$7.99 from Merchant Package, Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta, GA, USA. 11/03 on the cork from the corked & caged, 750 mL bottle. As usual that ugly, dirty brown murky pour - GOD I HATE the way Dubbel's look. Fine carbonation on the surface of the beer - a little prickly in the mouth, lace is thin. Yeasty taste with some acidic qualities. In fact the acidic nature of the beer shines through. A little thin in the mouth, but it's standard. Better drinkability than I expected. Dubbels just don't do...
Notes on beers brewed by
Brouwerij De Smedt / Brouwerij Affligem
Affligem Blond
Six pack, $9.99 from Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA, USA. Deep orange color in the body and an impressive and encouraging head sitting in the Duvel tulip. A very simple Belgian Pale - no frills, not much to report but solid. Alcohol is present but not overpowering, however there was a hottish finish to this beer. Typical Belgian candied sugars and yeasts, but all in check. Very mild spice - a steady example. Nice introduction to the style, very simple, very compact and an easy...
Affligem Noël
750 mL corked and caged, Liquor Barn. Lexington, KY, USA. Cork pops with a pleasing burst, and the beer pours beautifully with a dense head of very fine bubbles forming on top of the Dubbel brown body into the Gouden Carolus glass. Head has a definite espresso feel about it, both in terms of the color and fine film it leaves on the surface. Strong and typical aroma with plenty of dry, dark fruits, alcohol and Belgian yeast. Exactly the same is replicated in the taste with a lingering, round...
Affligem Tripel
750 mL, Chapel Hill Package, Douglasville, GA, USA, $6.99. Quite disappointed. A watery experience was the overwhelming memory of this beer. All in all way too lightweight for the style. Light "lager" colored appearance, decent head but disappeared too quickly with no lacing. Prickly carbonation in the mouth didn't help either. One redeeming factor - as it warmed up in the glass it improved.