Delirium Tremens is one of the most popular Belgian beers, and for good reason. Its award-winning liquid, unique ceramic bottles, and signature pink elephant logo have helped the brand stand out in a crowded market.
The medium-bodied Belgian pale ale exhibits apple and pear aromas at the nose and features banana, fruit, spice, and wheat flavors. Delirium Tremens is exported worldwide, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find.
Here are 11 things you should know about the iconic Belgian brew.
Delirium Is Not The Brewery’s Name.
Huyghe Brewery produces Delirium Tremens in Melle, Belgium. Leon Huyghe purchased the brewery in 1906 and named it Brouwerij Mouterij den Appel. The brewery would eventually adopt the name of its founder, Huyghe Brewery.
Your Doctor Has Probably Heard of It.
Delirium Tremens is a medical term that refers to severe symptoms alcoholics can experience during withdrawal such as tremors, confusion, and hallucinations. The beer’s name (and pink elephant logo) is an allusion to these symptoms.
Delirium Tremens Is Known For Its Potency.
As the name suggests, the Strong Ale brew packs a boozy punch and weighs in at 8.5 percent ABV. Fans of the drink say the beer’s smooth taste is accentuated by its strength.
A Tax Collector Coined The Name.
According to legend, in an attempt to give the brand new, nameless brew a proper moniker, a Belgian tax collector felt himself gradually slipping into a state of unexpected drunkenness and declared that he would get delirium tremens if he continued drinking the brew. The name stuck.
Delerium’s Logo Designer Was Paid In Beer..
An art student that was employed by the brewery designed the famous pink elephant logo in exchange for two cases of Delirium Tremens.
Its Simple Recipe Is The Brand’s Secret To Success.
Delirium Tremens contains just pale malt, Styrian Golding and Saaz hops, three different types of yeast, and water. The last fermentation occurs in the bottle and makes for a highly effervescent brew with complex flavors and relatively high ABV.
Lightning In A (Ceramic) Bottle.
Delirium Tremens is widely available on draft, but its bottles are worth checking out. Instead of glass, Delirium Tremens bottles are made from Cologne-style ceramic, which contributes to the beer’s unique brand and image. The story goes that the first ceramic bottles were leftovers from a custom order, but today, they’re an integral part of the brand’s image.
Tremens Is Not The Only Delirium
Tremens is just one of seven beers in Huyghe’s Delirium series, which also includes Delirium Black — the brand’s newest offering coming in at a boozy 11.5 percent ABV — Delirium Nocturnum, Delirium Christmas, Delirium Red, Delirium Argentum, and Delirium Deliria, a limited-edition release brewed by women once a year to commemorate International Women’s Day.
… And Delirium Is Not Huyghe Brewery’s Only Beer.
The Delirium lineup is one of the brewery’s 14 beer series. Huyghe also produces beers under the labels La Guillotine, Averbode, Floris, Campus, St. Idesbald, Biere du Corsaire, Blanche Des Neiges, Mongozo, Artevelde, Villers, Export, Fruli, and Paranoia.
Delirium Tremens Accounts For 40 Percent Of Huyghe’s Production.
Delirium Tremens is the best-selling exported Belgian specialty beer and is by far the most popular brew Huyghe produces. The brand garnered international acclaim after winning global competitions a decade after being released.
Winning Awards Comes Naturally.
Delirium Tremens recently won Gold at the Frankfurt International Trophy competition in 2021 and captured Gold at the 2020 World Beer Awards held in the United Kingdom. The brewery’s other beers have also won multiple awards.
