Breweries
Brasserie d’Achouffe
Gnomes really do exist. You can meet them in the village of Achouffe near Houffalize in the heart of the Ardennes, where Brasserie d’Achouffe first saw the light in 1982. Their strong blond, La Chouffe, with its distinctive coriander aroma, has grown up since then. Before long, the dark McChouffe joined the ranks with the winter beer N’Ice Chouffe hot on its heels. The strong, extra-hopped Houblon Chouffe was one of the first Belgian IPAs (India Pale Ale), a beer style that has grown massively in popularity in recent years. To produce the Houblon Chouffe – with its in-bottle re-fermentation – at least three different varieties of hops are added at the various stages of the brewing process. Château d’Ychouffe, brewed with wine yeast, is a dessert beer that straddles the divide between beer and wine. The gnomes also have a perfect beer to enjoy when the sun is shining: Chouffe Soleil, a refreshing spring beer. The story was started by a gnome, bending over under the heavy load of hops and barley carried on his back, greedily eyeing up a glass of La Chouffe. This little icon now travels around the world.
