Delirium Tremens & Nocturnum

In 2008, Belgian ale Delirium Tremens was named ‘Best Beer in the World’ at the World Beer Championships. I think ‘Best Beer Bottle in the World’ would have been a lot more fitting.

Because the bottle is such a beauty I assumed the beer would be of similar stature, however my brother and me were left pondering throughout the time it takes to drink a 330ml bottle how this beer was ever crowned best in the world. I think possibly the bottle and the award sent me the wrong message and I had built myself up for an overwhelmingly good beer, unfortunately this only set me up for a bigger disappointment when I realised that the flavours in this beer were fairly simple; this isn’t a particularly bad characteristic for a beer to have though, and it actually was a really refreshing drink, just not enormously tasty. The flavours that were there I would say were sweet and banana-ry, so if you like a subdued sweet beer, I'd give this a shot.

We also tried a bottle of Delirium Nocturnum, the dark sister of Tremens. This beer offered a much larger range of flavours than the worlds best beer did, but still failed to blow me away like the bottle had seemingly promised. A bit too carbonated for how I usually like dark beers, but the sweet and dark fruity flavours did contrast really nicely.

I understand that the packaging of a beer is completely irrelevant to how it tastes, but I personally think that having a beer is so much more enjoyable when it is served in a properly designed bottle/glass, and regardless of whether it should or shouldn’t, it has an effect on me.

As you can probably tell, I like a good bottle, and Delirium comes in a bloody good bottle. Unfortunately for me, the compliments end there.


2.5/5

Death Grips: The Money Store

The first time I heard California outfit Death Grips was some time last year, and I turned it off after 30 seconds claiming it was “just noise”. Lucky for me I gave the 2011 mixtape ‘Ex-Military’ another chance, and I quickly realised that I was wrong. Stefan Burnett and the boys are actually making real songs with real hooks that are buried beneath a mountain of tortured noises like the sweet chocolatey bottom to a Cornetto. Death Grips’ debut album ‘The Money Store’ showcases this all, whilst at the same time still managing to sound like they just don’t give a fuck what we all think.

As an angry 14 year old I turned to Blink 182 as my saviour, 8 years on and I can’t help but think how different my outlook on adult life would be if I had Death Grips to turn to back in 2004. I don’t know why Stefan Burnett is so angry, I’m not even entirely sure what he is saying most of the time, but I can't help but feel like it must be something really important, why else would he be making such a fuss? Whatever he’s saying, it makes me want to listen.

Angry electro/hip-hop/grunge may well not be your bag, but who doesn’t like catchy noise to sing along with to make you feel like you’re involved with some kind of protest. I know I do.

4/5

Man Like Me: Squeeze

Forget about your exam woes, this tune guarantees to make you realise that everything isn't that bad after all. Teaming up with Mike Skinner, this electro/garage track from the Camden duo is just in time for summer, and it should skewer its way onto BBQ playlists across the country.


If you're anything like me you'll be singing along by the second chorus, and counting down the days until summer begins. Follow them here.


Enjoy.


4/5

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

Doug Larson once said that life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if vegetables smelled as good as bacon. If all beer smelt like bacon, however, we would all be drunk a lot more of the time.

Luckily for the human race, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier isn’t consumed as regularly as bacon is, but after one sip of this beer I immediately questioned why. I’ve always enjoyed the smokey flavour of Bavarian smoked cheese or smoked mackerel, and since the age of 16 I’ve loved drinking beer, so the day I discovered the two so perfectly combined was a very happy day.

My first instinct when drinking this beer and getting slapped in the face with a huge smoked cheese flavour was to drink some more, and it only got better as the pint went on. I don’t know why it got better, I think it was something to do with the smokey smell in the glass getting stronger as the glass got emptier, but if I could have jumped in and swam in it, I would.

There is only so much I can emphasise how intense the flavours in this beer are, so if you’re partial to a dark beer and/or smokey meat, and you’re ready to incorporate the two, get yourself down to your local booze bin and demand they order you some Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier in.

5/5

Kanye West: I Don't Like Remix

After hearing that Kanye West would be taking Chief Keef under his wing for a colab, I couldn’t wait to hear what was going to come out. Sadly, it sounds as though Kanye and his G.O.O.D music family similarly couldn’t wait to cash in on the 16 year old rapper’s hit ‘I Don’t Like’, as it sounds like this was rushed out quicker than one of Kim Kardashians marriages.

The original Keef track was gritty enough to make anyone feel like they were from the hood, and as good as Big Sean’s verse is, it now feels like my dad and all his friends are listening and singing along to it.. not so hood.

Sorry Kanye, I don’t like.

2/5