Delirium Noël

Brewed by Brouwerij Huyghe
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Melle, Belgium

Pours dark brown with orange. Thin, quickly dissipating white head. Nose is a panopoly of aromas - sour fruit candies, passion fruits, yeasty esters and cinnamon gum. Palate is fruity (passion fruit), malty sweet, somewhat candied, balanced with hops and has a lingering malty sweentess on the finish. Alcohol is completely hidden. This one is a true gem.

11.2 oz. bottle from Ludlow Wines. I let it sit for a couple months after Christmas, but I’m sure that doesn’t make much of a difference. Pours a cloudy brown color with a small but resilient eggshell white head. Aroma of fig, plum, raisin, brown sugar, caramel malts, earthy hops, and a pinch of nutmeg. Very nice. Flavor is not quite as inviting because of the boozy presence that pervades the other notes. Sweet, alcoholic, and just a little bitter, with notes of dates, figs, raisins, brown sugar, metallic notes, cherries, and earthy hops. Medium-bodied, with slightly below average carbonation. Very drinkable for 10% ABV. Not too spicy or sweet for a Christmas beer, which is refreshing after trying some truly cloying ones.

750 mL bottle from a Trappist glass. 2009 vintage. Pours a dark hazy brown. Aroma of figs, cherry, spice, and a little bit of bready yeast. A little bit of alcohol aroma. Very small white head...probably because of drinking from the Trappist glass. First taste is intensely bready due to the yeast. Then a seriously boozy note takes over. The dark fruit notes take a little bit of time to come out,,,maybe because the beer was a little too cold for the first drink. Overall pretty good. The mouthfeel is a little watery for such a potent beer. I’m on the fence on this one. Its very warming and a good example of a winter beer, but its not quite as balanced as I would like.

Bottle shared with my lovely girlfriend. This pours brown with a nice tan head. Nose is of bread and spices. Taste is of spice and veggies. Mouthfeel is creamy and carbonated with some alcohol noticeable. Pretty good.

Bottle from brother into snifter. Dark amber clear pour with some heavy sediment towards the end and a big fluffy off-white head. Boozy aroma and dark/sour cherry taste that really turned me off, almost skunked flavor. For some reason the Delirium’s I’ve had just do not agree with me.

Thick pebbly head over a clear ruby/brown body. Sweet dark fruits, heavy on the figs, with plenty of spices and yeast. Sweetness also dominates the taste, with dark cherries, figs, raisins and brown sugar detected. Medium to full body, lively carbonation, and a lingering sweetness that borders on tartness. Noce, but just too sweet for me.

Pours hazy reddish dark brown with light head. Aroma has some banana and brown sugar, flavor is fruity and malty with a slightly alcoholic finish. Very enjoyable.

A malty ass Belgian Barley wine. I ’d like to get my paws on a 750ml or six of Delirium noel: What a beautiful beer label. The jolly fat elephant in the snow induces happy endorphins. The beer is very sweet and don’t be surprised to feel as if there is chunks of syrup going down your throat. Quality sipper by the fire place and all that grandpha olden days bull shit. Not a elegant beer, but nice if you enjoy sticky sweet alcoholic drinks.