La Chouffe Alcohol Free

La Chouffe feels like somebody gave Belgian brewing tradition to a group of cheerful woodland gnomes and told them to have fun with it.

Brewed deep in the Ardennes at Brasserie d’Achouffe, the beer became world famous partly because of the iconic little red-hatted gnome on the label and partly because the liquid inside is genuinely brilliant. Strong Belgian blonde ale, loads of fruity yeast character, coriander spice, soft malt sweetness and enough alcohol hidden underneath to catch people out repeatedly.

The dangerous part is how easy it drinks. You start off thinking “nice refreshing Belgian blonde” and then suddenly realise it’s 8% and you’re explaining medieval monastery brewing to strangers.

Beyond the flagship beer, the brewery does loads of other styles too. Mc Chouffe goes darker and maltier, Houblon Chouffe leans surprisingly hop-forward, while seasonal releases generally continue the brewery tradition of balancing proper Belgian brewing with a slightly chaotic sense of fun. (chouffe.com)

Despite the playful branding, the brewing itself is seriously good. Bottle conditioning, expressive Belgian yeast and proper balance underneath all the fruity spice character.

Also genuinely one of the best large-format bottles to accidentally open on a weeknight and immediately regret the next morning.