Out in the fields around Hordain, beer has been brewed since 1885, in a small farmhouse brewery where time has almost stood still. But one night something strange crept into the kettles - a black, heavy porter with aliens and planets painted on the label, as if the brewery itself had received a visit from outer space.
Expert description of 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 it shows a completely different, darker side. Alain Dhaussy took over the brewery in the late 1970s and carried the old craft tradition forward - his grandfather had also been a brewer there.
Black Choulette is a powerful, top-fermented porter at 8%, leaning towards the robust Baltic Porter style. It's deeply roasted at its base with clear vanilla sweetness layered on top, and its round, creamy body makes it one of the more surprising bottles in the brewery's otherwise classic range. The alien and starry-sky label is a welcome wink from a brewery that's otherwise true to the soil beneath its feet.
Tasting Notes
Aroma
Heavy and roasted with notes of coffee beans and dark caramel, with a sweet, creamy vanilla aroma lurking behind to soften it all.
Taste
In the mouth you meet roasted coffee and caramelised sugar, sliding into a soft, almost dessert-like vanilla. Some also find a hint of cinnamon in the background.
Finish
Long and creamy with a light sweetness that lingers, while the roasted notes fade slowly away.
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: Served at 10-12°C in a tulip glass, pairs well with dark chocolate, roasted coffee desserts or a strong 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 beer is named after the game, which is still played in a few places in northern France today.
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