Brouwerij Huyghe - Delirium Deliria

There’s a lot to like about this special strong Belgian blond, beginning with the story behind it. The 2023 Deliria featured here was brewed entirely by women in support of International Women’s Day. In the glass, look for a pale blonde color topped by a fine, creamy-white head that clings attractively to the glass. The aroma is quite fruity and floral, with an intriguing vinous impression reminiscent of Chardonnay that gradually gives way to mild spicy and hoppy notes. Those aromas translate beautifully to the palate. Apple and Chardonnay grape-like fruit flavors provide much of the beer’s personality, while lively carbonation helps keep the full-bodied profile bright and balanced. There’s an appealing roundness to the mouthfeel, and despite the substantial strength, the beer remains surprisingly graceful. A mild bitterness emerges in the aftertaste, providing just enough contrast to the ripe fruit character and leaving a pleasantly balanced finish. For food pairings, Deliria’s fruit, spice, carbonation, and strength make it a natural partner for richer dishes. Try it alongside roast chicken or pork, creamy cheeses, mussels, or seafood in buttery sauces. Its apple and grape-like character should also work nicely with fruit-accented dishes, while its carbonation can provide a refreshing counterpoint to fried foods. For dessert, consider an apple tart or other lightly sweet fruit pastry. Proost!

The roots of brewing at Brouwerij Huyghe’s site in Melle, East Flanders, reach all the way back to 1654, when brewing activity was recorded in an area known as Appelhoek. The modern brewery’s story began much later, when Léon Huyghe arrived in Melle in 1902 and went to work at the local brewery. Just four years later, in 1906, Huyghe purchased the operation and renamed it Brouwerij-Mouterij den Appel. Over the following decades, the family continued developing the business, constructing a new brewery complex along Geraardsbergsesteenweg in the 1930s. The new brewhouse was completed in 1939 and remains an important part of the brewery today.

Brouwerij Huyghe entered a defining new era on December 26, 1988, when it first brewed Delirium Tremens. Distinguished by its pale ceramic-look bottle, colorful label, and now-famous pink elephant, the strong Belgian blond quickly became the brewery’s signature beer and established the Delirium name around the world. The Delirium family subsequently expanded with additional releases, while Huyghe continued to build upon its long Belgian brewing heritage.

Deliria represents a particularly distinctive chapter in that story. Huyghe created the beer as a special release brewed in celebration of women and has invited women from Belgium and around the world to participate in its brewing. The tradition became associated with International Women’s Day, turning the annual Deliria brew into both a celebration of women in beer and a limited addition to the famous pink-elephant family.