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La Chouffe

Brasserie d'Achouffe
Belgium·Belgian Strong Pale Ale
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La Chouffe is the flagship of Brasserie d'Achouffe, a Belgian farmhouse brewery nestled in the Ardennes village of Achouffe. The gnome on the label is no accident — the brewery has a playful, artisan character that runs through the beer itself. At 8% ABV, refermented in the bottle and unfiltered, it pours a hazy golden orange with a tight, persistent white head. The nose is immediately distinctive: fresh coriander, orange peel, and fruity esters from the Belgian yeast create an almost perfume-like complexity. On the palate it is smooth and gently sweet with medium-high carbonation; coriander spice builds through the mid-palate before a clean, dry finish that belies the alcohol. IBU around 20 — not bitter, simply balanced. Founded in 1982; acquired by Duvel Moortgat in 2006 while retaining the original recipe and character.

ABV
8%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceTwo or Three
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruitycorianderfloral
fruity
coriander
floral
herbal
spicy
yeasty
Aroma
The nose is distinctly aromatic and perfume-like, with fresh coriander and orange peel leading the composition.
also:orange,honey
not found:hoppy,caramel,clean,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for La Chouffe

◎ Appearance

La Chouffe pours a hazy golden-orange with notable turbidity from the unfiltered, bottle-refermented character. A tight, persistent white head rises above the glass and clings to the sides with fine lacing. The bright, luminous body and vigorous carbonation create an inviting, artisanal presentation.

golden-orangehazy, unfilteredpersistent white headbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose is distinctly aromatic and perfume-like, with fresh coriander and orange peel leading the composition. Fruity esters from the Belgian yeast weave through floral and herbal notes, creating a complex, spice-forward bouquet. The overall impression is bright and almost tea-like, with subtle honey undertones that hint at the alcohol beneath.

coriander, orange peelfruity estersfloral, herbalperfume-like complexity

◐ Taste

The palate opens smooth and gently sweet with a medium-high carbonation that enlivens the mouth. Coriander spice builds through the mid-palate, accompanied by herbal and yeasty layers that develop gradually. The finish arrives clean and dry, surprising for an 8% beer, with a light bitterness that balances rather than dominates.

smooth, gently sweetcoriander spice mid-palatedry finishlight, balanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is clean and crisp, with coriander and orange peel fading into a dry, refreshing conclusion. The alcohol warmth is present but well-integrated, leaving a soft herbal and spicy aftertaste that lingers briefly.

dry, crispcoriander fadewell-integrated warmth
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
81
Appearance
80
Finish
79
Serve at 7–10°C

Warmer than most — 12–14°C. The fruity esters, spice and warming alcohol need room to breathe.

Goblet

The wide mouth and heavy base promote head formation and channel rich aromatics toward the nose. Traditional for Belgian strong ales.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with La Chouffe

About Belgian Strong Pale Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Belgian Strong Pale Ale?

Pale Ales balance malt sweetness with moderate hop character at 4.5–6% ABV and IBU 20–40. Approachable with floral, citrus or earthy notes over a biscuit malt base.

Finding a similar Belgian Strong Pale Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, coriander, floral character as La Chouffe will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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