Meet the Gnomes!
Back in 1982, in a tiny brewery in the heart of the Vallée des Fées (“Valley of the Fairies”), two brothers-in-law, Pierre Gobron and Chris Bauweraerts, produced the first batch of what is now known as La Chouffe beer. Having started out home brewing as a hobby, they bought the old farm where they had started home brewing and began to grow the enterprise. Both Chris and Pierre eventually went all-in, calling the brewery Brasserie d’Achouffe. “Chouffe” actually doesn’t mean anything – it was a made-up word thrown out by a friend and it caught on with Pierre and Chris. Achouffe is also the name of the nearby village.
By 1992, Brasserie d’Achouffe was brewing 5,000 hectoliters of La Chouffe and McChouffe a year and they invested in a new 70-hectoliter brewhouse to further increase their capacity. Since those days the Achouffe brand has exploded worldwide and in 2006, Duvel-Moortgat purchased the brewery increasing both capacity and distribution. Today, Brasserie d’Achouffe produces over 120,000 hectoliters of beer a year.
The Achouffe Gnomes
Back in the early days, many Belgian beers featured chubby monks on their labels, even if they weren’t religiously affiliated. Chris and Pierre wanted something a bit more friendly and fun and, after seeing a painting of a gnome at an auction, decided to feature gnomes on their labels. There are several different gnomes. Marcel is on the La Chouffe label, and is the ringleader. Malcolm is on the McChouffe label. Matthew is on the Houblon Chouffe (IPA) label and Micheline graces the Cherry Chouffe label. These gnomes appear on the other beers in the product line, as well.
Achouffe Beers
Brasserie d’Achouffe currently make eight beers:
La Chouffe is the flagship beer – a strong (8.0%), lightly hopped golden ale with a citrusy brightness and a touch of coriander (on the advice of Pierre Celis). This is Marcel’s favorite beer and accounts for most of Achouffe’s production.
McChouffe is a Belgian-style Scotch Ale; a smooth malty beer with notes of caramel, licorice, pear and a touch of bitterness. It comes in at 8.0% ABV. This is Malcolm the Gnome’s beer.
Houblon Chouffe is Matthew the Gnome’s beer – essentially a hoppy IPA. At 9.0%, it is strong, bitter and fruity with grapefruit flavors. Its substantial bitterness comes from a combination of Tomahawk, Saaz and Amarillo hops.
Cherry Chouffe is Gnome Micheline’s beer – an 8.0% cherry version of La Chouffe with sweet cherries out front and notes of almonds, spices and port wine in the background.
Chouffe 40 is a refreshing blond ale brewed to celebrate Brasserie d’Achouffe’s 40th birthday. At 5.6% ABV, it is lighter than La Chouffe and highly drinkable.
Chouffe Soleil is a slightly hazy blond ale that is the perfect summer brew. Brewed with barley, wheat and rye, Chouffe Soleil has pleasant notes of chamomile and elderflower, vanilla and citrus.
N’ice Chouffe is a dark winter beer that comes in at 10% alcohol. Slightly hoppy, the beer is brewed with thyme, curacao, and orange peel. A perfect fireside beer!
Chouffe Blanche is a classic Belgian white beer made with barley, wheat, coriander and orange peel. At 6.5%, it is refreshing and drinkable year-round.
Chouffe Bok 6666 is a seasonal brew just for the Dutch market. Its 6.6% alcohol gives it body and its fresh and fruity character make it memorable. Best drunk from the end of September through the fall.
On our last tour of Belgium, our group rode up the mountain to a meadow where two large hand-carved wooden gnomes (Marcel and Malcolm) stand pointing toward the brewery. We couldn’t resist joining them.
Brewing Beer
Both Pierre Gobron and Chris Bauweraerts were home brewers, brewing out of a garage belonging to Chris’ mother-in-law. They got serious when they bought the farm where they had been home brewing and went all-in in 1986. In 1992, they invested in a 70-hectoliter brew system and in 2006 were bought by Duvel-Moortgat. Today, they produce 120,000 hectoliters of beer a year.
Restaurant and Bar
Food and Beer at Achouffe - Hard to Beat!
There’s no better place to drink Achouffe beers than in the bar/restaurant on the premises. The beers are fresh and perfectly kept and the excellent restaurant serves a wide menu of traditional and contemporary Belgian dishes. The place has an amazing vibe and provided a very enjoyable evening.
Cycling in the Ardennes
If you are a cyclist, you know that cycling is a national passion. The Ardennes mountains near Achouffe provide hundreds of cycling trails. The prestigious Mountain Bike World Cup is held there and attracts some 450 competitors and up to 20,000 spectators.
If you are fortunate enough to visit Belgium, be sure to plan a stopover in the Valley of the Fairies to visit one of the most unique breweries in the country.
