Delirium Tremens

Launched in 1989 Delirium Tremens is one of many beers from brewery Huyghe, located in Melle on the outskirts of Ghent.
Instantly recognisable it is packaged in a bottle that is painted to resemble Cologne ceramics and wears a label that features pink elephants, dancing crocodiles and performing dragons - DT stands out on any shelf.

With an exterior like that the contents must stand up...and indeed they do as in 2008 it was named "Best beer in the World" at the World Beer Championships in the USA.

This mighty beer pours a hazy, golden yellow, topped with a crowning , thick, white, rocky head - beneath the beer is effervescent, alive with tiny yeast particles.

Aroma is full of bready / yeasty notes, crisp orchard fruits (apples and pears) coupled with tropical banana, hints of pepper spice and fragrant floral hops in the finish.

Taste follows with sweet, doughy / bready yeast, floral grassy hops, crisp orchard fruits (but also peaches) and a clean lemon barley bitterness on the finish.

No doubt a beer that stands up to the crazy packaging and one with a word of caution - Delirium Tremens is Latin for shaking frenzy (often referred to as the DT's) and is caused by an acute withdrawal from alcohol.

Pius X

Created in 2003 by the son of "local Bruges history" chairman Chris Weymeys - Pius X is still brewed 3 times a year, a co-operation between brewmaster Wim Saeyens from De Graal and locals Kristof and Nicholas.

This magnificent and mighty beer pours a really attractive murky deep amber, topped by a dense, thick, rich and creamy white head that ever so slowly fades to thin covering.

Beautiful sweet caramel aroma coupled with biscuity malts, warming spices and fresh aromatic herbal notes.

Taste follows the aroma with full bodied sweet caramel malts, honey, a nice alcohol warmth, a good dose of  spicing is also evident (ginger and clove) also present are balanced, aromatic earthy hops in the finish.

An outstanding beer and one that will reward the hunt......a massive thank-you to Filip.

Bitter Sweet Symphony

Now for a beer with an American influence, Bitter Sweet Symphony is a collaboration between Belgian brewers Gaverhopke and from the States, Tired Hands Brewing Company - the recipe American, the brewing Belgian.

Pours a bright hazy amber, topped by a huge creamy, fluffy white head that slowly fades to a thin cap - from the start this is one great looking beer.

Lovely aroma of sweet caramel malts, bready Belgian yeast, light floral hops and a sweet citrus (grapefruit) finish.

Tasting only confirms just how much this beer lives up to its name - bitterness comes in the shape of dry grassy - straw like hops, biting citrus notes combined with a fruity (peach) edge.
Sweet malts with touches of caramel provide the perfect symphony.

Fantome Saison

Now for a beer (and brewery) that has so far escaped me, each year during our annual pilgrimage to the Bruges Beer Festival my eyes would scan shelves and bar menus - searching for any bottles from this much sought after brewery, yet each year Fantome evaded me.
The reason for this scarcity? well the vast majority of Fantome is exported so finding it, even in its country of origin can often prove fruitless............NOT this year though.

Fantome was founded in 1988 by current owner and sole brewer Dany Prignon using equipment from the original brew house of Brasserie d'Achouffe. The brewery housed (as it still is) in a stone farmhouse in the small village of Soy.

Another reason that contributes to its scarcity is the fact that the brewery is only capable of brewing a single 750 ltr batch at any one time and this perhaps only once a week. Beers produced are variations on the Saison (farmhouse) style with many seasonal / annual bottlings often many brewed using herbs and spices.

Now on with the beer - carefully removing first the cap then slowly the cork a very loud POP sounds (all Fantome are housed in 750ml  green bottles secured with both a cork and cap) after that I was expecting a gusher but no it just sat there in the bottle.
So slowly (and with much eager anticipation) I poured my first glass...Fantome Saison is a very lively beer, even slow careful pouring produces a huge, compact, bubbly white head that sits proudly atop a hazy, pale orange beer - only slowly falling as you savour each drop, any refilling of the glass instantly produces a rim filling head.

Aroma is tart and citrus, barnyard straw, sharp orchard fruits (crisp green apples) and also a faint tropical pineapple note. Subtle hints of spices (cloves) and a slight floral bouquet on the finish.

Taste follows with again orchard fruits (pears and peaches) grassy wet hay, a lovely balance of honey sweetness and lemon tartness coupled with a musty, bready, malty character before finishing with a subtle barvyard sourness.

All in all a beer that was no where near as sharp as I was lead to believe - complex, intriguing and totally artisnal yes. Come next year and the 6th Bruges Beer Fest my first stop will be that very same shop......this time for 2 bottles.



http://www.fantome.be/    

De Graal Tripel

Next up a beer from De Graal (Dutch for "the grail") a modern brewery that was founded in 2002 by brewmaster Wim Saeyens and is located in Brakel, in an area affectionately referred to as "the Flemish Ardennes"

De Graal Tripel pours a murky, hazy amber that is packed full of suspended yeast particles, topped by a thick pure white foamy head that slowly, slowly fades...almost lasting the duration, this is one great looking beer.

Pungent fruity aroma...lots of citrus (oranges and lemons) and more fruit with a definite banana waft, spices also make their presence known with ginger heat coming through and the orange notes of coriander before finishing with a strong malty backbone.

Initial taste is sweet and again citrus (zesty orange) but also a fruity, peach like smoothness is very evident before bitter/grassy hops cut through coupled with a spicy, clove edge - both providing the perfect balance, the finish is dry and warming with a lasting bitterness.

A great Tripel that may not be as full bodied as others in this style but non the less deserves a return visit.......and soon.  

Dulle Griet

As is pictured on the label Dulle Griet (Mad Meg) is the name of a wrought iron medieval super gun that was built in the first half of the 15th century and now proudly sits close to the Friday market square in the old town in Ghent.
The canon itself takes it's name from a figure of Flemish folklore (Dull Gret) a peasant woman who is depicted in the 1562 oil painting by Flemish renaissance artist Pieter Bruegel the Elder.

History over on with the beer, Dulle Griet pours a murky, deep, reddy brown, with a nice thick, creamy, tan coloured head that hangs around, slowly fading to a constant cm covering.
Gorgeous aroma that is packed to the rim with sweet caramel malts, dark raisins, toffee, roasted coffee and a slight spice note on the finish.

A cracking start for this Dubbel beer that packs a middle of the road punch with 6.5% ABV.......and I'm pleased to say it continues in the taste with an instant coffee / cocoa whack then dark fruits (raisins and prunes) along with bready malts and a slight nutty sweetness........a great beer no doubt.



  http://www.scheldebrouwerij.nl/

Tsjeeses

There's just time I think to squeeze in one last Christmas beer so lets make it a good one..... in fact lets make it a cracker.

Tsjeeses is the winter beer from West Flanders brewers Struise - the beer itself takes its name from brewmaster Urbains "blasphemous" outcry as he sampled one too many....."TSJEESES" (Dutch for Jeseus) "what a beer" and from that moment a name and indeed label was born.

Tsjeeses pours a very hazy deep amber topped by a huge, creamy, tan coloured  head that just sits there and lasts and lasts, eventually falling after a few sips to a generous finger width cap.

Exceptional aroma that is rich in caramel malts, sweet fruits (apricot and pear) more though, candied oranges but also a peach like perfume.
Spices are evident - clove and nutmeg along with a faint oak mustiness, alcohol appears as the beer warms.

Taste follows the aroma (that's not a bad thing) being full of bready malts, marmalade sweetness, fruity - citrus (lemon and orange) a butterscotch rounded note fills the palate with no hops detected just a slight alcohol glow as the beer warms.
A very smooth beer that is perfectly balanced and far, far too easy to drink..........Tsjeeses what a great beer.