Delirium Tremens
Delirium Tremens is an 8.5% ABV Belgian golden strong ale from Brouwerij Huyghe in Melle, Belgium, sold here in a four-can pack under the famous pink elephant. Per Huyghe's history, the beer — launched in 1989 and brewed with three different yeast strains — pours pale blond with a fine, stable head, a slightly malty, spicy aroma and a round, warming palate. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 8.5% (US product)
- Size: 4-pack of cans (store Size tag: 4p - 16oz — see applier flag)
- Style: Belgian golden strong ale
- Yeast: Brewed with three different yeast strains (Huyghe)
- Origin: Brouwerij Huyghe, Melle, East Flanders, Belgium
- Producer: Huyghe — Leon Huyghe bought the Melle brewery in 1906; the site has brewed since 1654
- Award: Silver Medal, Brussels Beer Challenge 2014 (diploma-verified)
The Pink Elephant of Melle
Few beer labels are as recognisable as Delirium's pink elephant, dancing across a bottle painted to resemble Cologne ceramics — a Brotherhood of the Pink Elephant has promoted the beer since 1992. Behind the whimsy is a serious brewery: Leon Huyghe bought the Den Appel brewery in Melle in 1906, on a site brewing since 1654, and Delirium Tremens, launched in 1989, became its global flagship. Huyghe's own history records that the World Beer Championships in Chicago named it "Best Beer in the World" in 1998. Explore more Belgian classics on our craft beer shelf, or visit the Delirium vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Slightly malty and spicy, with a noticeable touch of alcohol, per Huyghe. Palate: Round and warming, pale blond and full. Finish: Strong, long and dry-bitter.
How to Enjoy
Pour it gently into a tulip or the brand's own elephant-stemmed glassware style, leaving the head fine and stable, and let it warm a few degrees from fridge temperature so the spice and malt open up. At 8.5%, it is a sipper — pair it with rich cheeses, mussels or a slow evening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it called Delirium Tremens? The name and the pink-elephant artwork play on the beer's strength and celebratory character — the label's figures illustrate stages of the beer's story, in Huyghe's telling.
Is Delirium Tremens really 9%? The original European bottling was stronger, and some listings still show 9%. The US product is 8.5% ABV, corroborated across the importer and US retailers for this format.
What awards has it won? A Silver Medal at the Brussels Beer Challenge in 2014 is verified from the award diploma, and Huyghe records a "Best Beer in the World" naming at the 1998 World Beer Championships in Chicago.
The original pink-elephant strong ale — order Delirium Tremens online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.