La Choulette

Regional Brewery in Hordain, Hauts-de-France, France 🇫🇷
Associated Venue: Choulette Experience

Established in 1895

Contact
16 Rue des Écoles, Hordain, 59111, France
Description
In the village of Hordain the Brasserie la Choulette is one of the last breweries in the North founded in the 19th century and still in operation. Heir to this rich brewing past, Brasserie La Choulette has retained the authenticity of genuine artisanal production. The brewery is a family affair, a profession, a passion passed down from generation to generation.

The first Dhaussy brewery, founded by Jules Dhaussy, was in operation between 1895 and 1951. In 1977 Alphonse Dhaussy took over the Bourgeois-Lecerf brewery in Hordain. Alphonse and his son Alain were up to a crazy gamble: relaunch top-fermented beers while around them, regional breweries were closing their doors one after the other. But after a long and hard fight, the Bourgeois-Lecerf brewery regained its former splendor.

In 1981, an amber beer was launched called La Choulette. A name taken from a traditional and popular game from the North, Choulette, a lacrosse-golf game, the origin of which dates back to Antiquity. In 1986, Alain Dhaussy, master brewer, definitively took over the family business which he baptized, Brasserie Artisanale La Choulette.

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6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
Soft, creamy, fruity (peach), and lots of subtle flowery hop (roses?). Beautifully balanced and very elegant. This is a very aromatic beer - flowery, fruity, with some malt towards the end. Reminds me a bit of Veuve Cliquot.

Re-rate: Perfumey, peachy, appley aroma with biscuity malts. Light malt underpins pearlike fruity notes. The yeasty toastiness is not here this bottle (it is not bottle-conditioned). Alcoholic note late. Not as complex nor as flavourful as I remember. Still good, but no longer great (this corresponds with a bottle I had a couple years ago but did not re-rate).
Tried from Bottle on 06 May 2001 at 00:26

8.9/10 Appearance 10 Aroma 9 Flavor 9 Texture 8 Overall 8.5
Phenomenal fruit beer. First, the raspberry flavour is so natural, so real - not like the cloyish extract many American brewers use. And the base is a blond biere de garde, and the firmness of malt flavour really backs up the fruit. This might be my all-time number one dessert beer.
Tried from Can on 06 May 2001 at 00:23