Archive for the 'La Choulette' category
La Choulette Blonde
This French blonde is quite pleasant. While the aroma leaves a bit to be desired, the flavor makes up for that shortcoming. It begins fairly heavy for a white, due to the high-gravity of the beer. The initial flavor is sweet and carries to a surprising hint of bittersweetness at the back of the mouth. For a white, this wouldn’t make a good session beer. However, I think it would make for a great treat on a warm afternoon
La Choulette Ambree
After the delight that La Choulette provided with their Framboise ale, I couldn’t help but try another of their offerings. This ale they label as a “traditional French ale.” Well, if the taste and aroma are any indication, then “the French can’t figure out their own beer so they copy the Belgians.” Don’t get me wrong, this is a really good beer. But, for better or worse, it tastes just like a Belgian abbey-style ale. The pour is a dark amber, as the name implies, and the aroma is full of anise. In the mouth, the anise hits you, but is well-balanced by a malty sweetness. It has a full but quickly dissipating mouthfeel that leaves the mouth with a sweet and favorable aftertaste. After this beer, I will consider myself a La Choulette fan – they probably make the best French beers that I have tasted. But, they do get a demerit for labeling this “traditional French ale” when it is quite obviously a copycat of a Belgian abbey-style. Nevertheless, it’s delicious.
La Choulette Framboise
This is, quite possibly, the best fruit beer I have ever had. It isn’t quite a lambic – it lacks the intense carbonation and sourness that lambics generally impart. Also, it isn’t simply a ‘fruit beer’ on the caliber of a Blue Dog Ale or a Strawberry Blonde. Rather, the fruit really becomes the beer – The pour is a deep ruby red and is slightly cloudy. The aroma explodes with raspberry – literally like smelling a bushel of raspberries – it’s terribly pleasant. The initial taste in the mouth is quite sweet becoming slightly tart at the back of the mouth. The sweetness isn’t syrupy or overbearing. Rather, it is crisp and refreshing and doesn’t seem to get old. The aftertaste maintains some of the tartness on the sides of the mouth. This is absolutely great – a fabulous summertime beer and one both the ladies and the fellas will enjoy.
La Choulette “Sans Culottes” Ale
In French, Sans Culottes translates literally into “Without Pants” – this is likely the reason I bought this beer. This is a typical French blonde beer, pouring a cloudy golden color with a rocky white head. The aroma is grainy and spicy – quite pleasant. The feel through the mouth is highly carbonated, and there is a distinct sweetness with a lot of grain on the tongue. The taste in the back of the mouth, as well as the aftertaste, has a tinge of sourness to it. This isn’t displeasant, and is typical of these French varieties, as they were initially suited to quenching the thirst of workers in the fields. To be honest, I’m not always impressed with French beers. However, this one is very refreshing and one that I would be happy to drink again. Actually, it seems like La Choulette brewery typically puts out pleasant beers, so hats off to them!
