Affligem Dubbel 750ML

Affligem Dubbel 750ML is a bottle-conditioned Belgian abbey dubbel ale at 6.8% ABV, brewed in the Flemish Brabant tradition. This expression earned a Country Winner award at the World Beer Awards 2021, validating its place among the strongest examples of the dubbel style brewed outside Trappist walls.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.8%  |  Origin: Flemish Brabant, Belgium  |  Style: Abbey Dubbel  |  Brewery: Brouwerij Affligem (Opwijk)

Production & Heritage

Affligem traces its brewing heritage to the Affligem Abbey, founded in 1074 near Opwijk in Belgium's Flemish Brabant province. The modern brewery, originally known as Brouwerij De Smedt, now operates under the Alken-Maes group within Heineken's portfolio. The Dubbel is top-fermented using a blend of roasted malts with Spalt and Styrian hops, then undergoes a 14-day warm room maturation before re-fermenting inside the bottle — a secondary fermentation step that builds complexity and a fine natural carbonation distinct from force-carbonated ales.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Clove and banana esters lead, followed by darker molasses and raisin notes with a subtle anise spice underneath. The bottle conditioning adds a gentle yeasty breadiness that deepens as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry is rich and toasty with immediate roasted malt sweetness, giving way to dark cherry, raisin, and red apple fruit at mid-palate. As it develops, layers of chocolate, coffee, and caramel emerge, supported by a medium-to-high body that carries real weight without becoming cloying.

Finish: Moderately long with lingering malt sweetness, dried fruit, and a gentle bitter edge from the Spalt hops. A faint warmth and toasty grain character persists, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Affligem Dubbel

Pour into a wide-mouthed chalice or goblet at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to allow the complex aromatics to open fully. The 750ml format is ideal for sharing between two people. A Belgian Beer Spritz — dubbel with a splash of sparkling water and an orange peel twist — showcases the fruit-forward side in warmer months. A Dubbel Flip using a whole egg, simple syrup, and the beer creates a rich, dessert-like cocktail that amplifies the chocolate and caramel notes. For a simple highball variation, a Dubbel and Tonic with quality tonic water and a cinnamon stick plays well against the clove and anise aromatics.

Best For

• Sharing over a slow dinner with rich Flemish-style stews or braised meats
• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast exploring Belgian abbey styles
• Pairing alongside a holiday cheese board with aged Gouda and dried fruits
• Cellaring for 1–2 years to see how bottle conditioning deepens flavor complexity

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Affligem Dubbel taste like? Affligem Dubbel is dominated by rich toasty malt sweetness with dark cherry, raisin, chocolate, and coffee flavors, balanced by gentle clove spice and a moderate hop bitterness on the finish.

How does Affligem Dubbel compare to Westmalle Dubbel? Westmalle Dubbel is an authentic Trappist product brewed within abbey walls at 7.0% ABV and is widely considered the benchmark for the style. Affligem Dubbel, at 6.8% ABV, tends toward slightly more pronounced chocolate and coffee roast character, while Westmalle leans more toward dark fruit and a drier finish.

Is Affligem Dubbel good for sipping neat? Yes — poured into a chalice at cellar temperature, the bottle-conditioned carbonation and layered malt complexity make it an excellent standalone sipper, particularly after dinner.

Where is Affligem Dubbel made? Affligem Dubbel is brewed at Brouwerij Affligem in Opwijk, a town in the Flemish Brabant province of Belgium, near the historic Affligem Abbey that has been associated with brewing since 1074.

What foods pair well with Affligem Dubbel? Carbonnade flamande (Flemish beef stew braised in beer) mirrors the malt sweetness beautifully. Aged Gouda or Chimay cheese echoes the caramel depth. Roasted duck with cherry glaze complements the dark fruit notes. Dark chocolate desserts amplify the cocoa and coffee character. Charcuterie with dried figs and walnuts balances the residual sweetness.

What sizes does Affligem Dubbel come in? The expression is commonly available in a 750ml bottle, which is the traditional Belgian sharing format designed for pouring into chalices.

Is Affligem Dubbel worth the price? Affligem Dubbel sits in the mid-range value tier for Belgian abbey ales, positioned below Trappist dubbels like Westmalle or Chimay Red but delivering genuine bottle-conditioned complexity that outperforms many competitors at its price point.

Why Affligem Dubbel?

The 14-day warm room maturation followed by secondary fermentation in the bottle is a production commitment that most commercially scaled abbey-style breweries skip — and it shows in the depth and layering of the finished beer. The Country Winner recognition at the 2021 World Beer Awards and an 85/100 score from Beer Connoisseur confirm that this is not simply a mass-market approximation of the dubbel style. With nearly a millennium of brewing heritage behind the Affligem name and a recipe built on roasted malts, Spalt hops, and Styrian hops, this 750ml bottle delivers genuine Belgian abbey character at an accessible price tier. For anyone serious about exploring the dubbel category beyond the Trappist producers, this is one of the most credible options available.