Brasserie d’Achouffe – Mc Chouffe Review
If you like funky and strange, subtle and sweet, whimsical and powerful, then Belgian beers are probably your thing. It took us some years to wrap our heads around the fruity ester yeast character and sweet notes of strong Belgian beers, but when we got our frontal lobes cinched like gift paper around these odd beers, we were hooked.
Which brings us to Mc Chouffe, a Belgian Brown Beer from Brasserie d’Achouffe out of Belgium. You may know them as the beers with the funny little gnomes on the side. We do, and every time we see those curious little fellows, we have to try them. Why? Well, they bring the whimsy, malt sweetness, and high ABV in a lot of their beers, offering a worthy line-up for any Belgian beer drinker to sip the different flavors of this unique beer culture.
And speaking of ABV, Mc Chouffe offers an 8.0% ABV, so be cautious of this friendly looking gnome as we step into a beer with few expectations but a caramel or toffee sweetness common in brown beers.
First Impressions:
On the Eyes--Molasses brown on first look, but Mc Chouffe glows like a ruby when held up to the light, and it’s topped with a persistent beige head.
On the Nose--Clean and mildly floral and spicy with a definite brown beer caramel sweetness. Very much a curious and subtle Belgian beer.
On the Palate--Spicy, sweet, and floral. It’s much milder than I was expecting with subtle notes swimming in a very complex beer. It starts with a spicy and floral note reminiscent to me of fresh fennel, to which d’Achouffe describes as aniseed or licorice, which provides what little bitterness there is in the beer. Then comes the sweet caramel middle like a Milk Dud adding the necessary malt character to this brown beer. Mc Chouffe is full and rich, and the finish is dry and coats the mouth with a refreshing pear flavor lingering.
Food Pairings: Brasserie d’Achouffe suggests pairing Mc Chouffe with Parma ham or bacon, grilled entrecote, roast chicory and mushrooms, salmon, mussels, oysters, or crusted goat’s cheese. Now that’s a meal!
Final Thoughts:
On the first try, Belgian beers can be really weird, and they certainly tossed the beer world on its head the first time we tried one. Thanks to craft brewing, Belgian Blondes, Dubbels, and Tripels have made their way to American beer culture, giving us a taste of these monastic brews. And even more important, we can buy beers from true Belgian brands like d’Achouffe to get a taste of the old world.
And what a taste Mc Chouffe is!
Drinking lots of brown beers and Scotch ales throughout winter, one gets certain flavors in their mind, and this beer was enough of a shock to jumble those preconceptions—which a beer connoisseur often needs. Mc Chouffe is subtle in aroma and flavor, with spicy and floral notes of fennel, a rich caramel center, and a dry finish that offers a Pilsner freshness and a lingering pear flavor that is truly wonderful. Thankfully, the high ABV slows you down, or this beer would be down in a few gulps. I would say it is lighter in body than your typical brown beer, but that is the Belgian way, using sugar over malt to achieve strength, which decreases mouthfeel. This beer is also expensive (about $14.50/ 4-pack), so if Belgian beers aren’t on your radar yet, maybe try a cheaper one close to home. But I will say, this Belgian Brown Beer might be your gateway into monastic brews, so if you have some extra coin, try Mc Chouffe.
Cheers!
Mr. Brew
If you’re looking for another gateway into Belgian beers, you can’t go wrong with a blonde. Check out La Chouffe Blonde from Brasserie d’Achouffe, or try Gnommegang by Ommegang Brewery out of Cooperstown, NY. Interestingly enough, Ommegang uses Brasserie d’Achouffe’s yeast to brew their powerful Belgian-style blonde.