Out on the farmland around Hordain, beer has been brewed since 1885, in a small farmhouse brewery where time seems to have stood still. But one night something foreign slipped into the kettles – a heavy, black porter with aliens and planets painted on the label, as if the brewery itself had been visited from outer space.
Our Expert's Take on La Choulette Black Choulette Alien Porter
La Choulette was founded in 1885 by Isly Dubois, a cooper from Hordain in northern France, and is still run today in an old-fashioned, traditional farmhouse style. The brewery is best known for its Bières de Garde, but with Black Choulette Alien Porter they show a much darker side. Alain Dhaussy took over the brewery in the late 1970s and carried the old craft forward – his grandfather was also a brewer at the same site.
Black Choulette is a robust, top-fermented porter at 8%, leaning toward the bold Baltic Porter style. It's deeply roasted at its core with a clear vanilla sweetness layered on top, and its round, creamy body makes it one of the more surprising bottles in an otherwise classic range. The label's aliens and starry sky are a welcome wink from a brewery that otherwise stays firmly rooted in the soil.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Heavy and roasted, with notes of coffee beans and dark caramel, and behind it lurks a sweet, creamy vanilla scent that softens the whole thing.
Taste
On the palate you meet roasted coffee and caramelised sugar, sliding into a soft, almost dessert-like vanilla. Some also pick up a hint of cinnamon in the background.
Finish
Long and creamy with a gentle sweetness that lingers as the roasted notes slowly fade.
Specifications
Name: La Choulette Black Choulette Alien Porter
Brewery: La Choulette
Country/Region: France, Hordain, Hauts-de-France
Beer Style: Porter
ABV: 8%
Size: 33 CL
Fermentation: Top-fermented
Ingredients: Water, malt, hops, yeast, vanilla
Allergens: Gluten (barley/malt)
Serving Suggestion: Serve at 10-12°C in a tulip glass, and pair with dark chocolate, a roasted coffee dessert or a bold blue cheese
Flavour Profile
Roasted · Coffee · Vanilla · Creamy · Caramel
Did You Know?
The name "Choulette" comes from an old Ch'ti ball game, where a small wooden ball – the choulette – was struck with a croquet-like mallet. The brewery's beers are named after this game, which is still played in a few places in northern France today.
See our full range of La Choulette
Listen to our podcast:
