Delirium Tremens - Brouwerij Huyghe

Tupperwolf

Washington

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours from the 11.2oz coated bottle an apple cider color with a thick frothy white head. The first thing that strikes me is... Yeast. Hmm. Yeast floaties - strike that, yeast colonies - no... yeast metropoli. Either I did something to disturb my yeast, or I should have decanted it more carefully, or there's something wrong with my beer, or I'm being overly sensitive. But this thing is totally full of kind of gross yeast chunks.

Smell is marshmallowy, citrusy and ciderish; Lemon peel, clove, a tiny hint of strawberries and a final bang of bananas that I didn't expect.

The taste is crisp and sharp across the whole palate; Sugar coated orange rinds, perhaps, a few spicy tastes of clove and coriander. Whatever the flavors that my tongue can't decipher are, they're zingy and crisp.

The carbonation that I really like in this kind of ale brings this one down a bit, and as it warms there's an unpleasant estery alcohol bite. What I want to say but should restrain myself from saying is that this reminds me of Duvel but is a little less refined in appearance, flavor, and presentation. Worth trying, if just for the fact that you can joke about the name and bottle with friends.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2006 09:04:29 | More by Tupperwolf

ronin926

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -15.3%

06-20-2013 05:23:03 | More by ronin926

pointone

Missouri

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-19-2013 01:22:31 | More by pointone

BeerEngineer

California

4.41/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

General - I've had Delirium Tremens before but never bothered with a review of it. This thing has always been so good in the past that I would just sit down and enjoy it rather than writing about it. I'm drinking this out of a New Belgium Tulip style glass, the bottle was the smaller 11.2 oz bottle.

Appearance - SRM color of about a 4. A nice white frothy head at first pour that dissipates quickly. Not much lacing on this but I'm ok with it. The beer is a little bit hazy, most likely from the bottle conditioning.

Aroma - There is a slight scent of fruit and spice to this ale, really inviting. Smells like a nice clean beer for a warm summer day. There is a slight maltiness to this with an underlying alcohol scent, the alcohol isn't too strong but is there in the background.

Taste - There is a bitterness with this beer along with a solid punch of fruity esters. Very refreshing beer that has a nice citrus hit. There is also a solid malt that backs up the fruit flavor. The bitterness hits near the end of each sip too.

Mouthfeel - Very drying with a high carbonation level. Feels like I bit into a lemon in all honesty, very nice. A little thin, but that's what I expect for this style.

Overall - Wow, every time that I have this beer I just love it more and more. The way this beer refreshes is just amazing. If you like Belgium beers and haven't had Delirium Tremens, you need to. On a funny side note, Delirium Tremens is actually an alcohol withdraw symptom that includes severe shaking. Interesting name for this amazing beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2013 03:07:08 | More by BeerEngineer

BColton1

Rhode Island

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-18-2013 01:31:06 | More by BColton1

marybrooke

New York

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-18-2013 00:19:08 | More by marybrooke

straightlambic

California

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-17-2013 16:34:25 | More by straightlambic

C3likesbeer

California

3.71/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A- Pale yellow slight haze. Nice thick and lacy head that dissipates quickly. Pretty meh. Probably why they have a white bottle.

S- Starting to get better here. Belgian yeast with some apricot and banana esters. Nice complexity.

T- Immediately can feel the carbonation slightly bready with banana, spice and grapefruit. Almost champagne like mouthfeel. All over the place but very good Belgian Ale.

O- Going from appearance to overall this beer gets progressively better. While the overall score was brought down by the smell and appearance, the taste is outstanding. If taste were the only thing, this beer is outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 22:46:57 | More by C3likesbeer

scot959

California

5/5  rDev +21.1%

06-16-2013 05:22:00 | More by scot959

ThePaintedGrey

Pennsylvania

4.04/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle, poured into a tulip glass.

A: Pristine golden color, with a slight, interesting and entertaining haze of floating yeast specks. Two finger head starts out full and bubbly, but eventually diminishes to a respectable (and pretty) 1/4-inch head that retains all the way to the end.

S: Upon first whiff, you detect nectar fruits; pear, apple. There's a slight spiciness that my nose couldn't decipher. The alcohol is apparent, but is respectably mild and well incorporated into the scent. It's almost a warning that this delicacy is not to be trifled with.

T: Deliciously fruity. Apples, pears, slight citrus, and if my tongue doesn't deceive me, maybe a hint of peach? The fruitiness doesn't last long, as you're hit with a surprise wave of spice and yeast. The fruit becomes an undertone as the beer makes its way down. The alcohol is a tad noticeable upon first sip, but it takes the backseat for the most part.

M: Overall pretty crisp, but it seems a little over-carbonated. Possibly just a fluke, but it is a bit of a hinderance to the flavors.

O: I went for this beer on an honest and truthful whim. I had heard its name before, but never looked into it. Boy, was it a treat. Complex flavors, pleasing aroma, and an all around treat to drink. Just be careful, however... It goes down far too easy for a beer with its alcohol content!

As an added note, the opaque gray and black speckled bottle really builds suspense as you're getting ready to pop the top and pour. I've never been more excited to pour a beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 04:07:53 | More by ThePaintedGrey

IchLiebeBier

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Orange; slightly cloudy; effervescent; huge, foamy head

Aroma: Spicy; peppery; orange zest

Taste: Tart; citrusy; peppery; overall, very smooth and enjoyable flavor; well balanced

Remarks: I love these bottles. I wish I had a bunch for homebrew.

Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 12:23:14 | More by IchLiebeBier

Krakpoff

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-14-2013 23:35:55 | More by Krakpoff

VictorWisc

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-14-2013 07:45:46 | More by VictorWisc

corysmith01

New York

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-14-2013 03:03:00 | More by corysmith01

sfprint

Germany

4.13/5  rDev 0%
look: 3 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A: its a bit frightening. There are so many giant yeast flakes swiming around the glass like an aquarium. its a hair hazy, beautiful gold
S: very very nice. Very tripel like, except heavier with orange and perhaps pineapple.
T: tripel-like, slightly woody,, sugarless apricot has the heaviness of its alcohol content but not the flavor (which i appreciate). lemony sourness
M: light, fairly smooth, slightly puckering
O: I haven't had a delirium tremens in many years and I remember thinking it wasnt anything special back then, but 442 reviews later, this one does really measure up. quality but a bit visually disturbing.

Serving type: bottle

06-13-2013 20:31:03 | More by sfprint

ackeeper

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-12-2013 18:54:49 | More by ackeeper

maligare

California

4.75/5  rDev +15%

06-12-2013 05:27:34 | More by maligare

steevbr

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-11-2013 21:23:54 | More by steevbr

dbossman

Nebraska

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-11-2013 21:03:00 | More by dbossman

dunix

Vermont

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-11-2013 17:56:25 | More by dunix

hferhut

California

4/5  rDev -3.1%

06-11-2013 03:01:26 | More by hferhut

muratakinci

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

06-10-2013 22:21:23 | More by muratakinci

stealth

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-10-2013 05:51:29 | More by stealth

vandemonian

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Delirium Tremens is a delicious strong pale ale. Foamy, spicy and fruity.

A: Yellow colour and a big 5 mm head that lasts really well. 4.5

S: Spicy with some yeastiness too. Some graininess too. 4

T: Malty with strong spiciness and some bitter fruit flavours. Sour fruitiness too, lol. Yum. 4

M: Extremely carbonated and foamy. 4.5

O: 4

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 02:28:28 | More by vandemonian

Skunkyluvmuffin

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

06-10-2013 01:04:44 | More by Skunkyluvmuffin