Affligem Blond Belgian abbey ale

Product of: Belgium

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Affligem is an Belgian Abbey beer brewed since the 12th century and now produced by Affligem Brewery under licence from the Benedictine monks. Affligem Blond is a top fermented ale with secondary fermentation in the bottle.

BODY & SOUL POUR

1/. Your beer should have stood chilling a refrigerator, ideally between 7 and 8°C for at least 6 hours to allow the yeast sediment to settle.

2/. Open the bottle and pour most (90%) of the Affligem slowly from a height into a dry glass tilted at 45°, gradually straightening the glass as you pour. You should end up with a firm and silky head around 35% of the total volume of the glass (approximately two fingers thick).

3/. Then swirl the remaining 10% of the beer left in the bottle to release its soul - the yeast sediment settled at the bottom of the bottle. Either pour into your glass or into another smaller glass to savour its fruity, citrus and spice flavours separately.

Shaped to the best present the aroma of the beer, the Affligem goblet also reflects the chalices used by the knights who first established Affligem Abbey.

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 08/06/2014

Appearance:

(sample best before 11/Sep/14) Clear (if rested & carefully poured), light-mid golden amber with thick white head which subsides to retentive snowy layer leaving light lacing.

Aroma:

Newly baked bread, fruity - apple, kiwi & overripe banana - hint of clove and earthy dried pine cones.

Taste:

Slightly sweet maltyness balanced by clove hop spice and pink grapefruit zest. Adding the 'soul' amplifies yeasty bread and clove spice.

Aftertaste:

Long spicy, clove, zesty finish.