

JimTeal

Nevada

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Christmas beer has arrived! What a pleasure. In a boring, distracted and sometimes depressing world, here comes Achouffe with a pep-me-up. Spicy and N'Ice perfect timing for an excellent brew, and with it's annual limited production this Limited Edition makes me smile. High ABV ales are tricky, often just a slight "too much" alcohol or a flatness which is often the result, then toss in some thyme and curacao peel and you get a potentially volatile disappointment, not this one. So well balanced for what I call an exotic beer! Pours a hearty bold amber, good and stable head, pleasant smell, and clean finishing taste. Like I said, this one will make you smile, good seasonal beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2012 23:34:47 | More by JimTeal

Oakenator

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a darker brown with maybe a hint of amber. Head is ivory cores and easily a finger or two - a brief swirl excites it again. Good lacing and head retention around the rim. Smells spicy and sour style (it's not) - the latter maybe from citrus/orange/curaçao. Taste is sweet yet depth of flavor - good malt balance and Belgian candy sugar to sweeten.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 00:41:34 | More by Oakenator

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.45/5  rDev +8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle served in a Leffe chalice.

Bottled in 2011.

A: Pours a beautiful dark amber color forming a big and creamy head. Clear in the beginning and a bit cloudy in the end. Medium retention and some lacings formed and left in the glass. Spotty lacings

S: Very sweet and fruity in the nose. Sweet grains, candy sugar, raisins, caramel malts, earthy Belgian-like yeasts and light notes of alcohol

T: Sweet malts upfront. Hints of candy sugar, caramel malts, toffee, earthy and bready Belgian style yeasts. Raisins. Mild hops bitterness in the very end. Perfect taste

M: Heavy and molasses body. Medium to low carbonation. Strong and warming beer. Bittersweet Belgian style

O: Excellent drinkability. Excellent BSDA which is very close to a Quad. Not recommended: mandatory! :)

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 14:30:35 | More by eduardolinhalis

claytri

Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

The beer poured a rich reddinsh brown. The body is translucent, and the head was big and tan. The smell was heavy on the spices particularly the thyme. The taste was quite a treat as the spices blended for a very great tatse with a strong alcohol burn in the finish. The body was medium and dry. The beer was quite enjoyable and was a wonderful change of pace. I'm not sure I would make it a regular choice.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2005 04:47:32 | More by claytri

MABZ

Nebraska

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2005 vintage. We have the 2006 as well, but I was told it was a candi sugar bomb and much too green compared to the '05. Reminds me a lot of a well-aged Rochefort 10, though not quite as complex.

This beer pours to a nice dark brown color with a thick off-white head. Head retention is pretty good, but lacing doesn't seem to stick too terribly well. Looks pretty good.

The smell is where things start to look really good. A nice bubblegummy candi sugar aroma, along with some great esters from the belgian yeast. Smells like pineapple, pear, and orange, with a great bubblegum aroma. The taste is very similar. Sweet up front with a range of fruity, estery flavors. It has aged very well over the past year.

The body is fairly thick and creamy. Mild carbonation. Dry finish with little aftertaste. The alcohol is undetectable. Very good. I will probably try the fresher '06 version just to see how it compares, but this is a wonderful beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2006 09:14:57 | More by MABZ

becktone

Ohio

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2007 vintage

From notes 11-26-08

Eye: The beer pours a very dark red or garnet if you will, that is when light passes through it. When just sitting on the desk/table it is a dark brown. The brew is clear and forms a very large tan pillowy-rocky-foamy head when poured. Retention is pretty good, as it begins to recede it leaves some nice lacing.

Nose: Citrus notes are evident, one can't deny the use of curacao in this brew. Also a strong spicy yet green aroma..mint-like almost...it puts the picture of fresh green leaves in my head, this has to be the thyme. This leafy aroma (which I assume to be thyme) reminds me alot of the resin/sap that gets on one's fingers when tearing certain leaves apart, or tearing the stems of small green plants apart..really quite an herbal smell, fresh and green. Slight spicy peppery notes under all of this. Alcohol is extremely well hidden, that or it blends so well with these aromas that I can't pick it out. Just got some dark fruit aromas in this brew, plums, some of that sweet dark malt aroma is coming through as well. Overall a very appealing aroma, quite unique...really interested and excited to taste this brew.

Tongue: Definitely some nice dark malt flavors in here as well as dark fruit flavors. It finishes with that green leafy flavor-thyme...long lasting herbal flavor that stays in the mouth once the beer has been swallowed. Alcohol mingles with it close to the finish to produce what almost feels like fresh mint-a little warming and also refreshing. Curacao is one of the first things detected, its right there upfront on the tip of the tongue, that orange flavor is unmistakable. The more I get to drinking this the harder it becomes to taste the dark malt flavors and dark fruit while the curacao and herbal qualities along with some alcohol notes begin to stand out more. The curacao really adds a nice touch here, I'm thinking that it was the intended primary flavor, real nice. Very unique and quite enjoyable.

Feel and Drinkability: The beer has a certain weightiness to it. It comes with the curacao flavor, a certain thick and heavy quality that makes the brew feel full bodied. Carbonation is almost undetectable, a quality that fits this beer well, and something that I feel gives the impression of a heavier body. As aforementioned it slightly warms the mouth and the throat as it goes down. This brew's got a dry finish with some peppery spiciness to it. This is one that I'll have no problem finishing, I look forward to it. As a matter of fact I think that I might just add this to my line up of brews to go with Thanksgiving dinner. Its that good, this is the first time I've had it and I'd really like to see how it goes with dinner tomorrow. Very drinkable, and one of the most unique Belgian Strong Darks that I've ever drank. Real good and dangerously drinkable. Get your hands on this one. Don't know how it is fresh, but I can tell you that at a year old it is drinking real nice.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2009 23:19:08 | More by becktone

davidchollar

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Looks amazing! Dark, nearly black in the middle but obviously brown around the edges. I like to hold the chalice up to the side of this website to see a contrast :) Thick, wheat-color head does not overflow but instead settles slowly leaving some gorgeous lacing. Appearance is simply perfect.

Smells at first pretty subtle, regular dark Belgian aromas. Spicy raisin and bubble gum. I'm sure this needs to warm up to really open up. Unfortunately it's quite cold in my house right now! I just got home and it's snowing outside. Yay! Happy birthday to me. (the big three oh)

While I'm still hoping it will warm a bit, I can't wait, I gotta go and give it a taste. First impression is WOW what a finish! Full-body flavor with a really impressive sharpness of aftertaste. Clean & crisp, definitely strong but kind of hard to believe it's 10% abv! Surprisingly hoppy. I love that it's not too sweet. In fact I would say it's remarkably more bitter than is usual for the style, but at the same time certainly balanced.

Delicious, perfect winter warmer... *à la Borat* VERY N'ICE !!!

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2009 07:45:28 | More by davidchollar

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a clean deep orange-ish color with a small off white head. In the aroma, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and caramel. In the taste, spicy, mostly cinnamon, and a caramel sweet to dry flavor. A spice bite and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a dry caramel and small spice in the aftertaste. Big spices and nice caramell notes, hides the ABV, and very nice.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2010 16:52:23 | More by OWSLEY069