My wife and I were in a German restaurant for dinner. I ordered a Doppelbock and when it arrived, my beer was set on this very interesting coster. The coster stated: “elected the best beer in the world”. Well, that’s certainly enough to get me to try a glass! I was totally impressed. I’m not familiar with every European beer style, but I’m guessing Delirium Tremens is a Trappist!!?!?!? I highly recommend trying this brew. It is light in color under a lasting Snow White head. Very complex fruit flavor with a slightly sweet finish. It paired perfectly with my roasted duck!
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It’s not Trappist — It’s made by Brouwerij Huyghe which is, I think, still family owned but has no connection to any abbey.
But it’s definitely in the same style family as the abbey ales, and it’s definitely easier for me to find in my market than some of the more obscure Trappists.
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PS - I was going to call it a Tripel but I guess it’s considered a Belgian Golden Strong.
Pints and Panels FTW with this handy infographic.
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Correct on both points. You can get in the ballpark with WY3522.
Cute graphic! Thanks! The two styles are quite similar.
I’m impressed with the brewers ability to produce those fruit flavors — assuming they’re brewing following the Purity Laws.
The Belgian’s thumb their noses at the Purity Law.
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Indeed. Both styles are going to include significant amounts of adjunct sugar … but the spice and fruitiness should come from the yeast.
If you like Delirium, try Duvel, New Belgium’s Tripel, and/or St Bernardus Tripel.
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Damnation (a Belgian Golden Strong from Russian River Brewing) and Golden Monkey (a Tripel from Victory) are also worth a try. For the money, PranQster, from North Coast, is a good value, and at 7.5% ABV is a touch more quaffable.
I find New Belgium’s Tripel is a touch too sweet, but I lean toward the dryness of Golden Strong anyway. That infographic nails it.
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Golden Monkey is pretty good, and even the Walmart here carries it.
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Why would they? And it’s a tax law, not a purity law.
All great beers, but not really like DT
From what I understand, Reinheistgebot is actually a law that, when enforced, would increase tax review.
It’s an absolutely fantastic beer. Not cheap (at least stateside) but very, very good.
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Hmm. Now I have an excuse buy a few of all these so I can compare them side-by-side … I wonder if I can find them as singles anywhere around here.
For several years, starting in 2013, I had business that would take me to the Longwood section of Boston for five nights several times a year. I usually had a lot of work to wrap up in the evening, and “dined in” on Trader Joe’s frozen meals etc., but at least one night per trip I wrapped up early enough to go to a pub around the corner from my hotel and have clam chowder and a DT on draft. Pure heaven.
Which reminds me of having Chimay on tap at the Toronado in San Francisco during this same period. Toronado was around the corner from the hair salon I went to, and it was so nice to sit in that chair with a mild Chimay buzz.
But if you can’t be with the one you love…
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All except the NB are usually sold as singles
I found Houblon Chouffe on tap at a place in upstate NY recently. It was a struggle to hold myself to just 2.
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We have it on tap here in Claremont, California, at the phenomenal Back Abbey (as you might guess from the name, their Belgian tap selection is amazing – and fresh!). I (almost) always get a glass when I am there.
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You lucky guy!
Ahh, I miss the Back Abbey - haven’t been in a dog’s age.