If you like boozy beer, get to know the term tripel. The word originated in Belgium and the Netherlands to describe strong pale ales, which is to say bitter ales ranging in alcohol from about 7 to 12 per cent that have been brewed from lighter-coloured malts. The Benedictine Abbey Affligem in Belgium made beer for centuries, but the name is now licensed by Heineken, which makes this beer in a nearby town. So, it qualifies as an "Abbey-style" beer rather than a true-blue Abbey. The brew is light golden, in keeping with its pale designation, and it's delectably creamy, with a sweet malty core, yeasty overtones and fine head that settles quickly (perhaps too quickly for foam-loving hopheads). The rich fruitiness more than matches the underlying hoppy bitterness, with flavours suggesting ripe banana, baked apple and peach as well as complementary nuances of baking spices. For a tripel, it's tame and friendly. I think the Affligem monks would be impressed by the balance and miraculously inconspicuous alcohol, which in this case tips the scales at 9.5 per cent (I'd have guessed something more like 6.5 or 7). Good beer for a nightcap – at home, with the car keys safely out of reach.