Belgian Gold: Delirium Tremens

[MikeAble]

In my opinion, Delirium Tremens is the best beer I've tasted period. It's about $10 a bottle and extremely hard to find -- I think only a few vendors distribute it in the states. There's also a rumor that it's brewed in Wormwood...

The Nocturum (spelling) is also quite good, but it doesn't quite have the bite of DT. As far as Belgians go though, they beat out Chimay, whatever else.

My favorite mock Belgians are from Unibroue, the Canadian brewery that makes La Fin Du Monde -- a much easier bottle to find, too.

[danno]

(Fret, does this post count as redemption? ;) )

Mike, I'll agree with you somewhat, that DT is a fabulous beer. maybe we have a better distributor, but I can get all the Delirium beers easily here in the Twin Cities. in fact, I can get DT more widely than Unibroue products.

I'll disagree with your "better than Chimay" assesment, though, as DT and any of the Chimays aren't meant to be directly compared, they're different beers. A better comparison would be the Delirium Nocturnum to the Chimay Grand Reserve (and hey, throw Unibroue's Trois Pistoles in there too), they are all very good (if not exceptional) examples of a Belgian Dark Strong Ale (http://www.bjcp.org/styles04/Category18.html#style18E), compared to a Belgian Golden Strong Ale (http://www.bjcp.org/styles04/Category18.html#style18D)...

welcome!

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by MikeAble
In my opinion, Delirium Tremens is the best beer I've tasted period. It's about $10 a bottle and extremely hard to find -- I think only a few vendors distribute it in the states. There's also a rumor that it's brewed in Wormwood...

The Nocturum (spelling) is also quite good, but it doesn't quite have the bite of DT. As far as Belgians go though, they beat out Chimay, whatever else.

My favorite mock Belgians are from Unibroue, the Canadian brewery that makes La Fin Du Monde -- a much easier bottle to find, too. Now that's my kind of post. Welcome aboard! :)

[beerking]

DT, Nocturnum, and Delirium Noel are all pretty easy to come by in the Mid-Atlantic, even down here in Fredericksburg, VA.

The Noel is tasty! Had some Saturday.

[I'mRocketMan]

I thought the Tremens was a Tripel??

Anyway, I can't wait to try my Triple Moon Tripel (12.75%abv) at Yule!!

[newportstorm]

A few of the beers from Brouwerij Huyghe are easily found here in New England - Delirium, Duinen, etc. And the Tremens isn't a Triple - pale, golden color, potent, but not as sweet and I'm unsure if any Belgian candy sugar is used.

Anyway, the brewery is modern and I highly doubt wormwood is used in the brewing process. If so, it's importation to the US would be unlikely, if not impossible. Take a look:

Delirium (http://www.delirium.be/Anglais/Histoire/histoire.htm)

Plenty of domestic Belgian style beers to be had in the states. Some on par with or superior to their Belgian counterparts. Allagash Trippel Reserve is just one such example.

Cheers!

[zoom6zoom]

It's a goodie...
The Hard Times Cafes here in N. VA had DT on tap until a few months ago, even had the right glasses.

Thanks for the info on the Allagash.. have a few bottles on hand but haven't opened one yet.

[Derekt2]

Originally posted by zoom6zoom
It's a goodie...
The Hard Times Cafes here in N. VA had DT on tap until a few months ago, even had the right glasses.

Thanks for the info on the Allagash.. have a few bottles on hand but haven't opened one yet.

Must have been limited to only a few HT locations. I go to the one in Herndon monthly and have never seen it there -- if it was I'd be the one slobbering on the floor 'til the keg was gone!

[beerking]

The Woodbridge HT seems to have the best selection of good beer, although they all don't suck.

[hops99]

Ha! I'll tell you one place you DEFINITELY can't find Delirium products: CANADA - they're illegal.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by beerking
The Woodbridge HT seems to have the best selection of good beer, although they all don't suck.

I'm in the Herndon one a few times a month and occasionally venture into Arlington or Alex.

I think the Herndon HT beer selection has gone down a bit. It used to be great. I could always count on draft Anchor Our Special Ale there at Xmas.

[Degarth]

Delirium is very easy to find in Tampa. And it's definitely good, but I prefer all three flavors of Chimay to it...actually all the trappists and throw in St. Bernardus too. I even think Allagash tripel is better.

Just a taste preference to me, but I find it a little cloying and too fruity. It is however the most likely Belgian you'll run into in Florida other than Chimay and I'll happily drink it.

[zoom6zoom]

Yeah, it was Woodbridge, but they haven't had it for a while, and I haven't had a chance to go there in a while either.

[lagerhead]

Originally posted by hops99
Ha! I'll tell you one place you DEFINITELY can't find Delirium products: CANADA - they're illegal.

I tried a delerium tremens a while ago, and really liked it, but
since then I haven't been able to find any......why is it illegal in Canada ?

[eppie]

If you like the DT you should really try Tripel Karmeliet. Like so many of these belgians the style description is kinda vauge, but I'd put these two in the same class (fruity strong blonds) and would put the Karmeliet over the DT.
Comparisons with Chimay are a bit innapropriate as they such different styles, and I think I would usually prefer the Chimay.
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[Derekt2]

I like the Karmeliat Tripel too but I find it a little too strong at 11% ABV (although still deceptively smooth) and the bottles I buy here in the DC area are filtered so they lack the smoothness of a bottle-conditioned beer. In this case I would have to opt for DT as it has a little more finess to my palate.

[Chiliman101]

Originally posted by zoom6zoom
Yeah, it was Woodbridge, but they haven't had it for a while, and I haven't had a chance to go there in a while either.

Just popping in guys.

We've had Delirium on tap for the most part for the past 4 years in Woodbridge. It comes off every once in a while for something else. I've had Chimay, Hoegarden, etc on for it in the past.

Right now we have it taken off and are putting on Kasteel Bruin on draft. We always have DT in bottle when not on draft. Also, we always a kriek on, right now it's Liefman's.

Every location is different, the managers are usually in charge of the beer list so if there isn't a beer guy on staff or behind the bar, the list goes down hill.



Randy Barnette
Franchisee - Hard Times Cafe - Woodbridge

[chazwicke]

Thanks! I was wondering about that. I'd like to see more decent beer back at Herndon. I used to get Anchor Our Special Ale there on tap each year. But not in the past few. Welcome to the board. Hard Times has EXCELLENT chili.

[zoom6zoom]

Thanks for the update Randy - glad to have you on the board! We've got a lot of area residents here.

Can you give us any update on the December Beer Tasting that was mentioned in one of the last HTC emails?

[eppie]

Originally posted by Derekt2
I like the Karmeliat Tripel too but I find it a little too strong at 11% ABV (although still deceptively smooth) and the bottles I buy here in the DC area are filtered so they lack the smoothness of a bottle-conditioned beer. In this case I would have to opt for DT as it has a little more finess to my palate.

It's possible that the export version is VERY different, but I think you've confused Kasteel trippel (also good) with Tripel Karmeliet. The Karmeliet we get here is 8% (I just went to my beer celler to double check), and I'd find it hard to believe an export version varies so much.
Kasteel tripel is 11% and the stregnth and slight alcohol bight are detriments. Whatever your tastes, both beers are good though.
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[Chiliman101]

Originally posted by zoom6zoom
Thanks for the update Randy - glad to have you on the board! We've got a lot of area residents here.

Can you give us any update on the December Beer Tasting that was mentioned in one of the last HTC emails?

Appreciate it. I've always been around, but my previous registration was always messed up and wouldn't let me post. I finally got around to reregistering.

Go over to the Mid Atlantic section. I've posted a detailed synopsis of the December tasting. Just call up and get your name on the reservation list. We'll confirm later on.

Thanks,
Randy

[Degarth]

Originally posted by eppie
Comparisons with Chimay are a bit innapropriate as they such different styles, and I think I would usually prefer the Chimay.

Which Chimay? The blue and DT are the same style, but to me they are all in the ball park (Belgian Strong, Abbey Dubbel/Triple) but then I don't put a lot of stock in style when it comes to Belgians because it seldom has any true distinction, especially with many Belgian beers which can have amazingly similar flavors and be different styles while two beers of similar styles often taste very different:

St Feuillien Brune and Chimay Red are the same "style" and they look and feel the same, but don't taste very similar. Orval tastes like no other Belgian Ale ever so comparing it to any other Belgian Ale won't work so I just choose to compare all Belgian Ales to each other (within reason) and be done with it.

Color doesn't even help because many Belgian styles allow for a range of color within the style...DT is golden...Chimay Blue is brown...both are called Belgian Strong Ales though I think the BJCP does break them down by color most online rating sites don't.

So I guess it is innapropriate, but what else can you do? I just lump them because the style distinction is so murky unlike say German beers which have much more defined style parameters.

[Beermaker]

Beware the pink elephants.........where does Karmelit rate with you? St Bernardus 12?

[BeermanKrestons]

deliriumtremens is my favorite beer of all times its what started me into drinking good beer i used to work at a distribiter that carryed it.Delirium tremens means alcohol withdraw

[chazwicke]

I think DTs are a sympton of alcoholism / poisoning. That is what the old pink elephant jokes and cartoon about drunks came from.