Brouwerij Huyghe Delirium Tremens – Belgian Strong Ale at 8.7% ABV | 24.5 IBU (C$6.00 at South Trail Calgary Co-Op, 330 ml, best before 30-Aug-2017, acquired 5-Nov-2014, reviewed 25-Mar-2020)
Appearance: clear particulate-laden straw with one finger of dense white head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: green apple, Belgian yeast, candi sugar, banana, cloves, white pepper. (9/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter, light tart. (9/10) Palate: medium-light body, lively carbonation, off-dry warming finish. (4/5)
You know what annoys the piss out of me? I can’t just drink any more. Well, I can, sort of – I mean, I can kill a bottle of whiskey like nobody’s business, and I can go pick up a four or six of something to have while I’m watching the game (except thanks to COVID19 there’s no more games any more!) – but out of my collection? I can’t pull out something interesting and just drink it, oh no, I feel obligated to review it. Even something like this, that I know inside out and upside down – I mean, shit, I’ve been to the Café Delirium in Brussels, multiple times. (But I didn’t get one of those skewed glasses? D’oh! Note to self, if international travel ever becomes possible again.) Not only that, I have a couple of “proper” Delirium glasses, but they’re at home, while I’m serving out my quarantine in my office. Feckin’ hell. And yeah, fine, the name of the beer is a debilitating side effect of alcoholism, but fuckit, right? I’m not an alcoholic, because alcoholics go to meetings.
Anyway, I obviously don’t have a drinking problem, I have a collecting problem. When I crack open one of my many cellar classics like this, I feel such a sense of loss: I mean, this is almost three years past its alleged BB date, but other than a bit of particulate, it’s not been harmed at all, and if anything is a little better than it used to be. It’s still bright and lively, but has smoothed out a little over its extended cellaring. Helluva beer – warm, but not overly aggressive, and lively, yet easy-drinking. (17/20)
8.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
