Spring Break
Pale ale blends sweet flavors
Evan Finkelstein
Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Here's to the official beer review of The Triangle! Each week I'll be ranking different beers from my own personal scale: The Suds-o-Meter. Rankings will take into account looks, tastes, smells, inebriation levels, and all that other stuff that makes beer so good (or so bad). But enough of this formality crap: let's talk brewski.
This week's beer actually ended up being a little sad for me. I went for a style I generally like - specifically an ale that has been widely regarded as something spectacular. I can only guess that my palate is starting to become increasingly critical with each review. But here it goes: this week's style is a Belgian strong pale ale.
Belgian beers are considered to be some of the most complex beers out there. Specifically, Belgian Strong Pale Ales are known to be higher in alcohol levels (ranging from 7 percent to 12 percent alcohol by volume) and have rounded, full flavors. However, even with such high amounts of alcohol, generally the alcohol is disguised through the warming flavors present in the brew. Additionally, these powerful ales offer high levels of hops and fruit temperament, but like the alcohol, these are often hidden beneath the balanced flavors and aromas present in the beer. Due to the complexity, this style can range in its flavors and tastes, each providing a very different feel and experience. In other words, every brand is different from the next and the variety in characteristics is as broad as it can get.
Delirium Tremens is a beer that many of you might recognize from the bottle. The white opaque bottle, decorated with dancing pink elephants, is deliberately colored to deter all rays of light from spoiling the beer. It's a sweet looking label. It also has to be noted that Delirium Tremens is a great name. Delirium Tremens is actually a medical term that describes severe alcohol withdrawal. It's an experience none of us would like to go through, but the name only entices us to drink the beer.
While pouring the beer, the blonde/honey colored liquid looked tasty. Like last week's beer, Aventinus, the color was murky due to the tiny bits of yeast floating around. The head only complimented the beer in positive ways, though I wish it had stayed around a little longer.
This week's beer actually ended up being a little sad for me. I went for a style I generally like - specifically an ale that has been widely regarded as something spectacular. I can only guess that my palate is starting to become increasingly critical with each review. But here it goes: this week's style is a Belgian strong pale ale.
Belgian beers are considered to be some of the most complex beers out there. Specifically, Belgian Strong Pale Ales are known to be higher in alcohol levels (ranging from 7 percent to 12 percent alcohol by volume) and have rounded, full flavors. However, even with such high amounts of alcohol, generally the alcohol is disguised through the warming flavors present in the brew. Additionally, these powerful ales offer high levels of hops and fruit temperament, but like the alcohol, these are often hidden beneath the balanced flavors and aromas present in the beer. Due to the complexity, this style can range in its flavors and tastes, each providing a very different feel and experience. In other words, every brand is different from the next and the variety in characteristics is as broad as it can get.
Delirium Tremens is a beer that many of you might recognize from the bottle. The white opaque bottle, decorated with dancing pink elephants, is deliberately colored to deter all rays of light from spoiling the beer. It's a sweet looking label. It also has to be noted that Delirium Tremens is a great name. Delirium Tremens is actually a medical term that describes severe alcohol withdrawal. It's an experience none of us would like to go through, but the name only entices us to drink the beer.
While pouring the beer, the blonde/honey colored liquid looked tasty. Like last week's beer, Aventinus, the color was murky due to the tiny bits of yeast floating around. The head only complimented the beer in positive ways, though I wish it had stayed around a little longer.
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