Chouffe

What began as a hobby quickly outgrew the garage. By 1986 the pair had bought a farm and gone full-time. Expansion followed steadily through the 1990s, and in 2006 they joined the Duvel Moortgat family of brewers, gaining access to wider distribution while keeping production rooted in the Ardennes.

The alcohol-free Chouffe arrived in 2023, bringing the brewery's signature Belgian blonde character to the growing AF category. At 0.4% ABV, it captures the fruity, spicy profile that defines the Chouffe range. Rather than stripping alcohol from finished beer, the brewery uses a special yeast strain that produces minimal alcohol during fermentation. The result keeps the grainy sweetness and gentle bitterness of the original, with none of the thin, watery quality that plagues lesser AF attempts.

Tasting notes lean towards fresh fruit esters, light spice, and a rounded malt body. It pours golden blonde with a creamy white head. The brewery suggests pairing it with vegetables, seafood, or aged hard cheeses, positioning it as a proper food beer rather than just a soft drink alternative.

Chouffe Alcohol Free is available in Asda stores across the UK, with the flagship La Chouffe and Cherry Chouffe variants stocked more widely at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, and Morrisons. It sits comfortably in the premium imported tier: recognisable branding, a proper brewing heritage, and enough character to hold its own on a restaurant table.