Unique white bottle packaging can’t make up for overbearingly unrealized peculiarities. Up-front honeyed citrus sweetness and phenol clove spicing mired by murky malt-hop manipulation to sullied barleywine finish. Weird medicinal aftertaste ensues. Dried fig-peach-cherry-apple tartness coarsens yeast-soured brettanomyces pucker. Casual novice drinkers need not apply.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
(HUYGHE) DUINEN DUBBEL ABBEY ALE
Aromatic candi-sugared sweetness guides fig-juiced plum, prune, and purple grape template over beautiful buttery barleywine easement refining fizz-hopped, amber-hued, 8% alcohol concoction. As it warms, peat-y wood leathering and sour balsamic vinegaring usurp up-front dried fruiting, retaining firmer balance than Duinen’s Tripel Abbey Ale.
(HUYGHE) DELIRIUM TREMENS ALE
Brewed since 1654, robust highly-hopped triple-fermented strong ale decorates caramel malt facade with banana-dried coriander-spiced orange-apricot-pineapple-mango fruiting and dark floral bouquet. At midst, sugar-candied cherry-plum illusions dance on the tongue, informing busy white-peppered tropical-fruited finish. Cream-colored bottle depicts pink elephants – a sign of ‘delirium’ for this mastodonic 8.5% alcohol-fueled ale perfect as dessert or fine replacement for sherbet.
(HUYGHE) DELIRIUM NOEL
Pink elephants front Santa’s sleigh on snowy X-mas label of creamy prune-hued 10% ABV holiday treat. Acute dried fruited clove-nutmeg seasoning sprinkled by Belgian candi sugar and gaining spiced rum swirl (as well as dry burgundy wining, tart apple spree and bruised orange tang). In the midst, caramelized raisin, sugar plum and fig luster plus dried-out citrus spurt and subtle chestnut roast pick up slight smoked cedar sweetness. On tap, smoked cedar mouthfeel, burnt nuttiness, and drier citric spurt increase depth and clarity.
(HUYGHE) DELIRIUM NOCTURNUM ALE
Funky yeast souring envelops overripe raisin-fig conflux embodying tingly carbonated elegance of unassuming mahogany-tinted winter warmer. Moderate silken creaminess complements fleeting brown sugar-spiced finish, but indefinite peppery hop bitterness, acrid cork-y grape dryness, scattered cherry tartness and metallic tinniness neutralize overall effect of strong 8.5% alcohol pungency.
(HUYGHE) BIERE DU CORSAIRE
Bleak sour yogurt aroma never negatively affects creamy butterscotch palate and clove-peppered elegance informing fetching yeast-addled sweetness of strong pale ale (not far removed from French cuvee wine style). Well carbonated champagne flow catches attention, but vague berry-apple fruitiness and muted white wine finish dim overall prospect.
(HUYGHE) ARTEVELDE GRAND CRU
Tawny French-styled ale plies tapered caramel-spiced raisin, prune and plum thrust to grapefruit peeled cherry-banana tartness. Vinous white grape esters and sour green apple tartness aid silken oak-dried burgundy finish.
HURRICANE REEF RASPBERRY WHEAT ALE
Though lacking true grit and too slight to take advantage of ripe fruit aroma and abundant raspberry infusion, at least middling wheat ale never becomes cloy. Light-hearted after dinner dreck serious drinkers will slag off as slick.
HURRICANE REEF CARIBBEAN STYLE PILSNER
Easygoing pale-hued moderate-bodied pilsner compares favorably to Italian beers (rather than stated intention of being a Caribbean knockoff) as buttery caramel malt mouthfeel, light lemon lime spicing, wafting mandarin orange tartness and soft carbonation culminate delicate flow.
HURRICANE REEF PALE ALE
Pedestrian light-bodied ale made in small batches from sunny Florida. Roasted caramel creaminess layers charcoal filtered water, elevating mild mineral grained finish (not dissimilar to Pete’s Wicked Ale though lacking maple stickiness). Unoriginal, if well-balanced, thirst quencher fine for surfing the ocean or internet, dude.
(HUONG SEN) DAI VIET DARK ALE
Generic honey-browned ruby-tinged German-styled altbier from Vietnam tosses soured chocolate malt astringency across rice-sweetened powdery cocoa parch. Metallic cardboard ridge depletes mild raisin-date snip and raw molasses acridity. Frisky 5% alcohol range, relatively high for Asian brew, never impinges.
HUMES STEEP CANYON STOUT
Decisive brown-hued beige-bubbled stout with extremely strong coffee persistence gains rich smoked mocha bitterness by dry hop finish as ripe citrus and black licorice form backdrop. White resin flakes, creamy malt extract, and sediment at bottom doubtlessly boost flavoring. Brewery defunct: 2002.