BEER REVIEW: 365

BREWER: Brasserie d’Achouffe, Wallonia, Belgium

STYLE: Cherry Ale

ABV: 8%

VESSEL: 330ml brown bottle

X: #chouffe

INSTAGRAM: chouffe_uk

DATE OF POST: 6th October 2024

 

SAMMY SAY’S…

Well, let me tell ya, the packaging ain’t doin’ this beer any favours. A bunch of gnomes prancing around pickin’ cherries? Gimme a break. It’s like they’re tryin’ too hard to be cute, and it’s just not workin’ for me. Makes me want to put it back on the shelf, not crack it open.

Looks like what you’d expect—a dark cherry beer. Nothin’ to write home about.
Oh yeah, there’s cherry alright. Too much of it if you ask me. It’s sweet, way too sweet. At first, it’s fine, but after a couple sips, you’re thinkin’ you’ve had enough. It’s hard to get through the whole thing without feelin’ like you’re drinkin’ dessert, and not in a good way. There’s a little malt body hangin’ around, but the cherry sweetness bullies it outta the way. Not my cup of tea… or beer, I guess.

I’ll give it this—it goes down easy enough. Feels good in the mouth at first, like there’s somethin’ to it, but then poof, it’s gone. That body disappears faster than a tired worker at quittin’ time. Easy to sip, but not much payoff.

Cherry Chouffe? Not for me. Too sweet, too gnomey, and not enough balance. Some folks might like it if they’re really into cherries, but for me, it’s just too much. Stickin’ to somethin’ with more bite and less sugar next time.

Sammy’s Rating: 40%

 

JYMI SAY’S…

I like the packaging of this brew from Belgium, in fact, I actually love it. I have also seen many Chouffe beers knocking around on the selves of various bottle shops over the years, including today’s cherry offering. But have I ever bought a Chouffe beer? Quite simply, no.

Why? you may ask.

And you would be correct to do so.

Well, the reason, brace yourselves, is the packaging.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? you may say.

And you would be correct to do so.

So, like the beer reviewing Gent that I am, I will tell you (would be a bit of a crap review if I didn’t, and hey, it still may well be a crap review).

For me, as much I do love the art, it just doesn’t look like a bottle of beer. Cool wee gnomes handling cherries?! Brilliant! But for whatever reason it just doesn’t sit well. And as said, the only thing I can really put my finger on is it is very un beer like, especially a Belgian, in it’s presentation.

The beer itself disappointed me a little I’m afraid to say…

After a very strong start, from the deeeeeep red, almost black appearance in glass to the incredible cherry aroma I genuinely thought we were onto a winner! And although it turned out to be good, I really was expecting more. It’s an 8% cherry beer from Belgium after all!

The problem is not necessarily with the flavour. It’s all cherry at the end of the day. No, I think for me it was how boozy it was at the end. I know, I know, it’s 8% blah blah, but because of the level of booziness combined with the cherry, the aftertaste was almost one of a cherry liqueur. Which, put simply, is not what I want to experience at the end of my sip. I just think that the aftertaste needs a little more balance to allow the flavour to sing

Look, Cherry Chouffe is a good enough beer and certainly worth a go. Maybe it just isn’t one for me.

Jymi’s Rating: 59%

 

MUSE ON BOOZE RATING: 49.5%

MOB review next weekend: MYTHOS by OLYMPIC BREWERY

Sammy & Jymi – Musing on Booze weekly since 2017

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