Product: Delirium Tremens Producer: Brouwerij Huyghe Approximate Retail Value: $10 per 12 ounce bottle Category: Beer Country of Origin: Melle, Belgium Reviewer: Jesse Bernardini The F Words: Flavor – Sweet and delicious, with hints of spices. Feel – Frothy but smooth and crisp. Finish – Extremely refreshing.

Rating:

For months now, a bartender friend of mine has been trying to get me to try Delirium Tremens. I had seen signs for it outside of bars, but for whatever reason, had never tried it. The name itself is clever, but not what I would call good advertising for a beer. Delirium tremens is also the medical term for an episode of delirium that follows severe alcohol withdrawal, also know as "the shakes," "the DTs", and "the fear." In Harlem during the 1930’s, the phenomenon was nick named "the jitters," which eventually led to a popular dance craze known as "the jitterbug."

So why would a beer name itself after a horrible affliction that is caused by drinking alcohol? Isn’t that a little like Marlboro changing its name to Black Lung Cigarettes? My bartender friend told me not to get hung up on the name and just try the beer. She opened a bottle and poured half of it into a six ounce snifter, leaving the other half in the bottle. Once exposed in the glass, Delirium Tremens has a lot of head with a blonde-body. One of the best qualities of this beer is the aroma. Smells of apples and pears are prevalent ,with a hint of grapefruit, but it’s the citrus scent that really stands out.

The bottle is very attractive, as well. It’s painted white, appearing to be ceramic, rather than glass. With a blue label that features a pink elephant, Delirium Tremens stands out amongst the other beer bottles. After it is poured, the beer looks delicious. After my first sip, I did not fall on the floor and start shaking, but instead, felt rather uplifted. The taste of the beer actually put me in a good mood after one sip. A foam lacing made its way down the glass with every sip I took. This foam stays in the glass the entire time and each sip is just as frothy as the last. At first, I thought to compare this beer with a cider, but quickly changed my mind when I had time to digest all of the flavors and ingredients that went into the making of this ale.

Despite the amount of foam and carbonation, this beer goes down extremely smooth and finishes off crisply. It’s very sweet, but to the degree of Blue Moon. There are hints of spices and citrus in the aftertaste that takes a little away from the sweetness. Delirium Tremens has the body and flavor traces of traditional ale. It is heavy on yeast,  but it is doesn't stray too far from a Belgian Wheat style. The beer's flavor and sweetness almost hide the alcohol content; it’s almost like you are drinking a non-alcoholic beverage. This is very deceiving. Most American ales are right around the 5.0% ABV mark while the Belgian Delirium is 8.5% ABV. Since it is so easy to drink, you may find yourself a little tipsier than you would expect after just a couple of beers.

Autumn and early winter is probably the best time to enjoy this beer. I can see this beer complimenting any large, hearty meal, so don't waste your money or taste buds purchasing this beer to wash down a slice of pizza or a hot dog. It seems to have been made for some sort of feast or festival. Its hidden flavors and texture leave the drinker very refreshed after, but it will leave you yearning for more.

    If there is one problem that I encountered with this beer, it would be the price. Ten dollars seems to be the average price in New York City bars for one twelve ounce bottle, but I've seen Delirium Tremens going for as much as fifteen dollars-a-bottle. Considering this, I would not recommend this beer to anyone who is looking to go out and chug multiple beers at a cheap price. Delirium will be enjoyed by anybody that enjoys the finer points of beers and is looking for the various flavors they may contain.