Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel - Brasserie d'Achouffe

UnionMade

Colorado

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

Very surprised to see this on tap at Eli Cannon's. Larry's doing a hell of a job!
Very foamy, necessitating a pitcher pour before being served in the appropriately branded "Magic Chouffe" chalice. Hazy gold, like sunlit straw, topped with a never-ending, blooming white head. Excellent lacing and retention, keeping a solid coating throughout the entire glass. Coming into this beer blind, the aroma led me to believe this was a witbier. Extremely spicy, the hops coming off as coriander-like, with a citrusy orange hoppiness adding to the effect. If I wasn't told otherwise, I'd believe this was a massive witbier. (It was listed as "Ho"Chouffe on the tap list, and I guessed it was a Hoegaarden tribute) Sweet, sugary malt, with tons and tons of spiciness in the nose. Fruity and belgiany, with some phenolic clove in the mix. Not at all what I'd expect of a hoppy, IPA style beer of any sort. Taking a sip, I'm greeted by a sugary, candi sweetness, very tripel-like with the pale malts, immediately bolstered, but not overwhelmed, by an urgent spiciness. I'm still thinking this is a white ale, albeit much bigger than usual. Then I inquire. A belgian tripel made with liberal amounts of american hops? Where's the spiciness come from? If this isn't coriander, it's gotta be saaz. Oh there's saaz in here? For sure, brother. A saaz blast in the finish, supplemented with spicy belgian yeast, finishing without a trace of booze. I was sucking this one down with great thirst before I decided to inquire about it. Immensely drinkable. Very fluffy on the palate, with charged carbonation and a medium body, lending itself to sippability. Really, really awesome, with an entirely unique hop profile.
Coming into this brew blind, I feel like I had a unique take on it. Rarely do I enjoy a beer without knowing what it is, and this one impressed me no matter what the style. I was definitely confused, because it wasn't exactly spicy like coriander, but it wasn't entirely unlike it, either. I looked like a witbier, and smelled like it, too, so I just assumed it was another crazy beer from the gnome of belgium. Indeed it was, but a stronger animal than i expected. Respect the gnome, because I felt the effects of sucking this bad boy down. Very good. I loved it. I'd like to try a bottle for comparison. Word on the street's that it's not quite the same.

Serving type: on-tap

04-14-2006 05:06:51 | More by UnionMade

geexploitation

Indiana

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

Poured from a brand spankin' new bottle with the Chouffe gnome gathering hops on the front. Houblon Chouffe pours a cloudy-but-bright gold color with an incredible head -- it's dense and rocky, and melts into the beer like an iceberg moving south. It doesn't just leave lacing on the glass, it leaves chunks of foam behind. It's a very attractive beer.

The nose isn't as good as the appearance. It's quite hoppy but not abundantly fruity like some other IPAs (rather, there's a bit of mint in there). Very little of the Chouffe character comes through -- considering that this is a tripel, the pale malts and white pear smells coming through here are quite minor indeed. On the palate, this beer starts quite bitterly, but with a touch of orange-honey sweetness in the background. The finish is long and tingly with medicinal hop bitterness. Mouthfeel is a touch astringent from the hops, but surprisingly smooth considering the hop content. It's not terribly drinkable (it's a sipping beer), but that's not really the point, either. It's interesting, and that's enough to keep me drinking.

I've been anticipating this beer for a bit now. It's just about what I expected -- the hops aren't perfectly integrated with the malt, but it's a good effort, especially in a style that most Belgian brewers aren't accustomed to making. It will be interesting to see how this brew evolves over different batches, but even now it's pretty damn good.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2006 00:23:39 | More by geexploitation

goodbyeohio

Oregon

3.73/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750ml purchased down south.. silkscreened image of the chouffe wandering into mysterious hopfields on the front, no freshness info on the back. love the whole "double tripel" wordplay with the beer name.

poured into an allagash tulip, this beer sits so heavy and golden, full of orange clouds and dense liquid.. carbonation bubbles move effortlessly through with force. one inch of crater-laced foam deteriorates slowly, leaving eggy meringue peaks. impressive, noble appearance.

aroma.. boy is the aroma disappointing here. not only does it lack the hop punch i imagined, it smells more or less exactly like la chouffe.. which isn't bad, just unexpected. i guess there is a hint more orangey tang to the citrus aspect, but that sweet wheaty honey-infused tripel flavor peppered with acidic funk dominates. which i love. it's been a while since i've had a chouffe, so despite my initial jolting i continue on with anticipation.

the hops are certainly more pronounced in the flavor of this beer. they fight aggressively with the belgian sweetness, leaving a sharp, raw-leaf crystalline hop bitterness behind with minimal metallic sting. perfumey finish works nice with that brett-tinged sourness to the chouffe base. the flavors that make chouffe world-class: the honeysuckle, the bready lemon cookie, and the subtler hop tartness are all lost to the american green blast found here. elements of the old flavors are present noticeably in both my burps and the beers finish.

overall not the easiest beer to drink as a result of its powerful punch. the 9% isn't too detectable, but the flavors are a bit overwhelming. the viscous body and matching large carbonation also weigh the brew down a bit but provide for a luxurious experience.

interesting take, hope this is more of a one-off. if not, no worries.. i'll stick with the original though. messing with near-perfection is not the way to chouffe enlightenment although it is a nice change from the classic norm.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2006 18:28:54 | More by goodbyeohio

yen157

New Jersey

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Turbid and straw yellow, with a sizable white foamy head; quick streams of carbonation reinforce. Familiar Chouffe yeasty nose accented by large (this is Belgian you know) doses of citrus, grass, and candy-sweet malt. Nicely balanced hop flavor and esters, sweet malt finish. Hardly a hint of the 9% ABV. Bitterness is big, nice and big, perhaps a bit out of whack. On second taste, hop flavor seems second compared to the mildly raw bitterness. Very good beer in a bottle. Even better draft. I can’t wait to see what this is like a batch or two once they nail what they’re looking for. Worth seeking out like De Ranke.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2006 03:11:59 | More by yen157

lawrence76

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer was described as a "belgian IPA" by a waiter ...but I didn't find it that exactly

I did love this beer though....nice pale color, I guess typical of modern day triples. Had a very nice head that lasted all the way to the finish

The beer was hoppy, but not IPA hoppy. There was a lot of body in this to balance the somewhat high hop levels. I found it to be a very solid triple.

Serving type: on-tap

03-23-2006 13:32:49 | More by lawrence76

paterlodie

Belgium

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled at ZBF 4-3-06. Nice and forever lasting white head and a witbier like pale golden beer. Nose is nice and hoppy, anis, malts and backed with high alcohol damps. Taste is rich malty, bit sweet but balanced with high but peaking and not hanging bitterness and warming alcohol. Great brew and a pleasure to drink making wanting for more.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2006 22:10:40 | More by paterlodie