Chouffe Soleil
Brasserie d'Achouffe

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From:
Brasserie d'Achouffe
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Blonde Ale
Ranked #34
ABV:
6%
Score:
85
Ranked #20,938
Avg:
3.77 | pDev: 11.14%
Reviews:
62
Ratings:
180
Status:
Active
Rated:
Today at 08:01 PM
Added:
Mar 03, 2006
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  40
Delicate, fruity, refreshing... CHOUFFE Soleil promises you radiant moments throughout the summer. Made from a blend of malted barley, wheat and rye, CHOUFFE Soleil reveals the sweet aroma of elderflower and chamomile. Delicious citrus flavours - mandarin and lime -, enhanced with a touch of vanilla and peppery notes, titillate our taste buds. Both radiant and slightly cloudy, CHOUFFE Soleil can be enjoyed all year round. Pleasant times guaranteed!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by PhillyOGBeerNerd:
Photo of PhillyOGBeerNerd
Rated by PhillyOGBeerNerd from Pennsylvania

4.74/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Aug 28, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of Hamme
Reviewed by Hamme from Netherlands

4.78/5  rDev +26.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
If Duvel 6,66 is the Citrus among BA this is the Orange. It is very refreshing and i can most certainly associate the Soleil with it. This is what i could drink all afternoon by the pool, straight from the bottle which i know is heresy to some.

What more can i say besides let me have another?

A beer like this is also an awesome prelude to the big brothers like La Chouffe blond and Duvel, brewed by the same company.
Today at 08:01 PM
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.29/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
did i even know this exited? not sure i ever did, but i was stoked to see it on tap this week on my travels to montana, what a unique beverage, as refined as expected from one of the belgian greats, but also weird and distinctive and not quite fitting neatly into any one style, or what i generally expect from them, a lovely beer on a day that feels like spring is finally getting close, it has a glowing and sunny and almost optimistic disposition, and im into it. blonde and golden, crystal clear and incredibly excited from the tap, hard for them to pour like its been refermenting a bit in the keg, as belgian beer should be, super airy, as much foam in the proper glassware as there is beer, sparkling and sexy. the nose is almost saison-esque, estery and rustic, preserved lemon, tangerine zest, white pepper, lemongrass, and green tea, fresh and floral and rather delicate on top of faint pale malt sweetness and a nice minerality, springy all the way, with white wine and coriander essence as it warms a bit. the flavor is definitely yeast driven, distinctive, and again more in that clean saison range than the traditional belgian blonde to me, although certainly aspects of both dance around, very original and very well used, the ferment here is epic, makes it. grassy hops add a nice organic note to it, mostly on the back end, but bitterness is well restrained. subtle vanilla and sugar cookie among the graininess, dry on the back end but not bone dry, vinous more and more as it sits, a light farmhouse vibe but not bretty or anything, black and white pepper, jasmine, and honeysuckle. this beer rules, its incredibly lively, light, soft, and flavorful, and its not like anything else out there. delicious, it put me in a great mood, and its a beer i absolutely need to drink again! ideal for this time of year, just loved it!
Saturday at 05:48 PM
Photo of SLeffler27
Reviewed by SLeffler27 from New York

4.1/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
The head is big, fluffy, and pure white, barely contained by a LaChouffe Tulip glass. Slowly it settled over the chill hazed beer below. Occasional lazy bubbles of carbonation can be seen within the chill hazed golden beer (SRM 4-5). With time it because gem clear, than I added the last 2 oz which brought down a curtain of haze and darkened the beer to (SRM 6-8).

The aroma is mild, yet distinctively clover and orange. A strong earthiness is prevalent amidst herbal notes and light honey. Over ripe pair comes with warming, then green apple. There is a floral perfume as well. The added yeast elevates the floral and funky notes.

Sadly, it is surprisingly bitter and astringent. Orange and apple mix with ginger and celery in the long bitter finish. It is fairly dry. The yeast addition completely tamed the bitter astringency while adding clove and completely drying out the beer. The Yeast addition improved the flavor by a full half point.

A medium body with the smooth/hard texture of coarse nylon. ABV is as expected, highly energetic carbonation that scours the mouth with each sip. The carbonation does soften with the added yeast.

This is a beer to showcase how yeast sediment can transform (in this case for the better) a beer. The flavor and mouthfeel both improved decisively. I enjoyed it early January and think it would be best with a Summer pick-nick lunch of charcuterie.
Dec 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by paulish from New York

Sep 16, 2023
Photo of mactrail
Reviewed by mactrail from Washington

4.13/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Clear amber brew with abundant foam in the Orval chalice. Highly aromatic with tangerine, grape, and straw. Tangy and prickly carbonation. Flavors of dried pear with wheat cereal. Lighter than a Tripel but the same sort of flavor profile. This is light and citrusy after the initial Belgian yeasty rush. Overall this is a brew in a classic Belgian style that is also highly drinkable. From the 330 ml bottle purchased on the West Coast. Apparently "best by" date is 01/2024.
Sep 10, 2023
Photo of bubseymour
Reviewed by bubseymour from Maryland

4.65/5  rDev +23.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Golden hazy body with a perfect 2 finger head and great retention. Aroma is subtle and light grassy and bannana. Really nice lightly sweet banana bread flavor with crisp hop finish. Silky but carbonation provided added drinkability. Been a while since I’ve had a Belgian Blonde ale and especially at this high level. Really enjoyed.
Sep 06, 2023
 
Rated: 3.92 by Sphagnicola from Belgium

Aug 27, 2023
Photo of Billolick
Reviewed by Billolick from New York

4.16/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Familiar stubby bottle …. 11.2 ounces

01 2024 dating… best before info ?

Pours with a slight haze, yeasty final pour. Moderate cap and just a few bits of lacing.

Pleasing nose with light pepper, melon and vanilla. More of the same on the palate…this an approachable and easy quaffing Belgian, that will go great with all sorts of light, summery foods, salads and cheese…love the style and the execution here is on point…go get some and enjoy
Aug 12, 2023
Photo of Iamaskier
Reviewed by Iamaskier from Idaho

4.05/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Hazy body, one finger head. Smell is cracker and bready malt, light Belgian funk, spice, and hay. Taste follows. Funky cracker and biscuit, a touch of Belgian yeast, spice, and hay. Moderate hoppy bitterness. Feel is crisp. Easier drinking than other Belgian styles but still retains the character. Nice mellow choice.
Jul 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.75 by Pro_Magnon from Texas

Jul 18, 2023
Photo of BillyNoonan
Reviewed by BillyNoonan from Ireland

4.13/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Surprisly light, very refreshing, good carbonation. Straw gold blond. Definitely different in feel to the original blonde offering from Chouffe. Bready aroma, crisp, almost sweet and fruity on the tongue. Different in a good way!
Jul 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by bigred89 from Maryland

Jul 05, 2023
 
Rated: 3.96 by Vyvyan from Illinois

Jun 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.24 by cabsandking from Ohio

Jun 16, 2023
 
Rated: 4.48 by rangerred from Tennessee

Jun 12, 2023
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

4.42/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
330ml bottle from Boise Co-op. Hazy golden pour with a towering foamy head, streaky lacing. Looks like a triple. Smells like one too. Rich bready, yeasty aroma. Taste is buttery, yeasty, dough and the presence of light savory notes near the finish, and a nice crisp bite at the finish. A real joy to drink. Going against the flow with ratings. I loved it.
Jun 10, 2023
 
Rated: 4.43 by BLVBBERGIXLL from Arizona

Jun 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Andyman22 from Texas

May 27, 2023
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Nice Belgian Blonde. (And reported Soleil to the BA authorities as such. UnTappd thinks so, too.)
Purchased a 4-pack from The Beer Temple. I'm glad to add another Achouffe to my conquests (at my age, every ale a conquest.)

Drank this side by side with LaChouffe, both poured into Find Marcel tulips (clever marketing I'd fall for again.)
There are similarities, but they are more like second cousins than siblings. Soleil is probably the better table ale and goes with more foods. But Soleil also is well spiced. And both are welcome at my table.

But I still don't know who Marcel is... so I guess that continuous search makes for masterful marketing.

5/28/23 Had another copy and understood better Achouffe's styling it as a picnic ale... where flavors are a bit spicier to pair with the food and a bit more refreshing to pair with the weather !
May 23, 2023
Chouffe Soleil from Brasserie d'Achouffe
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 180 ratings