La Chouffe Blonde - Brasserie d’Achouffe Review
As much as we love American craft beer culture, there’s nothing like taking a trip to the old country through an adventure in glass tipping. One place we love to journey is Belgium. And if you’re going to take a beer adventure to Belgium you better stop at Brasserie d’Achouffe.
They may be somewhat newer compared to the ancient breweries in the country but they are one of the most revered, and their flagship beer, La Chouffe, is a treat worth traveling for. The first to come out of their fermenters over forty years ago, La Chouffe is brewed with water, barley, invert sugar syrup, yeast, and coriander seeds, and the final result is a strong one at 8.0% ABV.
Belgian ales are boiled in history, and their brewing techniques, passed down from those skilled monks of old, create unique, flavorful, and powerful beers. La Chouffe is considered amongst the best, so let’s jump in head first.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--It pours a clear golden globe in a tulip glass and is topped with a cream-colored head with a fine oily sheen covering it.
On the Nose--Light citrus with spiced clove and sweet fruit in the form of pear or apple, and through all that a touch of crisp Pilsner malt sweetness. Very inviting and deceptively light. Precisely what we’re looking for in a Belgian ale.
On the Palate--La Chouffe is smooth and complex with a bright effervescence that keeps it light and helps mask the high ABV. The aroma may have been deceptively light but it doesn’t lie about the spiced clove that presents with a bubblegum-like flavor, and a nice, but not overbearing, herby note comes through with the addition of coriander. La Chouffe offers a wonderful balance with an unexpected hoppiness that starts with a slight citrus bitterness that cools with the sweet fruit and malt flavor, then ramps back up with a spicy floral hop flavor that cools once again in the dry finish.
Food Pairings: Brasserie D’Achouffe recommends pairing La Chouffe Blonde with fennel, broccoli, and asparagus on the veggie side, pan-fried veal, chicken, or quail on the meat side, smoked salmon, tuna, lobster, mussel, and seasoned sushi from the ocean, and fresh coriander, coriander seeds, and chives for an herb touch. I think we’d like to try mussels steamed with La Chouffe and topped with fresh coriander. Mrs. Brew get in the car, we’re going to the store!
Final Thoughts:
The Belgian blonde is an iconic ale replicated all over American craft beer, but the truth behind the tale comes from far away, and so does the flavor behind the brew. You can find good Belgian-style beers in America, but there is nothing like cracking the top of a tall can with a Belgian gnome riding a unicycle on the side of it. Brasserie d’Achouffe has a great beer with La Chouffe. It is light on the nose, bubbly in the glass, complex as a rubik’s cube, and deceptively strong while being light to drink. It is a real treat. And don’t put up your defenses at seeing coriander on the label. D’Achouffe expertly uses coriander as an accent and not a whole entree as is seen in some beers that use coriander. It compliments the sweet apple and spiced clove flavors insanely well, creating a truly playful and fun ale to drink.
If you’re looking for a Belgian blonde to dip your toe in the world of Belgian beers, don’t pass La Chouffe up. Here in America, we bought a four pack of half liter cans for $13-14, and it is well worth it.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew