Affligem Blond
Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem

Affligem BlondAffligem Blond
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From:
Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem
 
Belgium
Style:
Belgian Blonde Ale
Ranked #12
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
87
Ranked #15,467
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10.77%
Reviews:
551
Ratings:
1,301
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jan 08, 2024
Added:
Apr 25, 2001
Wants:
  65
Gots:
  267
Affligem beers originate from the Belgian abbey founded in 1074. The citrus and tropical fruit notes followed by a malty softness and hoppy character combine to make Affligem Blonde a beautifully smooth beer with a lightly bitter finish.
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Ratings by EsoxLucius:
Photo of EsoxLucius
Reviewed by EsoxLucius from Canada (SK)

3.77/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Affligem Bottle: picked a couple of these up for the wife and I to try.

Appearance: Pours a golden apricot color with a very large white fluffy head that dissolves into a nice foam slick after a few minutes. I tried my absolute best to minimize the head on the wife's I poured after mine.

Very nice color and character, the lacing hangs around as well.

Smell: very aromatic with a nice blend of blossom and spice coming through. It smells great with very little alcohol detection.

Taste: full of flavor, better when it has sat for a bit then the flavors seem to come out. A very citrus taste with hints of herbs rosemary mixed with thyme, bit of coriander. I'm a butcher/sausage maker by trade and it tasted like a mixture of those three, but not one specific. Hops are definitely present. Very pleasing. It's not harsh, nor does it have an aftertaste.

Mouth: very carbonated at first, let it sit for a bit if you don't like overpowering fizz. The remaining carbonation does ad to the bite of the flavor that is much appreciated. I'd say it's medium/light on texture.

Drink: I enjoy it and would buy it again. It's definitely not a 'chuggin' beer, but one more to be enjoyed slowly on all levels. It definitely has a different taste, I'll be searching for more beers like this in the area, this was the first Belgian Pale I've tried as I mostly stick to stouts.
Mar 01, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of Hephaistos
Reviewed by Hephaistos from Netherlands

3.68/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Affligem is an old abbey Brewery from Mechelen, Flanders, Belgium.
Bought up by Heineken, promoting this competitor to AB INbevs Leffe, very much in France and The Netherlands.
Leffe already is degrading.
And with Heinekens reputation I did not expect much of this beer. Was for sale, so gave it a chance,
300 ml bottle at 6,7% label tells that glucose syrup and hpp extract were added.
Well, give it a try anyway. Poured in a LaChouffe glass at around 6 degrees celcius,
Transparent amber colour, 3-4 finger head. medium retention.
Smells like buttercake in combination with wet dog.
Mouth feel is pretty good. The extra glucose is postponing the bitterness of the hops.
And it does not bother too much.
Bitterness is moderate.
It is better than expected.
Ab Inbev has a serious challenger and should do some reverse engineering on their Leffe Blond.
Jan 08, 2024
Photo of MadMadMike
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France

3.77/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
On tap at La Sylene, Toulouse, France.
Grand appearance. Took a while to knock back a tinny taste, but the brew mellowed as it warmed and was OK. I’ll look for it in bottle.,.
Dec 03, 2023
Photo of eluvah
Rated by eluvah from New York

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Had this in Paris. Crystal clear gold with a thin white head. Nice floral bouquet. A bit of biscuit and a dry hoppy finish.
Nov 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.28 by Kgharv from Sweden

Aug 31, 2023
 
Rated: 4.01 by Sphagnicola from Belgium

Apr 06, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by Zylod from West Virginia

Apr 01, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by rpmello81 from California

Mar 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by seakayak from Massachusetts

Mar 10, 2023
 
Rated: 3.67 by SteveinBelgium from Belgium

Mar 09, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by hockeypuck from Maine

Jan 27, 2023
Photo of ovaltine
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana

4.19/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a clear golden color with a dense white head that laces the glass nicely. Beautiful blonde ale. The nose is sweet malts that have caramel and honey notes, and some grassy hop aromas.

The caramel and honey flavors are forward, with the grassy hops leading to a smooth, slightly bitter finish. The mouthfeel is medium and on the creamy side.

Put simply, I could drink this for days. Very well done, IMHO.
Nov 17, 2022
 
Rated: 4.23 by Curt3 from Ohio

Nov 08, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Aug 07, 2022
 
Rated: 4.1 by ScottP from New Hampshire

Aug 01, 2022
Photo of dacrza1
Reviewed by dacrza1 from New Jersey

3.76/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
DATE: July 29, 2022... OCCASION: another fun night in Aruba ends with cards and a beer I have been trying to rate for more than a decade... GLASSWARE: nondescript pokal... pours a golden amber body with sparse bubbles building a soft ring of white suds... thick what esters--light bubblegum and banana, mostly--with toasted sweet malts like cracker rolled in... a hint of flowers works its way in as well... a bigger body than expected, though its 6.7% ABV suggests it could be... refreshing, with a lingering banana aftertaste... the teeth feel a slight tingle; the mouth has a dry, raisinish raspiness... tea leaf, lemon and subtle orange work their way into the profile... caramel pushes into this late.. this works well with the climate and pace of Aruban vacation life-- maybe a bit heavier on the alcohol for a long day of drinking, but for a longish night of drinking, yes...
Jul 30, 2022
Photo of Beersnake
Reviewed by Beersnake from California

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Consumed from bottle so I’ll need to revisit at some point. Able to pick up wheat, hops, orange, grass, and a nice bready malt. Taste is super smooth. Wheat, grass, hay, honey, lemon, a bit of caramel, and nice malts. Overall really good and easy to drink. Great summer beer!
Jul 14, 2022
Photo of EmperorBevis
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottled & I think I got this from The Epicurean in West Didsbury
Pours a clear golden coloured body with big white head
Aroma is semolina and glucose
Lots to f candy and cloves in that body
Jun 28, 2022
 
Rated: 4.09 by SViterileroux74 from Texas

Jun 23, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by erogeman from Isle of Man

Jun 10, 2022
Affligem Blond from Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 1301 ratings