While on a trip to the home of Cam Newton - Auburn, Alabama - for a wedding / vacation, I was having pizza at the Mellow Mushroom with my lovely wife, on a day that was just as lovely when I saw a Delirium Tremens beer mat. It made the claim of being voted the best beer in the world. They happened to have it available, so I bought one. It is fitting that the name actually means "trembling madness", referring to the serious withdrawals that can occur after alcohol abuse, or like the shakes induced by Brew Review Withdrawal.
Delirium Tremens is a Belgian Strong Ale produced by the Brewery Huyghe in Melle, Belgium. And here's what they would like you to know about this brew:
ABV: 8.5%
Colour and Sight: pale blond, the fine and regular effervesce ensures a fine and stable head.
Scent: Slightly malty, a nice touch of alcohol, spicy
Flavour: Feels like the sound shot of alcohol is igniting the mouth. In reality the tongue and palate are warmed. The taste is characterized by its roundness. The aftertaste is strong, long-lasting and dry bitter.
The whole "Best Beer in the World" part was the award given at the World Beer Championships in Chicago, IL in 1998.
Now if you ask me, there are many beers that are better overall, but as for the style guidelines, Delirium is a great Belgian Strong. It poured with a thick, long lasting head, under which was an unfiltered, golden ale. I fully agree with them on the spicy aroma part too. There was a familiar scent that I couldn't quite place, but it was very nice.
The taste was crisp with a hint of citrus and a very effervescent mouth feel. It left very little lacing on the glass as I drank it down. It left a long alcohol warmth in the back of my throat but otherwise had a short lasting aftertaste. It was a fairly well balanced brew with the scales tipped slightly toward the hops end.
At $8.50 for an 11.2 oz bottle, I may say that it was a little overpriced. But I will still make the official Everything Brewed Rating a 4 out of 5 pints. [EDIT: that price was what I paid and was current at the time of writing this post. However, I did find it today for $3.99 for the same size. Guess that's what I get for buying it from a restaurant!]
Thanks for checking out this week’s Brew Review. Thoughts, comments, and questions are, of course, welcome. And remember to enjoy your beer, but responsibly please. Also, don’t forget to check out their website for more information on this and other brews by Delirium.
Cheers,
Jason
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