Affligem Tripel
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Tasting Notes
The aroma opens with ripe stone fruit, honeyed malt, and a distinctive yeast character that brings notes of clove and white pepper. On the palate, it's full-bodied and richly sweet up front, with a dry finish that keeps the high alcohol from feeling heavy. Flavors of apricot, banana, and a mild spice weave through the malt backbone, while a subtle hop bitterness provides just enough balance. The finish is long and warming, with the 9.5% ABV making its presence known without dominating.
About the Brewery
Affligem is a Belgian abbey brewery with roots tracing back to a Benedictine monastery founded in 1074 in Opwijk, Belgium, making it one of the oldest brewing traditions in the country. While the modern commercial operation is now owned by Heineken, the beers are still brewed under the Affligem name and maintain a recognizable abbey ale character. The brewery is particularly well-regarded for its blonde, dubbel, and tripel expressions, and holds a prominent place in the broader Belgian abbey beer category.
Food Pairings
A rich roast chicken works well here because the beer's fruity yeast esters echo the caramelized skin without competing with it. Aged Gouda or a firm washed-rind cheese like Taleggio pairs naturally, as the beer's sweetness cuts through the fat while the spice notes align with the cheese's funk. Mussels steamed in white wine are a classic regional match, the brininess playing cleanly against the malt and carbonation. For dessert, a tarte tatin or buttered pastry links to the honey and stone-fruit notes already present in the glass.
Style Guide
The Belgian Tripel is a pale, strong abbey ale style developed and popularized by the Trappist brewery Westmalle in the mid-20th century, though its roots in monastic brewing go back further. Defined by a high ABV range typically between 8% and 10%, it balances significant malt sweetness with a dry, spice-forward yeast character that produces notes of clove, banana, and pepper through fermentation. Unlike a dubbel, which is darker and more caramel-driven, a tripel is pale golden and emphasizes fruity esters and a deceptively clean finish. The style is bottle-conditioned in traditional examples, which adds a light effervescence and complexity that develops over time.