Huyghe Delirium Red

This is red - not pink, so don't go confusing it with the mildly bad beer that was produced by the same brewer, but only brewed by women. I have nothing against women brewers, as men can really make stinkers (thank you, Magic Hat) so I don't care if this was brewed by a man or woman, as I only want it to taste good.

True to its name, the beer is red. This isn't an amber beer - it's red. It's so red that the head is also red. It makes me wonder if they just brewed a beer and then stuck red food coloring in it. Mind you, they started with a dark beer. The aroma is cherry; I mean, this is a Cherokee Red kind of cherry, and that is pretty damn strange.

First sip is like a cherry cough syrup with a little less sweetness and without the medicine finish. I'm not saying it's bad, but I'm not saying it's great. I clearly should have been expecting a cherry beer instead of a red ale. So, I'm resetting my taste buds and going in for a swig.

Tip-in is sweet Bing cherries, a hint of sourness, and soda water bringing carbonation tingle. The middle is more of the same, and the sweetness almost completely overcomes the sourness. The middle hits a smooth patch here. Then, the finish has a definite tartness as the cherry pits give a little depth, but the sweet cherries remain on the lips.

Bottom Line: Not what I expected, but a solid fruity Belgian ale.

2.75/5