N'Ice Chouffe - Brasserie d'Achouffe

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The king of Chouffe. Light head on dark orange colour. Medium mouthfeel. Spicey and yeast and malt aroma. Lace, some yeast, sugar. This is a controlled orange and spice beverage, worthy of the sip. Yes there could be thyme. 2006. Unique Belgian, surprising 10%.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2007 03:02:34 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

4.4/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Limited edition 2004. Riotously carbonated, softly glowing orange-bronze with more than a little brick red. What a spectacular color, especially when daylight is permitted entry. Due to the loud 'pffft' on crown cracking, I wasn't the least bit surprised to see a large, puffy, pale caramel cap threaten to overflow the glass. It's softly sticky, looks good as it deflates and deposits a respectable amount of frothy, bubble bath-like lace in the bargain. This is a tremendous looking BSDA.

The nose comes close to meeting the high bar set by the appearance. The first thing that hits me is a clove spicy yeastiness. Not far below that is nutty brown malt and tangy fruit. What I don't smell, amazingly enough, is alcohol. With a little more definition and a little more power...

If anyone is hanging onto a bottle of 2004 (I wasn't, I just ran across this one a few months ago), it's holding up very well. There's no hint of oxidation by my palate. I didn't taste it fresh, of course, but it's hard to believe it was any better then than it is now. I've just noticed that the fine print on the painted bottle reads 'best before end 2009'. That's about right.

N'ice Chouffe is easily the equal of McChouffe, which, along with Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel, is my favorite Brasserie d'Achouffe offering. Like the best Belgian beer, it's both powerful and subtle at the same time. It isn't possible to completely plumb the depths of beer this complex, but it sure as hell is fun trying.

Spicy trumps bitter, bitter trumps sweet. It doesn't really matter to me in what order they fall, as long as the beer is this delicious. Heavily toasted barley lives alongside overripe orchard fruit. If it was sweeter, comparisons to apple cider wouldn't be out of line. The star of the show, as in the nose, is a turbocharged yeast strain that is bursting with cloviness.

For some reason, the mouthful that just passed over my taste buds reminded me of chocolate and coffee. Is there no end to the palette of flavors that are being revealed to my palate? It's a shame, but I don't know that I'm able to appreciate thyme and Curacao orange peel. I'm sure they're contributing because this BSDA doesn't taste quite like any other BSDA in recent memory.

The mouthfeel that has been provided works exceedingly well within the scope of the rest of N'ice Chouffe's attributes. It's roughly medium for the style, perhaps a shade lighter, and is carbonated enough to keep mouth interest on the high side. Yeah, like my interest was ever in danger of wandering with a beer this good.

I considered waiting until I could acquire a fresher bottle before reviewing this Brasserie d'Achouffe offering. I'm glad I didn't. This is one humdinger of a BSDA that has just enough distinctiveness (thyme and orange peel?) to make it stand out from the world-class crowd. N'ice Chouffe is a very, very n'ice version of one of my favorite Belgian styles.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2007 22:24:49 | More by BuckeyeNation

ChainGangGuy

Georgia

3.68/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Dark mahogany-hued body with an inch of creamy-looking, off-white head. Very delicate, powdery lacing on the down.

Smell: Sugary, boozy nose with notes of caramel, dried fruits, earthy spices, and orange extract -- it smells like a slice of fruitcake with a shot of liquor poured over top.

Taste: Sweet mix of dark candi sugar and caramel upfront followed by dried cherries and a shot of what you'd expect raisin schnapps to taste like. Small savory, peppery hint along with a taste of dried, bitter orange peel. Light bitterness throughout. Sip of spiced wine. The alcohol particularly comes through on the dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Medium-plus body. Medium carbonation. A bit chewy, a bit sticky.

Drinkability: The drinkability for this big, warming, spiced concoction is fair. Another fine beer from a fine brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2008 06:29:27 | More by ChainGangGuy

brentk56

North Carolina

3.85/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Limited Edition 2005 (consumed 12/20/08)

Appearance: Pours a dark amber color with a frothy top most of which disappears, although the cap lasts a while and leaves some lace

Smell: The candi sugar jumps out in the aroma, which also displays an herbacious character from the thyme and curaçao peel; spice cake aroma, too

Taste: Opens with a spice cake flavor, with the herbacious bitterness taking over by mid-palate; after the swallow, the herbal flavors dominate, although there is plenty of raisiny residual sugar on the tip of the tongue

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation

Drinkability: This doesn't have the lively mouthfeel of most Belgians and perhaps that is due to its age, and I have to say that while the herbs add an interesting element to the beer, they aren't that enjoyable an adjunct to me

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 01:32:56 | More by brentk56

UCLABrewN84

California

3.85/5  rDev -6.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Blue Palms Brewhouse in Los Angeles, CA as part of their Jingle Bell Jubilee.

Pours a hazy dark brown with a 1/2 inch tan head that fades to nothing. No lacing on this beer. Smell is of malt, dark fruits (plums, prunes), and some mild spice aromas. Taste is of malt, the dark fruits, and a nice balance of spices. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and clean mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good BSDA with some very nice flavors going on.

Serving type: on-tap

12-11-2011 20:03:53 | More by UCLABrewN84

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a deep hazy golden/beige color ale with a huge foamy head with good retention and great lacing. Aroma of spices with some sweet malt and typical Belgian yeast. Taste is quite sweet with some dominating spices and a yeasty spicy finish. I didn’t think the Chouffe yeast came out as much as it did in their other beers. Body was above average with great carbonation and no alcohol was discernable.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2007 19:10:14 | More by Phyl21ca

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

oberon

North Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a tulip glass a slightly hazy russet brown with a huge blooming light brown head that sticks like glue as it slowly settles.Very spicey aromas like that of cinnamon and nutmeg with a touch of orange and prune underneath.The orange peel in this brew show on the palate along with some phenolic yeasty spiciness and raisin but its not overly sweet,somewhat breasy mouthfeel compliments the flavors nicely.Its a beer that goes down easy but not overly big flavor wise but solid none the less.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2006 02:22:25 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.18/5  rDev -22.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

Randomly found a 2008 vintage at my local haunt, so I figured I'd give it a go. It pours a hazy dark auburn-amber topped by a finger of dirty white foam. The nose comprises dark wheat, coriander, light mandarin orange, white bread, clove, and light cardboard. The taste brings in more of the same, along with more bread, more orange, some light cocoa powder, some maple syrup, and more cardboard. Something tells me some oxidation had its way with the beer... The body is a hefty-feeling medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a grainy feel. Overall, I think this was past its prime (despite what the "best by" date may tell me to the contrary), as it tasted fairly oxidized and felt like it had lost a step or two in the carbonation and texture areas.

Serving type: bottle

10-06-2011 04:32:59 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2003 Edition
This is my first stab at his brew in quite some time. The last "dead soldier" I have is of the 1999 version, but probably purchased in 2001, and the differences are that that one called itself a barleywine on the label, and this one advertises itself as an "ale brewed with thyme and coriander peel." The descriptions on the back label are slightly different, but this new one calls itself a "winter warmer", not a barleywine.
Deep, dark reddish brown color, with a prodigious, creamy tan head, fluffy, bilious. overwhelming.
Aroma: airy, nutty, spicy, but sadly subdued, at least not providing what I was expecting, though I continued to enjoy it before taking a taste.
Fruity, spicy, a wonderful marriage of flavors, richly malted, brilliantly hopped, full of dark fruit (grapes, cherries, plums), various spices, utterly tasty, happily helped by the orange in the mix. Very sublime, very subtle. Full-bodied, full-flavored, with spice and fruit awarding your good taste at every sip. Nice finish, nice texture...just beautiful...
Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2003 09:48:18 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4.2/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The beer pours a cloudy dark brown color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a rich and fruity aroma that's heavy handed with dark candy sugar and crystal malts. It's sweet with a roasted edge as well as being spiced appropriately. The taste is good also. It's incredibly smooth with a nice crystal/roasted malt flavor as well as a wonderful Belgian yeast fruitiness. It boasts of dark fruits and candy sugar. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with good carbonation. This is a tremendous beer. It's a full flavored Belgian ale with kick ass yeast character and a well balanced malt bill; very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2009 21:22:35 | More by WesWes

drabmuh

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer is amber and clear with a nice head of slightly off white bubbles, medium and small, that leaves some lacing on the glass. Carbonation moderate to low.

Not much aroma here, mild sweetness, some esters.

Beer is medium bodied and light on flavor in the front, it's slightly sweet but then I lose the beer on the palate some where. It's bland and plain, easy drinking especially considering the ABV, but I wanted more flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2010 14:51:28 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

3.78/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Poured out a clear, burgundy color with a one-finger, off-white head of bubbly foam. It left thin rings of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of spice and a tad bit of skunkiness. There was a touch of breadiness, too.

T - There was a nice presence of candy sugar with some bready malt. It had some good spiciness with a touch of dried fruit.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This was a very nice tasting Belgian. The aroma had some issues but it delivered a great taste.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 02:36:34 | More by zeff80

metter98

New York

4/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: The beer is hazy brownish amber in color. It poured with a finger high beige head that died down but for the most part left a thin layer of bubbles covering the surface.
S: The nose is sweet and has aromas of spices and notes of dark fruits.
T: The taste is very similar to the smell and also has some hints of oranges. Flavors of spices linger through the finish.
M: It feels medium-bodied and somewhat smooth on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The spices add an interesting twist to the style and make it a good beer to sip.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 04:29:22 | More by metter98

Gueuzedude

Arizona

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer has another nice fruity nose on it, even more so than the Mc Chouffe I just had. It also has that slight tart note to it and I get aromatic notes of sour plums, raisins, even some prunes (to differentiate from the plum notes). There is also a nice sweet spicy note to this, that is almost a fruity spice note; either way it accentuates the fruitiness.

The taste of this beer starts out tart, like a tart fruit, and finishes with a nice sweet mix of fruit and sweet spice; like clove, mace and allspice perhaps. The finish also has a slight note of chocolate and more so even a hint of roasted malt, though both are quite subtle. This is quite rich, it really works as a night cap. It is a nice balance between the tart and the sweet character.

Serving type: on-tap

11-23-2005 04:16:37 | More by Gueuzedude

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer poured out as a deep amber color, the head was white and pretty strong looking. The lacing on the glass was pretty good too. The smell of the beer has a nice spicy Belgian aroma to it. The taste brings those spicy flavors onto the tongue along with a nice yeasty flavor and a touch of roasted nuts. The mouthfeel was pretty good, well carbonated and drinkable. Overall the beer is a nice wintery brew. Has some good warming qualities to it.

Serving type: bottle

07-04-2011 19:28:42 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

05 vintage, Pours reddish/claret in mt La Chouffe 02 new years glass witha 3.5 finger deep sand colored head. No lacing or head retention

S: Slight peppery notes up front & a hint of popsicle stick dryness. Sourness/lactic traits sneak in as well

T: Alcohol flows quickly with apple skins. Big piney/herbal hops & choclate take over as it warms. Dryness & oakyness also join the party. Lactic notes also assert along with a treacle taste (minimal).

MF: Medium bodied, but a lttle slickness.

Drinks okay despite the heft, won't lie to ya, love this brewery in my favorite part of BE& I'm not sure they can make a bad beer

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2006 06:51:35 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

3.88/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Beachwood BBQ in Seal Beach, CA,

A: Pours black looking at first, but a closer look leads to a clear, red mahogany/cedar, with an average white head, good retention.

S: Light, but got some nice but typical BSDA notes, and spices.

T: This is a nice spiced Christmas beer IMO. A thick blanket of dark malt provides the backbone to a complex mix of dark fruit - raisins, grape juice, mixed with some nutmeg and molasses cookies, with a bit of licorice.

M: Nice and smooth, not feeling the 10% at all, though it has a slight warming characteristic, very well done for this style.

D: A very good Christmas beer that only gets better as it warms up, got to buy a bottle of this each November or December.

Serving type: on-tap

01-21-2008 00:19:58 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2006 Version.

Appearance: clear brown in color with a short 1/2” head. The head falls quickly. No lacing develops.

Smell: prunes, overripe plums, and spices are easily detectable.

Taste: hearty malt levels, molasses, prunes, raisins, honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper, some citrus, and a nice bitterness. Alcohol is clearly noticeable.

Mouthfeel: lightly crisp throughout. Short flavorful aftertaste. Heavier in body.

Drinkability: very flavorful and spicy beer that is a slow sipper. The bottle is easy to quaff over a long period. Great cold weather beer too.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2007 00:28:24 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

"Limited edition 2007" - 750 ml bottle:

Pours slight hazed dark brown with a huge fluffy head that descends to a lasting thin cover. Some lacing sticks to the glass.

The smell if of thyme, curucao peel, anise, caramel and chocolate.

The taste and curucao peel give it a pleasant, unique spiciness that does not overwhelm. Caramel, chocolate and anise mix in nicely, as does a zesty fruitiness. Nice complexity. The alcohol is present and warming, but not too sharp or interfering.

It's medium-bodied - a bit effervescent - warming.

A flavorful beer to enjoy sipping on in the winter season.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2007 14:45:39 | More by jwc215

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml solid, capped Burgundy bottle.

This beer pours a hazy, sediment-strewn, dark brownish-amber hue, with two fingers of fizzy, foamy, and flecked pale beige head, which leaves some irregular swaths of lace around the glass as it settles. The aroma evokes dark fruit, subtle, earthy thyme, soft citrus, Belgian yeast, a bit of oily nuttiness, and mild alcohol. Flavour-wise, the overripe fruit - plum, raisins, and dates - dominates at first, aided by a singed caramel malt, until a warm, subdued spice and booze dryness levels things off. The thyme isn't as evident, mostly just contributing to a general savoury character. Speaking of the booze, it appears toothless throughout, in its subterfuge. The carbonation is quite sedate, the body a solid medium weight, smooth as all get out, and a wee bit creamy. It finishes off-dry, the fruit not letting go for a second, buoyed by a lingering spice. Booze still AWOL.

Maybe it's because this bottle is approaching its end-of-shelf-life (July 2011), but, good grief is this 10-pointer easy to drink! The fruity malt, yeast, spice, and especially alcohol, are so very laid back, providing something approaching (somewhat) oblivious bliss. The closest thing to Rochefort that I've encountered.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 01:05:02 | More by biboergosum

akorsak

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the Deli in State College. In an oversized snifter.

A: The ale is dark, a murky burgundy brown mix - the faint reddish hues there if you look. A thin off-white head came with the pour, no lacing though.

S: Dark fruits and candi sugars, deep and sweet. The fullness, even a little too much booze, is intoxicatingly good. I forgot how good this beer is. It's rich fruits bringing raisins and cinnamon, pears and cloves and allspice. A very nice aroma.

T: Richness from the first sip, the spices and yeast really grab hold of the ale. Dark fruits, raisins and plums, drive the flavor. When paired with dark candi sugars and the yeast, things go astronomic. The flavors are deep, the spices continuing to evolve. Cinnamon, allspice, clove, pepper - all take turns at the front but never get to spicy sweet. The overall darkness of the ale is nice, a complex ale that, while better fit for a winter night, did just fine on a breezy spring day.

M: Big but very flavorful. The spices are smooth, the yeast strain imparting plenty of sweet flavors. A rather unexpected but nice find.

Serving type: on-tap

06-03-2012 14:38:58 | More by akorsak

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Clouded amber brown nice sized off white caramel head specks of lacing. Aroma: Dark candi sugar, alcohol tones running though it along with farmhouse spices and orange peels. Taste: Very herbal flavor with farmhouse spice amazing like Orval only bigger malts, sweet brown sugar and more alcohol phenols brewing here, great stuff. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied yet smooth and effervescent no rough edges to it. Drinkability: Completely incredible Xmas Belgian from the year 2002, that I will be on a lookout for years to come.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2004 05:56:49 | More by WVbeergeek

smcolw

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Solid head with lasting time. Relatively light lace. The liquid is brown and very cloudy.

Pleasant darker malts with a light hop background. There's a candy sugar element to it.

Molasses sugar up front that yields to a pleasant blend alcohol, yeast and light hop. Maybe too much alcohol. There's a brandy-like element to this, with this having about the same body. Low carbonation.

Another great beer from d'Achouffe. I still prefer their IPA.

Serving type: bottle

03-13-2009 00:06:23 | More by smcolw

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.04/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Pours a five finger khaki head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Hazy amber/brown color. Medium carbonation and medium bodied. Light cinnamon and malty nose, flavor is dark fruit and cinnamon, warming but higher ABV is hidden. 750ml green bottle, gift, from Madden Beverage.

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2013 23:16:57 | More by jdhilt