Delirium Noël

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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UPDATED: SEP 15, 2005 Bottle. Nose smells like candy apples. Sweet brown sugar taste. Has an after taste like honey and brown sugar together. There is a lot more going on here, but I can’t describe it. Prune, candi sugar, malt, apple, and spice come together perfectly. This is very, very good.

Christmas in August Really enjoyed this, even though its probably been sitting on the shelf for over a year. (aging as they say). The 10% abv kick would be clutch in the winter but is also good for sitting on the couch in August watching Samurai Jack DVDs

Bottle. Perhaps a 2003. Poured a murky light brown with a tannish head. Very big and fluffy head and nice lacing. Aroma is of wet cardboard maybe some prunes. Taste is slightly tart. Not entirely pleasant. Not really happy with this one.

From a recommendation by a friendly employee at the beer distributor I often go to, Delirium Noel was bought just in time for the xmas season. This is definately not for everyone. A lot of alcohol apparent in the aroma and while drinking. Needless to say, I didn’t drink a lot of this stuff and took my time on it. There is a sweetness but it kind of sneaks up on you after the bitter and alcohol taste. Harsh on the palate. Difficult to drink. But other than that, the flavors are pretty complex and if you're looking for a buzz, this does the job.

Deep brown body. Brownish frothy head, mostly diminishing. Aroma of some kind of cleaning-product, I think "Mr. Propre Wood-fresh". Lightly sweet, lightly bitter initial flavour. Lightly sweet finish. Good flavour, but nasty aroma.

UPDATED: SEP 15, 2007 Nice floral fruit aroma, beautiful ruby coloring. A great fruit wine/beer flavor so typical of these wonderful beers. No hoppy bitterness and a pleasent buzz is obtainible.

Fruit spiritus aroma with dark red colour and littel head. Spiritus malt flavourn with smooth fizzy palate.

Aroma of barnyard, sweet malt. Flavor of dark fruit, barnyard, herbs, and a mild bubblegum. Medium body.

Far better than my first run in with this brewery. Much less sharp and abrasive, rather pleasant actually. Full blown Belgian style head and lacing. Fruit (cherry mostly what I catch) and for being 10% it’s not the abrasive wallop that their Delerium can be. Rather enjoyed this and wish I hadn’t been so hesitant to pick up another bottle or two as it was practically being given away when I bought it.

The Aussie (?) version of this is called Christmas. Perhaps it is simply because the distributor here is named Noel that he didn’t want to be associated with this beer. Don’t know why though. This presents beautifully in the glass with a rich ruby colour and good but even creamy head. The beer laces very well down the glass. The nose is one of typical Belgian fruit but not one of harshness as is often associated with this brewer. There are sultanas, currants and plums in the high ABV influenced mouthfeel with a very good carbonation and subtle dryness on the back palate. Perhaps I got a very good bottle but I would rate this as the best of the Huyghe beers I have sampled.