Brasserie d’Achouffe
Houblon Chouffe
An early and long-running Belgian IPA, hopped at American rates and fermented with an expressive Belgian strain.
- Strength
- 9% ABV
- Style
- Belgian IPA
- Brewery
- Brasserie d’Achouffe
Also called Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel, Chouffe Houblon.
Belgian IPA takes an American hop bill and ferments it with a Belgian yeast, so the beer carries hop citrus alongside yeast-derived pepper and stone fruit. This is one of the beers that established the category rather than following it.
It is also a fair demonstration of why the style divides drinkers. Phenolic yeast character and hop terpenes occupy overlapping aromatic ground, and at 9% the two have to be in balance or the beer reads muddled and hot rather than complex.
What it tastes like
Inherited from Belgian IPA, because this beer sits within the normal range for it. BeerHQ’s comparative scale, not a measurement.
Why BeerHQ carries this beer
| Reason | Carried as a reference example of its style |
|---|---|
| Strength | 9% ABV — checked 2026-08-16. Strengths differ by market and change without announcement, so this is dated rather than absolute. |
| Record stability | Stable — this product has changed little and is not expected to. |
BeerHQ records no recipe, hop bill, malt bill, yeast strain, IBU or calorie figure for any commercial beer unless it is sourced. Nothing on this page is inferred from what the beer tastes like.
What is distinctive about it
- An early commercial example of the Belgian IPA idea, brewed continuously since
If you like Houblon Chouffe
Worked out from what this beer actually tastes like rather than from what its style typically does. Three kinds of move, because “what should I try next” is three different questions.
Closest to it
Very similar in structure and flavour. Safe ground rather than discovery.
A close structural match for Houblon Chouffe — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less dryness (high → moderate).
May not suit: Very close to Houblon Chouffe; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
A close structural match for Houblon Chouffe — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) than Houblon Chouffe.
A close structural match for Houblon Chouffe — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) than Houblon Chouffe.
Similar, but different
Keeps what you probably like about it and changes one or two things. Usually the most useful answer.
Session IPA — try Beavertown Neck Oil or Founders All Day IPA
Keeps most of what Houblon Chouffe does and shifts yeast fruitiness (esters).
Different: noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) than Houblon Chouffe.
American IPA — try Sierra Nevada Torpedo or BrewDog Punk IPA
Keeps most of what Houblon Chouffe does and shifts tropical fruit.
Different: noticeably more tropical fruit (none–trace → moderate–high).
May not suit: Noticeably more tropical fruit than Houblon Chouffe.
West Coast IPA — try Stone IPA
Keeps most of what Houblon Chouffe does and shifts yeast fruitiness (esters).
Different: noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) than Houblon Chouffe.
A bigger jump
Genuinely different, but connected by something specific — the shared trait is named so you can judge whether the bridge holds.
Australian sparkling ale — try Coopers Sparkling Ale
Both carry real yeast fruitiness (esters), which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Houblon Chouffe.
Different: noticeably less hop aroma (high → low).
May not suit: Noticeably less hop aroma than Houblon Chouffe.
British golden ale — try Oakham Citra or St Austell Tribute
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Houblon Chouffe.
Different: noticeably less carbonation (high → low).
May not suit: Noticeably less carbonation than Houblon Chouffe.
India pale lager — try Jack’s Abby Hoponius Union
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Houblon Chouffe.
Different: noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less yeast fruitiness (esters) than Houblon Chouffe.
Likely fits rather than promises. Taste varies, and a recommendation engine that claims certainty is claiming something it cannot know.
What to eat with it
Inherited from Belgian IPA. BeerHQ does not duplicate pairings onto individual products unless the product genuinely differs from its style.
- Tagine
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Biryani
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Paneer
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Korma
Peppery and clove-like notes from the yeast pick up the warm spicing in the dish — the same aromatic family on both sides.
Keeping it
Belgian IPA shows best within 2–5 months of packaging. After that it declines in quality rather than becoming unsafe.
Drink fresh. Buy it as young as you can and drink it soon. What makes this beer worth drinking is the first thing to leave it.
Derived from Belgian IPA. See storage and freshness for the full model.
BeerHQ carries a small set of reference beers to anchor styles, not a catalogue. There is no rating here and there will not be one. Last reviewed 2026-08-16.