Affligem Blond - Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

330 mL bottle from the LCBO; best before Nov 30 2013. I liked the dubbel and tripel from this brewery, so getting this one was a quick decision. Still, some of my most-loved beers are also BSPAs so we'll see how this one compares.

Pours a hazy golden-amber colour - I guess 'blonde' would be the more direct way to describe it. Streams of bubbles flow from the bottom of the glass, feeding the lofty, pillowy white head. It is nearly three fingers thick, with great retention that delays my ability to smell the actual beer. When the head finally recedes to a more manageable rocky cap - with the glass caked in lacing - I am finally able to determine that the smell just isn't very intense. There is some light pale maltiness, some honeyed sweetness, and some vague yeasty spiciness, but it's meek and unremarkable.

Good taste, certainly style-appropriate but nothing that exceptional. Pale bready malt, appleskin and sugary sweetness provide a modest backbone for the more-prominent spiciness - including clove, coriander and white pepper. Dry, spicy aftertaste with some yeast and barely detectable alcohol warmth. On the light side of medium-bodied, with a spritzy feel on the tongue from the firm carbonation.

Final Grade: 3.5, just barely scratching out a B. Decent, but unexceptional. Affligem Blond meets the bare minimum of what I expect of pale Belgian ales, but I am not really digging it. Reminds me of Leffe Blond - which I was not particularly enamored with either, so if you are of a similar opinion you may wish to skip this one. I don't regret the purchase because it's still a fine brew that I might try again some time, but I will probably get Duvel or La Chouffe a few more times before I get around to retrying this.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 06:25:50 | More by thehyperduck

apasternak

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2%

05-22-2013 08:16:52 | More by apasternak

johntfox

Florida

4/5  rDev +2%

05-21-2013 00:49:36 | More by johntfox

shanny1981

Georgia

3.41/5  rDev -13%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

An okay beer. Definitely a little over the top when it comes to unnecessary carbonation. I hate overly carbonated beers that keep you belching for 24 hours straight. Husband and I both had a tummy ache after consuming a single bottle. Won't be trying this again. However, loved the color, smell and after taste. A very pretty beer in terms of appearance.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 13:22:51 | More by shanny1981

mquinn919

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

05-12-2013 01:44:25 | More by mquinn919

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

05-11-2013 03:35:22 | More by BigBry

rph97

Texas

4/5  rDev +2%

05-10-2013 20:13:16 | More by rph97

NikD

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

05-05-2013 13:18:58 | More by NikD

schnarr84

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +2%

04-28-2013 19:26:39 | More by schnarr84

smbslt

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

04-24-2013 02:26:40 | More by smbslt

rangerred

Tennessee

4.19/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

330ml bottle into a goblet.

Pours a slightlly hazy medium gold with a few chunks making it into the glass. I downed the rest out of the bottle.

Pears really dominate the aroma along with some floral hops and light bready malt. A really pleasant aroma that lacks much of the clove/banana of other Belgians but is unique all its own.

The Belgiany character comes out more in the flavor with clove and bubblegum but the abundant pear is still there and provides a great citrus touch. A nice pilsner malt character and some light floral/grassy hops round it out. A soft drying mouthfeel makes this a real refreshing beer to drink.

Overall, a great Belgian that is very refreshing and light. It may not have all the complexities of some of the stronger Belgain ales but it is a pleasure to drink nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 02:23:38 | More by rangerred

augustgarage

California

3.9/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Seems a fitting libation to accompany my viewing of Paris Roubaix. Poured from a 330mL bottle into my Troubadour tulip. 7% alcohol pushes the limits of a BPA, but let's see:

Golden poppy liquid, clear (appearing filtered despite "the yeast in the bottle"), capped by a fat finger of beige merengue. Superior retention. Pasty (almost clumpy) lacing.

Yeast is prominent in the nose - phenolic and bready, accentuating the malt nicely. Floral with hints of honey as well. Some peppery/spice notes come in as well as the beer warms.

Spice-like yeast notes are more prominent on the palate - slightly tart with coriander and white pepper elements. Soft mellow pale malt flavor and a mild noble-hop bitterness add interest though not much complexity. Dry malty/fruity (from yeast) finish.

Carbonation seems just a little high perhaps, though it makes the ale seem crisper and further conceals the alcohol.

A pleasant example of the style - easy drinking and deceptively strong.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 20:59:45 | More by augustgarage

garuda

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +2%

04-07-2013 14:04:12 | More by garuda

samEBC

Belgium

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

04-01-2013 20:35:14 | More by samEBC

mshanecrowe

Mississippi

4/5  rDev +2%

03-30-2013 22:40:56 | More by mshanecrowe

Bnoise11

California

4/5  rDev +2%

03-28-2013 02:29:41 | More by Bnoise11

ThinkAgain

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

03-27-2013 01:38:10 | More by ThinkAgain

NoleDoc

Florida

4/5  rDev +2%

03-25-2013 03:53:01 | More by NoleDoc

FLima

Brazil

3.76/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Golden amber color. Poured lots of thick white head leaving laces. Last poured brought some floating particles.
Nice aroma of Belgian yeast, matured oranges and sweet vanilla.
Similarly, sweet malt taste well balanced with hops, notes of Belgian yeast and presence of matured fruits and a hint of condiments, especially coriander.
Medium body with good carbonation with an effervescent and spicy sensation. A bit dry and with good drinkability, being a bit less complex. 6.8% ABV is perfectly hidden.
It is the type of beer that grows as you drink it, from an average Belgian blond to a pleasant beer. I would recommend this beer for starting into the Belgian world. Liked the fact that it is not too sweet and you can still feel some hops. Don’t mistake this one per a Dubbel, Tripel etc…, those are bolder off-course.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:11:28 | More by FLima

lccrunchy

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

03-17-2013 23:59:39 | More by lccrunchy

TimeLincoln

New Brunswick (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

03-10-2013 18:49:46 | More by TimeLincoln

lgmol

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

03-08-2013 23:44:02 | More by lgmol

Duvel

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +2%

03-08-2013 16:14:06 | More by Duvel

JuliusCaesar

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +2%

03-04-2013 02:27:35 | More by JuliusCaesar

Mike151014

South Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +21.2%

03-02-2013 19:12:41 | More by Mike151014