About This Beer
Delirium Argentum Amber Belgian IPA 33cl 7% is a distinctive Belgian speciality beer brewed by Brouwerij Huyghe in Melle, near Ghent. Originally created in 2014 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Delirium Tremens, Argentum combines the brewery's established Belgian brewing character with a more pronounced focus on hops.
While Delirium Tremens is best known for its pale golden colour, warming strength and spicy fermentation profile, Argentum explores a different approach.
Its reddish-amber appearance, caramel malt character and citrus-led bitterness create a beer that sits between traditional Belgian strong ales and modern hop-forward IPAs.
The brewery originally developed Argentum as an anniversary beer to mark a significant milestone in the history of Delirium Tremens.
Rather than simply producing another golden ale, Brouwerij Huyghe created a beer with a distinctive hop composition.
The original recipe used six different hop varieties, including three American varieties, together with a dry-hopping process designed to contribute additional hop aroma.
The brewery also identified barley and wheat malts as part of the original brewing approach, with darker malt contributing caramel character.
This combination of ingredients helped create a beer that was noticeably different from the brewery's existing Delirium range.
At 7% ABV, Argentum offers considerable strength without reaching the 8.5% ABV of Delirium Tremens or Nocturnum.
Its flavour is shaped by a balance between malt sweetness, spicy fermentation character and pronounced hop bitterness.
The brewery describes the colour as reddish amber, with a measurement of approximately 27 EBC.
A dense, fine white head provides an attractive contrast to the deeper colour of the beer.
On the nose, Argentum reveals spicy aromas alongside citrus and grapefruit.
A subtle caramel note adds depth and helps distinguish it from lighter-coloured, more aggressively hop-led IPAs.
The first sip is full-bodied and intense.
Caramel malt flavours provide a rounded foundation, while the hop character introduces a pronounced citrus-like bitterness.
At 48 IBU, Argentum has substantially more measured bitterness than Delirium Tremens, which the brewery records at 24.5 IBU.
This difference makes Argentum particularly interesting for customers who enjoy comparing the impact of different hop profiles across Belgian beer styles.
The finish is fresh, full and bitter, with lingering citrus and spice characteristics.
Rather than presenting bitterness alone, Argentum combines it with a noticeable malt backbone, creating a more layered drinking experience.
The 33cl bottle is a convenient introduction to this distinctive beer.
It is particularly appealing to customers who enjoy Belgian ales but would like to explore something with a stronger hop presence.
Equally, IPA enthusiasts who usually choose American or European craft beers may find Argentum an interesting introduction to Belgian brewing.
Its spicy character and caramel malt profile offer a different interpretation of IPA from the tropical, hazy or intensely citrus-forward examples commonly associated with modern craft beer.
For customers who already enjoy Delirium Tremens, Argentum provides an opportunity to discover how the same brewery approaches a hop-forward beer.
Explore our Delirium collection for more Belgian speciality beers from Brouwerij Huyghe.
Tasting Notes
Appearance: Reddish amber, approximately 27 EBC, with a dense, fine white head.
Aroma: Spicy notes, citrus and grapefruit, complemented by a subtle hint of caramel.
Taste: Full-bodied and intense, with caramel malt sweetness balanced by pronounced citrus-like and spicy hop bitterness. The finish is fresh, complex and lingering.
Mouthfeel: Full and rounded, with enough carbonation to balance the malt character and a sustained bitter sensation across the palate.
About the Brewery
Brouwerij Huyghe is a family-owned Belgian brewery based in Melle, near Ghent in East Flanders.
The Huyghe family's involvement began in 1906, when Léon Huyghe acquired an existing brewing business.
The site has a longer brewing history, reflecting the established brewing traditions of the region.
Over successive generations, the family developed the brewery and expanded its portfolio of Belgian speciality beers.
One of the most important moments in the brewery's modern history came in 1989 with the introduction of Delirium Tremens.
The strong golden ale became internationally recognised for its distinctive pink elephant branding, expressive Belgian fermentation character and warming strength.
By 2014, Delirium Tremens had reached its 25th anniversary.
To mark the occasion, Brouwerij Huyghe developed Delirium Argentum as a special anniversary beer.
The name Argentum refers to silver, reflecting the traditional association between silver and a 25th anniversary.
The original launch was designed to celebrate the success of Delirium Tremens while introducing a different beer style to the range.
The brewery selected six hop varieties, including three American varieties, and used dry-hopping to develop a more pronounced hop character.
The resulting beer combined citrus and grapefruit aromas with caramel malt notes and a distinctive bitterness.
Argentum was initially introduced as a limited anniversary release, but it subsequently became an established member of the Delirium range.
Its continued presence alongside Tremens, Nocturnum and Red demonstrates the brewery's interest in exploring different Belgian beer styles.
While Delirium Tremens focuses on strong golden ale character, Nocturnum explores darker malt flavours and Red introduces cherry-led fruit characteristics, Argentum provides the hop-forward alternative.
The recognisable Delirium pink elephant branding connects these different beers, despite their contrasting appearances and flavour profiles.
Today, Brouwerij Huyghe continues to produce Argentum alongside its wider selection of Belgian speciality beers.
For customers interested in exploring the brewery's history through its different beers, Argentum offers a particularly interesting connection to the 25th anniversary of Delirium Tremens.
Discover the wider Delirium beer collection for more beers from Brouwerij Huyghe.
Food Pairings
Delirium Argentum is particularly well suited to foods that complement its caramel malt character while balancing its pronounced citrus and hop bitterness.
Its combination of Belgian spice, grapefruit-like aromas and full-bodied flavour makes it a versatile choice for savoury dishes.
Grilled burgers are an excellent starting point.
The caramelised flavours of grilled beef complement the beer's amber malt character, while its hop bitterness helps balance the richness of the meat.
Try it with a cheeseburger featuring mature Cheddar, caramelised onions and a lightly toasted bun.
The cheese adds richness, while the onions echo the beer's subtle caramel notes.
Roast pork is another appealing pairing.
The savoury flavours of pork shoulder or pork tenderloin complement Argentum's malt backbone, while its citrus bitterness provides a refreshing contrast.
A pork dish seasoned with herbs and a little mustard can work particularly well.
For chicken, consider grilled thighs, roast chicken with lemon and herbs, or moderately spiced chicken wings.
The beer's citrus character complements lemon-based seasoning, while its bitterness helps balance richer sauces.
Argentum also works well with mature cheeses.
Aged Cheddar, Gouda and Comté offer savoury, nutty flavours that complement the beer's caramel malt character.
Blue cheese provides a more adventurous pairing, with its saltiness and intensity standing up to the beer's pronounced bitterness.
For vegetarian dishes, try a mushroom burger, roasted vegetable tart or grilled halloumi.
The caramelised flavours of roasted vegetables complement the amber malt profile, while the citrus-like hop character adds contrast.
Delirium Argentum can also accompany moderately spicy foods.
Its hop bitterness and Belgian spice work well with dishes featuring aromatic seasoning, although extremely hot chilli may make the bitterness and alcohol warmth more noticeable.
For a simple tasting experience, serve Argentum alongside mature cheese, savoury crackers and roasted nuts.
This allows the beer's caramel, citrus and bitter characteristics to be appreciated individually.
Serve in a clean tulip glass or stemmed Belgian beer glass, allowing room for its dense white head and aromatic hop character.
A moderately chilled serving temperature will help retain its refreshing quality without suppressing the malt and spice notes.
Try More Like This
If you enjoy Delirium Argentum 33cl, explore Delirium Tremens 33cl for a contrasting Belgian Strong Golden Ale from the same brewery.
Tremens offers a paler appearance, less pronounced hop bitterness and a warming, dry finish.
For a richer, darker Belgian beer, try Delirium Nocturnum 33cl, which focuses on caramel, chocolate and roasted malt flavours.
If you would like to compare several beers from Brouwerij Huyghe, the Delirium Discovery 4 Beer & Glass Gift Pack includes Argentum alongside Tremens, Nocturnum and Red, together with a branded Delirium glass.
You can also browse our Belgian & Trappist Beer collection for more traditional Belgian ales and speciality beers.
For customers who enjoy discovering different approaches to IPA, Argentum provides an interesting contrast between Belgian brewing traditions and hop-forward craft beer styles.
Whether you're exploring the Delirium range or looking for a Belgian IPA with citrus bitterness, caramel malt and a distinctive anniversary history, Delirium Argentum 33cl offers a complex and memorable drinking experience.
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