Delirium Tremens Belgium Strong Ale

Product of: Belgium

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This Belgium strong pale ale comes packed in a bottle made distinctive by spray job, which depending on your view either makes it look like concrete or ceramic. If that were not enough the electric blue foil and label is graced by green crocodiles, dragons and a pink elephants on a circus ball.

A visit to the brewery's website reviles the label is actually a symbolic representation of delirium as a state of mind (Portman Group: please don't spoil the fun). A former video by the brewery referenced the psychedelic animal representations on the label: "they are finally attacked by Hitchcock birds."

A reference to the meaning of Delirium Tremens on Wikipedia puts everything into perspective: "Delirium tremens (Latin for "shaking frenzy", also referred to as The DTs, "the horrors" or "the shakes") is an acute episode of delirium that is usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol, first described in 1813."

Review and Tasting

Sampled on 14/08/2017

Appearance:

Slight haze, golden amber with thick, moderately retentive white head with light lacing.

Aroma:

Lemon juice and honey with oxidised pear fruit esters and flowering summer hedgerow.

Taste:

Heavily carbonated, hugely flavoured with a strong alcohol back bone, but that strength does not overpower the palate. Pine hops balanced by honey sweetness with spicy black pepper yeastiness.

Aftertaste:

Initially sweet, faintly strawberry finish fades with cracked black pepper.

Overall:

This is a huge beer - even bigger than a pink elephant - with distinctive cracked black pepper spice, honeyed sweetness and spirituous alcohol.