Of all places, I bought this beer in the Rose and Crown in Charlbury. I only mention that as I feel people ought to mention the Rose and Crown more – after all they’ve been CAMRA’s North Oxfordshire pub of the year on many occasions, and do a pretty mean beer festival too. Naturally, having the odd bottled Belgian hanging about tends to raise their profile in my eyes as well…
http://www.roseandcrown.charlbury.com/
Delerium Tremens pours a strong off-yellow colour, looks the part – but has a head that just winks and disappears away. The aroma is all warmly alcoholic maltiness with those typical Belgian spicy phenols: sweet, spicy, bubblegum and a malic acid-sort-of-appliness also shows.
In the mouth Delerium Tremens is strongly effervescent with an almost vinous note, there’s sweet malt and spice and tongue-numbing alcohol. All very Belgian and peppery spice, with a little side dose of sweetness from the malt.
The aftertaste is dryish, with a reasonably satisfying bitterness.
I think that a beer of this size should a bit more complex, I mean it’s nice enough – but it’s not enough to wow…especially when the bottle promises so much. And yes, you will see plenty of pink elephants if you drink enough of this. It’s 8.5%. Lordy.
