1001 Beers

Beer No: 75
Page No: 358
Category: Blond

There really is no better way to follow up two drain pours than with a Delirium Tremens.  A complex blend of spices, fruits, and malts, this golden strong ale is always a consistent, tasty beer.  You just always know what you're going to get.  At 8.5%, the beer once banned in the United States and parts of Canada because of it's name is one of many "eclectic" beers from Brouwerij Huyghe in Belgium.  1001 Beers notes that they make a "Mongozo Coconut beer, served in a glass styled after a half coconut shell, of course, and the Floris line of fruit beers, which includes one flavored with cactus and another with chocolate."  Now, those are a couple of beers I need to find.  I've had their Floris Apple, and well, if you're looking for an apple beer, this is probably it.

I just wish I could get my hands on more Huyghe beers - they may be off-the-wall, they may be gimmicky, but Delirium is a damn fine beer, so they can't all be bad.  Even Floris Apple is good if you really want a sour apple beer...

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Delirium Tremens by Brouwerij Huyghe

Aroma: 8/10
Appearance: 4/5
Taste: 8/10
Palate: 4/5
Overall: 15/20

Rating: 3.9 / 5.0

Had from 11.2oz. bottle from BevMo. Pours golden yellow with good, fizzy head that dissipates to a thin white film with slight lacing. Aroma is spicy, with fruits, cloves, alcohol, and yeast. Taste is complex with lovely spices, cloves, sweetness, fruits, and hay. Finishes slighty dry, very tasty. A quality brew.

Beer No: 56
Page No: 312
Category: Blond

Today (or maybe it was yesterday), the House of Representatives passed a Beer Resolution!  Saluting "the goals and ideals of American Craft Beer Week," the American Craft Beer Resolution passed the House and is now officially recognized - whatever that means.  Personally, I think they have bigger issues to deal with, but a quick vote on beer is never a bad thing I guess.  So I hope everyone is enjoying their American Craft Beer Week.  I know I am.

Back to the beer, the Allagash Tripel Reserve is made following the standards of a classic Belgian-style tripel without any special ingredients.  According to 1001 Beers, brewmaster Rob Tod says what makes this tripel special lies in the yeast.  Using primary fermentation and a secondary fermentation with bottle conditioning, it's the yeast that gives this tripel its special flavors.  Unfortunately, I just wasn't a fan.  I felt the herbs and spices brought out by the yeast was just too overpowering and completely overwhelmed the classic tripel flavors that should have been present.

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Allagash Tripel Reserve from Allagash Brewing Company

Aroma: 8/10
Appearance: 3/5
Taste: 6/10
Palate: 3/5
Overall: 12/20

Rating 3.2 / 5.0

Had from bottle from BevMo. Batch No. 144. Pours a hazy golden yellow with large, thick head. Aroma is sweet and spicy - fruity and yeasty with lots of herbs and spices. Taste is overwhelmed by spices. Also very sweet with sugar and herbs at the finish. A dry, astringent aftertaste lingered. I had higher hopes, but thought the spices completely took this beer over and were way too pronounced.