Affligem Blonde

Brewed by Brouwerij Affligem / De Smedt (Heineken)
Style: Belgian Ale
Opwijk, Belgium

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

33cl bottle from a local supermarket. It pours a little cloudy golden liquid with an enormous white spongy head that lasts throughout the beer, leaving some nice lacing. The aroma is very intense and complex, with spices, vanilla, some herbal hops and caramelly malts. There is also a fresh bready odour that makes it very enjoyable. It tastes likewise, with an intenser maltiness. It is medium sweet and light bitter. Mild but lively carbonation, with a thick mouthfeel and medium-full body. It ends very dry and little bitter, and somehow sweet. Nice herbal and honey-like aftertaste. A very enjoyable beer with a nice abbey-like presentation. Very drinkable; a fav within abbey blondes.

6.8% abv; 330mL bottle, refrigerated and warmed, BBD: 22.09.12, trappist glass. A nice aroma of banana, fruits and yeast with some hints of light malt. Pours a pale gold with yeasty cloudiness. Head is about 1" of slight beige and looks fairly oily and frothy. Lacing is not particularly heavy. Tastes of esters with hints of darker malts. Well hopped blonde with a herbal sort of bitterness. Spicy alcoholic finish which is fairly sharp with the strong carbonation. Bitterness lingers with some spices and is a bit too long. There is a tingly carbonation yet it is still fairly coating in the mouth. Sharp drying finish. Fairly tasty but not digging the finish. Suits the style pretty well.

UPDATED: JUN 13, 2011 Same overall score this time - but aroma was better though palate was a little shorter than I remember. Previous rating 25/05/11 6/4/7/4/14 = 3.5 33cl bottle. Pours a golden/orange with gentle bubbles and a very generous head. A thin lacy layer sticks around for the rest of the beer. The nose has banana, hay and maybe something herby on the end. The taste is of creamy banana and then yoghurt. The palate has good structure, creamy structure and a fairly dry finish with just a touch of sweetness persisting. Overall, this is a really balanced and enjoyable beer.

Light orange beer with quickly dissolving head. Fresh beer, citrus, grass, wood, some darker roasted hints. Tingling body, good taste development. one of the better blonds that I have had, besides my wife. Really enjoyable, I would drink this again(On bottle was sample from distributor)

I had this one on tap on 03-04-11 and it was allright. Bit dark for a blonde in my humble opinion. Light amber colour with a beige creamy head that last during the drinking experience. Aroma has fruity hops, bits of citrus and malt. Taste is a bit mellow, leaving a dry feeling on your tongue along with some herbs and spices and the citrus returns.

Golden light amber colour with a frothy white head. Malty aroma, yeast, fruits and spices. Some caramel. Flavour is malty, fruity, quite hoppy, bit sweet. Finish dry and bit hoppy. (From 33cL bottle)

11.2oz bottle in a tulip. Pours opaque golden with a thick, lingering, white head. Aroma of light bread and caramel malts with a little spiciness from the yeast and light floral hops. Flavor the same, and average texture. Nothing too great, but it’s still a Belgian ale which puts it way above a lot of beers.

Good, not great. Pours a clear yellow with a lovely lasting head. The bottle says to add the yeast if you want a nuttier taste. I did. Aroma is yeast and pears and apples with a little hint of oxidation. Taste is more of the same with a bit of spicy yeast thrown on the back end.. Palate is really dry, made even drier by the slight alcohol burn on the aftertaste. Overall it’s a decent introduction to the style but by no means a standout.