Affligem Tripel - Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem

martja

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: poors a thick head that sits on top of a translucent dark golden color.

S: Definitely can pick up the fruit and spices.

T: Mix of fruit and spices. Citrus and peach come first with the yeast showing up towards the end.

M: Light viscosity and good bubbles help bring out the flavors.

O: Overall, nice tripel, not quite what I expected, but I would try again.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 11:24:18 | More by martja

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Affligem Tripel starts off with many of the usual tripel aromas--orange, coriander, banana, pear, apple--but adds to them a champagne-like white grape note, all of which rests lightly over biscuity toasted grains. The end result smells much like a bowl full of Grape Nuts, laden with freshly-sliced peaches.

On the tongue, the brew is quite fruity, with orange, banana, apple, and apricot rising quickly to the surface. Hints of spice--coriander, clove, pepper, nutmeg--speckle the tongue, nipping lightly at the tastebuds. A good layer of toasted grains lies beneath, but is largely hidden by the fruity sugars. Hops are barely distinguishable, existing only as a counterbalancing buzz. A slight alcohol tinge hums quietly in the background, and becomes slightly too much the center of attention in the aftertaste, which is otherwise merely a continuation of the sugars. Mouthfeel is medium-light, and carbonation is high--slightly too high, in fact, making this brew feel champagne-like on the soft palate.

Overall, the flavors in here are good, but the brew lacks a certain vivacity and uniqueness that would set it apart from its competitors, and the sugary flavors tend to fade during subsequent sips.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2011 00:52:55 | More by jondeelee

Vixie

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours mainly yellow with just a hint of orange. It forms a huge Duvel sized white head that seems to want to stick around.

The smell starts out with a lot of fruit, mainly citrus. There is a bit of malt as well, and a touch of alcohol.

Nice and fruity, but not to the point of being overdone. God amount of spice, pepper and clove, maybe some coriander. It's on the sweet side, but not to the point of being overdone. Finishes with a bit of a dry hop taste.

Nice feel, nothing wimpy about this one.

This is a really nice beer. There's a blend of flavors, and none overwhelm, they just blend into a nice complexity. Beers like this are one reason I love triples, and I would definitely try this one again.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 01:36:55 | More by Vixie

Rijtjeshuis

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

served in branded chalice

Look - (2.5/5) pours a nice light gold color. Clarity is very good, but as I got with the blonde, there were some really gross chunks of trub floating around like a snow globe. The head was also a touch disappointing. It faded to a minimal film with almost no lacing.

Smell - (3.5/5) the smell has a very similar to the blonde, which is malty pitted fruits (peaches/dried apricots). It was interesting in a tripel, but a bit too sweet and not tart enough. Little hop aroma.

Taste - (3.5/5) the flavour is much like the aroma, a bit of a one-note pony with the pitted fruit flavor. There wasn't a lot of balance and it was a bit too sweet without a lot of the spice of tart or floral notes I expected for balance.

Feel - (4/5) The body is on the lighter side of medium, with a medium-high carbonation. This definitely gave it a nice feel and one that worked will with the flavors. The finish just wasn't dry enough.

Drink - (3.5/5) I though this one tasted a lot like their blonde and certainly didn't make me think 'tripel.' It was also a bit too malty for my liking and didn't really have a lot of complexity.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 19:36:22 | More by Rijtjeshuis

Oxymoron

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev -5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a darker hue of yellow with a coppery tinge to it. A soft but fizzy head with good read and retention. Some clinging when swirled.

The nose is more malty with a hint of yeast. Some grainy, husky notes with just a hint of sugary sweetness. They yeast is soft with some hints of Belgian characteristic. Some minor fruity pear and apricot notes. More of a stone fruity. Some minor yeast and a touch of funk. Some grassy hop notes on the back end as well.

The taste is similar. The grains come out more. Would like to see a bit more esters and phenols. More of a generic European malty note. A bit dry. The fruity notes back off a touch compared to the nose. But some lighter fruit notes come out. Some sugary notes but soft. A light peppery note. The hops are limited but still there. Some aged, almost musty notes.

The body is light and finishes dry. Some carbonic bite. Some minor heat but ok. Overall a good triple but would like a touch more esters and phenols.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 20:59:45 | More by Oxymoron

brentk56

North Carolina

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: A great looking Belgian pour, with a massive head that sits atop the cloudy amber liquid; sticks and laces nicely, too

Smell: A range of golden fruit (apricot and pear, in particular), grassy hops and some peppery yeast phenols

Taste: The first element that appears is the cookie dough malt, with the pear and apricot elements adding complexity; by mid-palate, the grassy hops and peppery yeast make their presence felt, as well; while there is some sugary sweetness in the aftertaste, the finish is relatvely dry for the style

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Overall: While it lacks a great mouthfeel, this beer makes up for it by holding the alcohol and sugary sweetness in check; too many tripels, I find, suffer on both of those fronts

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2011 02:48:37 | More by brentk56

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a finger of khaki head. Good retention with some splattered lace. Color is a golden orange.

Aroma: Cereal grains, bready malts, and yeast. Pretty fruity. Bananas, cloves, and esters.

Taste: Bananas, cloves, spices, and some orange peel. A very big cereal grain flavor. Some yeast and bready malts. Much like nose.

Mouthfeel: Smooth and crisp. Medium bodied with a higher amount of carbonation. Ends dry.

Overall, a solid tripel. I didn't expect the grain flavors, but they were enjoyable. Decent drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 03:27:03 | More by mothman

Holland

Pennsylvania

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: pale gold, and pretty opaque. Lot of carbonation bubbling up creating a patch-work head throughout, especially when it warmed a bit.

S: fruity, sweet - these smells overpowered any grains for me

T: I could taste more of the grains and less of the fruit, so the balance shifted from the smell

M: light, highly carbonated

O: decent tripel, pretty impressive for buying at a chain grocery store

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2011 13:21:35 | More by Holland

ksimons

New York

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-a clear golden orange with a fingers worth of white head, carbonation bubbles are visible

S-yeast, sweet fruits, light malts

T-similar to the smell, light malts, spicy, sweet fruits, and yeast. Alcohol warming starts to pick up after a bit

M-moderate to high carbonation, medium body, and a dry slightly bitter finish

overall a very nice Tripel, I would definitely have again though it isn't the best Tripel I've ever had

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2011 23:42:27 | More by ksimons

grittybrews

Washington

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured an extremely light straw gold into a tulip with a thin film of white head. Somewhat sweet toffee aroma with just a little bit of floral/spice character.

Moderate carbonation and a smooth but somewhat thin mouthfeel. Some spicy yeast character up front before the caramel/toffee malt takes over. A combination of spice/banana sweetness returns on the finish.

The higher alcohol is completely masked with this easy-drinking (if slightly generic) tripel. Good, but didn't really wow me.

Serving type: on-tap

03-27-2011 15:29:25 | More by grittybrews

jjjeremy

Minnesota

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a wheat beer glass
Appearance-It has a delicious looking apricot color,so cloudy could barley see my hand through the glass.
Smell-Refreshingly pleasant,crisp
Taste-strong hoppy aroama
Mouthfeel-Reminds me of milk duds,has that silky mouthfeel with that fun dissolving affect
Overall- Love it,would do it again

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2011 23:08:30 | More by jjjeremy

evlu1441

Alberta (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours very pale. There is a little bit of a head, but it quickly disappears. Lots of sediment floating around. I'm not sure if this is just because it got shaken up a bit, or if the carbonation did anything.

Smells sweet and floral with a little bit of vanilla. This smell is the best part of the beer really.

The taste is slightly floral. Not very sweet. It has a really nice hop bitterness that hangs around. Much hoppier than other tripels I've tried. I would never guess this was 9% ABV. The alcohol is incredibly well disguised.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin. Kind of wattery.

Overall. Pretty decent. I wouldn't exactly rave about this to anybody, but I'm satisfied. I might even get another if it was on sale or something.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2011 02:53:22 | More by evlu1441

zeff80

Missouri

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a cloudy, golden-yellow color with a two-finger, white head of bubbly foam. It had okay retention as it crackled and receded to leave thin trails of lace.

S - It smelled of grains and caramel with a good dose of yeast and spices.

T - Spicy with some fruit notes up front. It had a sweet caramel and grain backbone.

M - It was crisp and very sharp. A medium bodied tripel with a dry finish.

D - This is a really good brew and I love a good Belgian Tripel.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 00:55:52 | More by zeff80

jar2574

Missouri

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Huge two inch head over clear, yellow colored beer. Smells of spices, yeasts. A bit weaker smell than most trippels though. Tastes of bananas, spices, yeast. More sweet than bitter. The 9% ABV is completely disguised. For a high ABV it's very drinkable. Slightly too sweet and cloying at times in the aftertaste, and that's the only thing holding it back on drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 03:20:41 | More by jar2574

JoeAmerican77

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours out a semi hazed orange julip, with an easy two finger off white head. Smells of light yeast and a hint of citrus. Wow, a much better first taste impression than the smell. A good amount of dough, and some sweet candy in there too can't really feel the alcohol but 9.5% is good feeling for sure. A helpful amount of fruit, maybe some pears, yes definitely pear. It is a medium to heavy bodied drink with a great compliment of medium strong carbonation that hits the way only belgians can.

I do recommend this for certain, it brings a much cheaper price tag than many others n its class yet it is a competitor nonetheless. love getting my Money's worth.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2011 01:45:13 | More by JoeAmerican77

illidurit

California

2.65/5  rDev -33.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I bought this beer almost exactly 4 years ago and never got around to drinking it until now. Pours an orange color with a small khaki head. Aroma is buttery, indicating diacetyl, but we later decided that it was probably oxidative effects. Caramel butterscotch flavor, not really much classic tripel ester character. It has a bit of that sweet sherry taste that some oxidated beers get. Sorta oversweet and flabby. Not a great candidate for aging, apparently.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2011 08:04:40 | More by illidurit

Cozzatoad

Italy

3.61/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

330ml (11.2oz) bottle

A- Dark golden/light orange. Two fingers head, holds quite well but almost no signs of lacing

S- Smell is sweet, dominated by a mix of earthy yeast notes and sugar. Not much else in the way, maybe a slight fruitiness

T- Mostly what smelling suggest. Some malty notes are detectable (caramel, honey) but yeast and sugar are clearly dominating the flavour, with a sweet and earthy profile. Not that it's bad, but it totally lacks complexity, no fruity or spicy notes at all as you would expect from a tripel

M- Pleasantly crispy, overall it fills the mouth with a quite dense body. Finishes quite dry

O- Not bad but very much pedestrian. Still a decent value for money though

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 15:43:51 | More by Cozzatoad

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle shared by jayhawk73. Thanks Jeff!

The beer is hazy and light orange in color. The head is smallish and generates a good amount of lacing on the glass. The beer is bready with a healthy amount of citrus flavors. Alcohol presence asserts itself throughout, though on the whole, I find it unoffensive. This beer is bold, assertive, and quite tasty. The body is medium / thick with a warming finish. Another fine example of a Belgian tripel.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 16:16:31 | More by Huhzubendah

pants678

California

3.1/5  rDev -22.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Gold with a white head. Big white head, but it shrinks pretty quick.

Citrus, but predominantly peaches and caramel.

Hops and a wrapping honey throughout combine well with a tailing off green apple that's momentarily intense. Zesty yet hardly complex. Alcohol his well covered.

A cutting and barely staining texture. Not sharp as a tack but still cleansing. Would pair well with BBQ. More bubbles than your standard soda. Just heavier than medium bodied.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2011 04:07:15 | More by pants678

JMforman

Tennessee

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I'm not real experienced with tripels, but I'm trying to expand my tripel horizons.
A- Very pale, very good head

S- Must, flowers, hay, faint hops (reminded me a lot of a saison)

T- Coriander, chamomile, honey, alcohol, orange

M- Medium to light, creamy

D- Quite.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 04:38:58 | More by JMforman

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

3.63/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a tulip glass from a 750ml bottle.

A - A vigorous pour gives way to a nice slightly clear golden color with some nice strong straw hints and a billowing fluffy white head that is about 3 inches.

S - Aroma of sweet cloves with some slight banana. Some nice bready and grainy malt notes. There are some slight spice notes as well as some nice Belgian yeast notes that come through the beer. Delicious vinous aroma on the back end.

T & M - Starts off with some crisp malt grain notes and some spice notes. There is slight clove sweetness but not as intense as the nose. The Belgian funk is there as well but not as intense as other Tripels. Fluffy and crisp mouthfeel, nice light body. A bit average in my book.

D - The beer is not bad but not the best either. Quite enjoyable and easy to drink but not a repeat.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 01:24:13 | More by JoEBoBpr

DoubleJ

California

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at Lucky Baldwin's Delirium Cafe, served in a Val-Dieu glass. On to the beer:

Bright and a tint darker than gold in color. The head poured on top was very frothy, but quickly drops to a lace. The aroma brings pears and fruity esters to the nose. As expected per style, it is a sweet tasting beer, but it's also a little dry. Sugary with some aspirin-like notes before the beer dries. It almost seems like a Belgian IPA with a kiss of the hops. Sparkling carbonation hits the palate from this lightish bodied "easy to drink despite a nine percent alcohol by volume".

A respectable and more affordable Belgian tripel. I could drink this at almost any time of day.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2011 05:17:23 | More by DoubleJ

wcintula

New York

2.75/5  rDev -30.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

I wasn't impressed with this too much. Poured into a rocks glass, shared with others, it poured an opaque, brownish color with big old floaties in it. Smells strong and sweet, of fruits, booze. the taste follows through with a maltier profile and a thick mouth feel with that alcohol presence noted in throat and nasal passages. It was an okay beer, but leaves more to be desired.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 17:45:32 | More by wcintula

RMcMinn

Kansas

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First Tripel in a while. I remember now why I enjoy them so much.

A= Poured from a bottle. Thin, light head. Very little lacing. Light amber color, nearly transparent.

S= Upon removing the cork the fruit odor was apparent. Only got stronger as I continued through the bottle. Was strong but not overpowering.

M= Very smooth. From the first drink throughout, it stays on the palate but not in a bad way. It isn't sticky but remains in the mouth.

D= Was a pleasant beer to drink. Enjoyed it through the evening. Will definalty drink it again.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2011 02:27:05 | More by RMcMinn

hudsonvalleyslim

Massachusetts

4.58/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

On this New Year's Eve, somewhere near Boston, I'm ditchin' the party and enjoying some fine brews. Affligem Tripel in a 750ml corked bottle. Dated: 10 159 15. Brewed about halfway through 2010? Would seem these famous breweries could come up with an easier code, no?

Poured a hazy blonde, very attractive, and a solid but quickly dissapating head. Nice fine lacing. Nothing offensive or spectacular on the nose. OK, let's drink.

Fruit, pears & apples, maybe a tad sweet on the start. As I start my second glass, I'm loving the aftertaste, so flavorful. The sweetness has gone, the fruitiness remains. And a little bitter's kickin' in. Never really noticed the alcohol - I like it well into the background, though that's dangerous territory sometimes. But that's a plus.

I poured the yeast into my last ¼ glass, and can't really tell the difference - guessing the bottle was shaken a bit on my bike ride home.

Anyways, highly recommended. Most excellent for sure. And quite a bit cheaper here in Boston than many other fine Belgians. (US$9) Happy New Year everyone!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2011 00:41:15 | More by hudsonvalleyslim