Leesburg Scores Belgian Brewer Delirium’s First Restaurant in the U.S.

Restaurateur and certified cicerone (think: beer sommelier) Curtis Allred, who is poised to open the first Delirium Cafe in the United States in Leesburg, Va., on Monday, May 15, has seeded the drink list with nearly half a dozen beers and ciders supplied by local producers.

The beer bar originated in Brussels and has since expanded to other parts of the world, establishing outposts in Brazil, Japan, Poland and Portugal. Assistant general manager Aislin Kavaldjian joins Allred in adding America to the company’s globe-spanning portfolio.

The opening beverage list features hundreds of beers, including a full complement of Delirium products, as well as other renowned Belgian brewers (Duvel, Lindemans ) and domestic producers (Dogfish Head Brewery, Stone Brewing). Included among those are a handful of drafts pulled from local breweries including: Ocelet Brewing Company’s Gorgeous and Alone IPA, Crooked Run Brewing’s Heart and Soul IPA, Old Ox Brewery’s Hoppier Place Mosaic, Pale Fire Brewing Co.’s Salad Days American Saison, and Potter’s Craft Cider Farmhouse Dry. Prices range from $4 for a 4-ounce taste to between $5.50 and $9 for a full serving.

Shareable dishes range from steamed mussels partnered with curried dates to poutine covered in sausage gravy and sea salt. There’s a quartet of sandwiches available at lunch (pork belly club; short rib and peppers), as well as a five entrees for dinner (poached salmon; pulled chicken mac and cheese).

The restaurant is scheduled to the open at 11 a.m. on May 15; it is projected to serve lunch and dinner seven days a week.