Chouffe Sampler (12 bottles)

3 Bottles each of 4 Chouffe Beers! Brewed by: Brasserie D'Achouffe Country: Belgium Style: Various Color: Various ABV (Alcohol by Volume): 8%, 8%, 9%, 8%% Ratebeer.com rating: 98, 98, 99, 48 BeerAdvocate.com rating: 94, 89, 94, 84 Bottle Size: 11.2 oz. (12 bottles) The Chouffe Sampler includes 12 bottles of fine Belgian ale from Brasserie D'Achouffe (D'Achouffe Brewery): three 11.2 oz bottles each of La Chouffe, McChouffe, Houblon Chouffe, and Cherry Chouffe. LA CHOUFFE La Chouffe (ABV 8%) is rated 98 on Ratebeer.com and 94 on BeerAdvocate.com. The flagship of Brasserie D'Achouffe is a Belgian Strong Ale whose recipe, the brewers claim, was whispered into their ears by A. Chouffe, the last survivor of a colony of brewing gnomes. Spiced with coriander and bottle conditioned, it pours a sunny pale gold with a thick white head. Aromas of citrus, caramel, mango and banana announce a complex flavor profile balanced by earthy yeast and subtle hop bitterness. Three 11.2 oz bottles. MCCHOUFFE McChouffe (ABV 8%) is rated 98 on Ratebeer.com and 89 on BeerAdvocate.com. A dark Belgian Ale patterned after its Scotch Ale counterparts, it pours dark reddish brown with a moderate tan head. Top fermented and bottle conditioned, it boasts strong aromas of toffee, caramel, anise and dried fruits while achieving a taste that is surprisingly mild, malty and fruity. Three 11.2 oz bottles. HOUBLON CHOUFFE Houblon Chouffe (ABV 9%) is rated 99 on Ratebeer.com and 94 on BeerAdvocate.com. A combination of the traditional English style India Pale Ale and the Belgian Tripel, Houblon Chouffe uses a trans-Atlantic combination of three hop varieties to produce a purposefully bitter brew. Pale golden with a thick white head, its hop aroma is powerful, but so are notes of citrus, grapefruit, honey and malt. Three 11.2 oz bottles. CHERRY CHOUFFE Cherry Chouffe (ABV 8.0%) is based on McChouffe - a Belgian Brown Ale - with cherries added. It's rated 48 on Ratebeer.com and 84 on BeerAdvocate.com. Ruby-tinted, it has a full cherry aroma with notes of strawberry, almond, spices, and port. Round-bodied, soft, and delicate, it has a satisfying finish, with very slight bitterness. Three 11.2 oz bottles. Brewery Information: Named for Achouffe, the village where it began or (depending on the storyteller) for a colony of beer-brewing gnomes reputed to have once lived in the area, the D'Achouffe Brewery was founded in the late 1970s by brothers-in-law Pierre Gobron and Chris Bauweraerts, first as a hobby, and then as a full time venture. Nestled in the green hills of the Belgian Ardennes, the brewery released its first ale to high acclaim in 1982 and has flourished ever since. A meticulous attention to quality, a tried and true application of brewer's savvy and innovation, and an irrepressible talent for promotion (the popular gnomes appear on every label) helped propel the brewery to its current success. Today D'Achouffe (acquired by the Duvel Moortgat brewery group in 2006) exports award-winning ales to over 40 countries around the world and hosts more than 10,000 thirsty brewery visitors each year.