Affligem Triple

Brewed by Brouwerij Affligem / De Smedt (Heineken)
Style: Abbey Tripel
Opwijk, Belgium

Golden colour with large white foamy head. aroma has a malty sweetness with some apricot, hints of a hoppy bitterness. Aroma is malty with some fruit, finish has some yeast and alcohol. Nice palate.

Excellent carbonation on this dull, tan/burnt sienna colored brew. Very earthy yeasts and minimal sweetness. Aroma of apples, carrots, honey and rich humus ladden soil. Alcohol is as undetectable as the sweetness, but certainly present. I was especially please to have no floaties. Complex flavor that well fits the silent epoch detailed by krisbierjaeger’s rate (that dudes a poet). Overall, a complex symphony of ingredients and a great example of the style. Let this baby breath and she’ll really open up.

Bouteille de 330 ml achetée à la LCBO. Arôme: Odeur de céréale, de caramel, de fleurs, de conifère (?) et d’épice. Apparence: Couleur ambrée pâle. Gros col crèmeux qui dure très longtemps. Large dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Amertume fortement présente au début, diminuant tranquillement vers la fin. Palette: Corps moyen. Texture huileuse et arrière goût d’alcool moyen. (Rating #55)

"were movin’ out!" cried the creamy orange malts over the booming of the cork-- "this is it, this is what we trained for, balance, boys, think balance!" "i got ya covered buddy!" shouted back the carbonation, already chomping at the bit and pushing up a head as toothy white and fluffy as parlor-groomed samoyed. "who fuckin’ made him king?!" yawned the muscular yeast-- that milky ghostlike brute who dwelt in a tight and sullen tribe near the bottom of the bottle, and who had been brusquely awakened by the tumultuous opening. already the vibrant pour was tumbling like a team of cirque de soleil acrobats in an undulating, co-mingling of foam and neon apricot body. apparently unconcerned, though, the supple alcohol too, was lingering. but unlike the frantic yeast, she sat dreamily content, idly snapping her dagger-like talons. she smiled as the gloomy cork and clay-scented yeast fogged into action and sent out snakey rivulets into the gushing mix. she tossed her mane and rippled with the well-cloaked musculature of a panther. "not so fast, cowboy", she purred. "they may start without us, but we’ll be what they remember..." "speak for yourself" whispered a passing waif of tardy hops. the hops were indeed shy, but posessing of a lithe figure and subtle perfume. but now-- back in glass, the brisk carbonation had piled up a tropical storm of billowing whiteness in a thick protective covering over the brew, while electric currents of aroma were lofting upward with well rehearsed songs of dry oak and apple bark resin, toasted danish butter cookies and a musty trunk full of vintage newspapers. it was all happening so fast-- the choreography so tight and winning: a cool blur of refreshing spritz and sweet desert wine and nourishing grain-- even as langorous cascades of lace licked like a lover’s tongue along the inner thigh of the glass. the malts glowed, the carbonation dazzled, the hops were dainty but charming in aroma and finish, AND-- the mighty yeast flushed with pride to be apparently lording over all in the end--he puffed like an inflated souffle-- and shouted: "i now RULE!!’. at that moment, however, the feline alcohol sidled up again, and gently but firmly raked those talons along the spine of the entire beer. and in a hypnotic hiss-- in a way that spoke both ecstasy and omnipotence, she licked aside the yeast in a way that made him buckle. "not so fast, cowboy", she breathed.

One of my personal faves, this one is balanced well all around. The alcohol bites just enough, and the flavor explosion lasts throughout each sip.

Spreading the Belgium love around the family on Thanksgiving here in Council Bluffs. 48f pours like transparent caramel with an exploding large bubble head, fairly quick to dissipate from a fat finger heighth. Leaves a lacy garter. Vegetal aromas of carrots, celery and artichokes in a malt aspic. Taste of the above veggies on a mineral plate. Nice and dry. Very pleasant thin sweetness like frosted green grapes. Carbonation pops off the tongue sending the hop character up to the roof of the mouth and then cascades down the sides of the tongue. Nice alcohol bite. Everyone enjoyed this, and were amazed at the wine-qualities of the Belgian beer. Welcome to my world. paired well with breaded oysters.

(Bottled) Quite hazy, light amber/orange color with lots of floating yeast and a smallish, creamy head. Fruity, citric aroma with some alcohol and honey hints. Spicy, peppery and citric (orange) flavor. Dryish, medium to full-bodied, carbonated but soft palate. A tasty, well-balanced and pleasant tripel, both dry and syrupy at the same time. I like!

Aroma:lemon and spicyApperance:Golden with a large withe head on top.Flavor:lemon,malt,spicy,alcohol and honey.