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N'Ice Chouffe
Brasserie d'Achouffe
- From:
- Brasserie d'Achouffe
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #37 - ABV:
- 10%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #6,955 - Avg:
- 4.08 | pDev: 9.31%
- Reviews:
- 641
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 09, 2024
- Added:
- Dec 14, 2001
- Wants:
- 71
- Gots:
- 261
When the little animals in Fairyland hibernate, the Achouffe gnomes love to gather in their cottage. By the gentle firelight, they spend long evenings telling the best Ardennes stories while enjoying a delicious N’Ice CHOUFFE. Smooth and strong, with spicy notes of thyme and Curacao, this dark beer warms both hearts and atmospheres, making even the coldest winters joyful.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by meathookjones:
Reviewed by meathookjones from Virginia
3.73/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.73/5 rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
750ml bottle from 2004. Dark brown with some red highlights coming through. A tall light tan head formed and stayed a decent size while leaving a light webbing of lace. Some light spices and a big candy sweetness come out right away. A few other light scents in the background but the sugary smell seemed to drown them out for the most part. Plenty of sugary sweetness up front on the flavor with a decent bit of chocolate and spice to try and balance it out. There are also some fruity notes as well. Finishes up with a lightly spicy and sugary flavor. Seemed a bit thin at times but overall pretty solid and smooth. The sweetness got a bit cloying by the end of the bottle but it went down fairly easily. One glass of this would have been ideal the 750 tended to wear me down with the sweetness. Still a good brew though.
Aug 12, 2005More User Ratings:
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland
4.18/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.18/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330 ml bottle poured into a small goblet.
Best before: 04/2025
L: Dark brown fairly clear pour, looks a little hazy in the glass, 1/2” khaki head recedes to a wispy cap.
S: Spicy nose to open, malty caramel and banana bread along with dark dried fruit aromas coming after, some alcohol as it warms.
T: Full malty flavor, raisin and prune, slightly earthy, alcohol gives it some sharpness,
F: Light-medium body, moderately carbonated, soft and frothy body has light crisp edges.
O: Good but seems to be less rich in taste with a lighter mouthfeel than other examples in this style and ABV neighborhood.
Mar 09, 2024Best before: 04/2025
L: Dark brown fairly clear pour, looks a little hazy in the glass, 1/2” khaki head recedes to a wispy cap.
S: Spicy nose to open, malty caramel and banana bread along with dark dried fruit aromas coming after, some alcohol as it warms.
T: Full malty flavor, raisin and prune, slightly earthy, alcohol gives it some sharpness,
F: Light-medium body, moderately carbonated, soft and frothy body has light crisp edges.
O: Good but seems to be less rich in taste with a lighter mouthfeel than other examples in this style and ABV neighborhood.
Reviewed by Bluerabbitbell from Pennsylvania
4.25/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2/11/24 Poured from a bottle purchased from Washington Beer Store.
Look.... Quick, disappating tan head. Nice lacing. Hazy, dark brown.
Aroma.... Banana, honey, prunes, rum, candy sweet potato, fruitcake, malt.
Taste .. Does not start as sweet as I expected. Heavy banana right away and all the way! Rum barrel. Bright in the mouth, not cloying. Metallic, alcohol (not bad)
Feb 11, 2024Look.... Quick, disappating tan head. Nice lacing. Hazy, dark brown.
Aroma.... Banana, honey, prunes, rum, candy sweet potato, fruitcake, malt.
Taste .. Does not start as sweet as I expected. Heavy banana right away and all the way! Rum barrel. Bright in the mouth, not cloying. Metallic, alcohol (not bad)
Reviewed by Lanoke12 from Michigan
4.5/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev +10.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Look is dark brown with suspended malts. Smell is of spice and alcohol. Taste is spice and rich dark malt. Feel is thick and full bodied. Overall, a great Belgian dark ale with a distinctive spicy finish.
Jan 17, 2024Reviewed by MadMadMike from France
4.02/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.02/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
50 cL draught at V&B, Toulouse.
A fine winter warmer that, in a nutshell, is a spiced quad. The use of thyme adds an umami not typically found in holiday ales. Banana slides its way in, but under the spice mix. Creamy and enjoyable. Nice alcohol bite. It’s sweet, but no cloyingly so.
Overall, beautiful seasonal treat, glad to get a tap hit!
Dec 24, 2023A fine winter warmer that, in a nutshell, is a spiced quad. The use of thyme adds an umami not typically found in holiday ales. Banana slides its way in, but under the spice mix. Creamy and enjoyable. Nice alcohol bite. It’s sweet, but no cloyingly so.
Overall, beautiful seasonal treat, glad to get a tap hit!
Reviewed by Grax from Iowa
4.07/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.07/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Faint aroma of spices, molasses, fruitcake. Body opens with a thick wave of spiced rum, fruitcake, molasses. A tasty and enticing beer that's quite warming as well, with a creamy texture.
Dec 22, 2023Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland
4.31/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
4.31/5 rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
Slightly cloudy dark brown, generous khaki head, excellent retention, rings of lace
Prunes, raisins, toffee, slight spice aroma
Toffee, brown bread, banana, dried fruit, slight spice flavor
Medium-heavy bodied, not at all cloying or hot, appropriately carbonated
Really fucking tasting
Dec 19, 2023Prunes, raisins, toffee, slight spice aroma
Toffee, brown bread, banana, dried fruit, slight spice flavor
Medium-heavy bodied, not at all cloying or hot, appropriately carbonated
Really fucking tasting
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.35/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Poured from a bottle at fridge temp. Pours a nice dark brown with abundant tan head. Head remains steady for quite some time. The nose is toffee, Belgian yeast, marmalade, raisin, biscuits,
The taste is lovely. Deep notes of Belgian yeast, bread, dark malts, toffee, brown sugar, candy, graham crackers, and honey. Love this so much. Intense flavors.
The mouthfeel is medium bodied, and the aftertaste is honey and toffee.
Dec 18, 2023The taste is lovely. Deep notes of Belgian yeast, bread, dark malts, toffee, brown sugar, candy, graham crackers, and honey. Love this so much. Intense flavors.
The mouthfeel is medium bodied, and the aftertaste is honey and toffee.
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon
3.66/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
3.66/5 rDev -10.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Bottle from Market of Choice
A clear deep ruddy brown with a dense, beige head with excellent retention and lacing. The nose is classic, old school Belgian strong dark ale with warming alcohol, yeasty spices, phenols, brown sugar, honey, candi sugar, a little cola and licorice. The palate opens dry yet sweet with honey, yeast, spice - cloves, allspice, a little nutmeg- and phenols and esters. Brown sugar, dark honey follow. Drying, spicy, warming finish.
Totally seasonally appropriate, though it seems like we've all forgotten what that mean.
Dec 11, 2023A clear deep ruddy brown with a dense, beige head with excellent retention and lacing. The nose is classic, old school Belgian strong dark ale with warming alcohol, yeasty spices, phenols, brown sugar, honey, candi sugar, a little cola and licorice. The palate opens dry yet sweet with honey, yeast, spice - cloves, allspice, a little nutmeg- and phenols and esters. Brown sugar, dark honey follow. Drying, spicy, warming finish.
Totally seasonally appropriate, though it seems like we've all forgotten what that mean.
Reviewed by Hephaistos from Netherlands
3.84/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.84/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
330mil dark brown bottle comes at 10% abv, Opens with sign of high carbonation, pours a large 4-5 finger beige-brown head. Chestnutty dark brown
Beer has some special ingredients.Invert sugar sirop, orange gest and thyme.
Smells like incense, bittery herby, knowing there is thyme in it, you smell it.
Bit bready.
When you drink it, sweetness overflows the tongue, the herbs you smell take over and bitter tasty dark choclate-orange notes linger in your mouth.
Mouth feel not unpleasant.
Bit too sweet for my liking. If they would have left out the sirup and added maybe some dark roasted wheat notes, this would be a total winner for me.
But a very good winter beer and a nice addition: thyme in beer.
I see I rate it a bit below average. I do understand. It is a matter of personal taste I guess. The high sugar content - the added syrup- spoils it a little bit for me.
Even when I drink a winter beer that might be more heavy and sweet, I do not want my lips to feel sticky with some fudgy feeling. I'd prefer more natural and dry beers.
Dec 06, 2023Beer has some special ingredients.Invert sugar sirop, orange gest and thyme.
Smells like incense, bittery herby, knowing there is thyme in it, you smell it.
Bit bready.
When you drink it, sweetness overflows the tongue, the herbs you smell take over and bitter tasty dark choclate-orange notes linger in your mouth.
Mouth feel not unpleasant.
Bit too sweet for my liking. If they would have left out the sirup and added maybe some dark roasted wheat notes, this would be a total winner for me.
But a very good winter beer and a nice addition: thyme in beer.
I see I rate it a bit below average. I do understand. It is a matter of personal taste I guess. The high sugar content - the added syrup- spoils it a little bit for me.
Even when I drink a winter beer that might be more heavy and sweet, I do not want my lips to feel sticky with some fudgy feeling. I'd prefer more natural and dry beers.
N'Ice Chouffe from Brasserie d'Achouffe
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
1496 ratings
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