La Chouffe
La Chouffe is the beer with the gnome, brewed in Achouffe in the Belgian Ardennes. An unfiltered blonde beer at 8%, spiced with coriander, that continues fermenting in the bottle. Alongside the blonde, there are a brown McChouffe, a cherry beer, and two liqueurs.
The gnome's beer
La Chouffe comes from Brasserie d'Achouffe, a brewery in the village of Achouffe in the Belgian Ardennes. The brewery started on a small scale in 1982 as a hobby project and grew into one of Belgium's better-known specialty beer brands. Since 2006, the brewery has been part of Duvel Moortgat. The gnome with the red hat on the label is the brewery's distinctive symbol.
The best-known beer is La Chouffe itself: an unfiltered blonde beer at 8%, spiced with coriander and lightly hopped. It continues fermenting in the bottle and the cask, which leaves a layer of yeast on the bottom. Alongside the blonde, there is McChouffe, a brown beer with the same strength, and Cherry Chouffe, a cherry beer. There is also an alcohol-free version, and the brewery makes two liqueurs: a coffee liqueur with a splash of McChouffe and a cream liqueur with Esprit d'Achouffe, a brandy distilled from beer.
In brief
Blonde, brown, cherry, and two liqueurs
All three beers are 8%, but taste very different: spicy blonde, caramel-like brown, and fruity cherry. The large bottle and gift packs are great to give as presents.
La Chouffe
Pleasantly fruity, spiced with coriander and with a light hop flavor. Unfiltered and bottle-conditioned. Also available in a 75 cl bottle.
McChouffe
A brown, unfiltered beer. Fruity, lightly caramelized, and with a slightly bitter taste. Bottle-conditioned.
Cherry Chouffe
A full-bodied, sweet cherry beer, with fully ripe sour cherries, a hint of strawberry and almond, spices, and a subtly bitter aftertaste.
Big Chouffe
The same blonde La Chouffe in a festive large 1.5-liter bottle, in gift packaging.
Chouffe 0.0
Golden blonde and alcohol-free. Refreshing and grainy, with Chouffe's spicy accent and a soft bitterness.
Chouffe Coffee
A coffee liqueur in a bulb-shaped bottle, made with grain alcohol, natural coffee extracts and a dash of McChouffe.
Chouffe Cream
Cream with Esprit d'Achouffe, a brandy made from beer, grain alcohol and natural flavors. Best served neat over ice, after dinner.
Chouffe gift package
A sturdy crate with La Chouffe and McChouffe and a glass. There is also a package with La Chouffe, Cherry Chouffe and Chouffe Houblon IPA.
From blonde and tripel to kriek: learn about the different styles and how to pour them.
Coriander, fruit and a soft bitterness
Spicy & fruity
La Chouffe smells fruity, with coriander and a fresh hop note. McChouffe smells of caramel and dark fruit, while Cherry Chouffe smells of ripe cherries and almond.
Full-bodied and lively
Because of its bottle conditioning, La Chouffe is lively, with fine carbonation and a full body. You can hardly taste the 8% alcohol. McChouffe is rounder and sweeter.
Slightly bitter
La Chouffe finishes dry with a light hop bitterness and spices. With Cherry Chouffe, the fruit lingers, with a subtle bitterness.
Flavor profile of La Chouffe blonde. McChouffe scores higher on sweetness and lower on spiciness, while Cherry Chouffe scores higher on fruitiness and sweetness.
How to pour La Chouffe
Cool but not ice-cold, in a stemmed glass. And watch out for the yeast sediment at the bottom.
At 8 to 10 degrees
La Chouffe, McChouffe and Cherry Chouffe are best served at 8 to 10 degrees. Serving them colder mutes the spices and fruit. Chouffe 0.0 can be served colder, around 5 degrees.
More about specialty beer →The yeast sediment
La Chouffe undergoes bottle conditioning. Pour slowly with the glass tilted, and leave the last centimeter with yeast in the bottle if you want a clear beer. If you pour it all in, the beer will be cloudier and fuller-flavored.
More about pouring beer →The liqueurs on ice
Pour Chouffe Cream neat over a few ice cubes in a tumbler after dinner. Chouffe Coffee can also be served this way, or in an Espresso Martini instead of regular coffee liqueur.
Espresso Martini →La Chouffe at the table
La Chouffe comes from the Ardennes, so it pairs well with the hearty cuisine of the region. A few combinations.
Cheese and mussels
With aged cheese, Ardennes ham, mussels and poultry. The coriander in the beer pairs well with spiced dishes.
Stew
With stews, game and mushrooms. The caramel from the beer complements stewed, dark flavors.
Dessert
With dark chocolate, a chocolate cake or a dessert with red fruit. Also delicious with a soft goat cheese.
With coffee
As a digestif after dinner, with coffee or over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
The right glass for La Chouffe
A tulip or goblet glass on a stem, holding 38 to 40 cl. It fits a 33 cl bottle with a generous head, and the rounded shape retains the spicy aroma. Looking for the original branded glass? Check out the Belgian beer glasses. These are the glasses we recommend ourselves.
Everything you still wanted to know about La Chouffe
Can't find your question? Read more about specialty beer or get in touch.
Everything about specialty beer →Where does La Chouffe come from?
How much alcohol does La Chouffe contain?
What is the difference between La Chouffe and McChouffe?
Why is there a gnome on La Chouffe?
Which glass do you use for La Chouffe?
What do you eat with La Chouffe?
Buy La Chouffe
Want the bottle at home right away? Order La Chouffe online from Gall & Gall. Gall & Gall has 10 in stock.
Prices as of October 8, 2026, as provided by Gall & Gall. You can find the current price and stock at Gall & Gall. Glazen.nl receives a small commission if you buy something through these links; you pay nothing extra. No 18, no alcohol.