Chouffe Lite

by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)

This is a new beer from the renowned La Chouffe brouwerij in the Ardenne’s town of Chouffe.  Although it has been owned by Duvel- Moortgat for many years now, the Chouffe beers are still produced as the original little brewery.

And with this beer, we see a big Belgian brewery (well Duvel really is a multi-national to be fair) acquiescing to the trend of lower ABV beers in Belgium.

We can probably thanks the Monks at the Trappist Monasteries for this, with beers like Westmalle’s Extra showing there is a demand for this style of beer.  

Having enjoyed many a Chouffe Blond over the years, my first thought on pouring was that it looks and smells the same as the Chouffe classic blonde beer.  The Belgian yeast aroma coming from this beer is just as intense and full of character as the original beer.

After I stopped admiring the aroma and actually tasted the beer, there is an early malt sweetness with some fruit notes like orange and lemon citrus plus some spicing with coriander and clove.

It is lively on the tongue but the flavour disappears quickly once the beer has gone. I really enjoyed this for what it was – a very low-ABV beer with lots of classic Belgian flavours.  It really was like a mini version of the classic Chouffe!

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