Delirium Noël

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

Hazy amber color, big head, disappearing pretty quickly. Some aroma of malt and sugar. Good malty body, just a little presence of alcohol; turning into some sweet liquorice toward the end. Final with a strong bitterness, complemented by some liquorice.

UPDATED: JAN 2, 2012
Name: Delirium Noel
Date: December 25, 2003
Mode: Bottle
Source: Whole Foods Market, DC
Appearance: hazy burgendy, thin tan head
Aroma: rich spicy malt aroma
Flavor: rich fruity malt flavor with a big spicy finish causing a touch of bitterness

Name: Delirium Noel
Date: December 25, 2007
Mode: draft
Source: brick store
Appearance: clear dark red, fine dirty white head, lots of lace
Aroma: sweet spicy malt aroma
Flavor: sweet dark caramel candy malt flavor, lots of spicyness

Name: Delirium Noel
Date: December 22, 2008
Mode: draft
Source: brick store
Aroma: dry earthy spicy aroma with a touch of sweet candy caramel in the background
Flavor: sweet caramel malt flavor. lots of spicyness, the spices bring in an earthy dryness

Name: Delirium Noel
Date: December 26, 2011
Mode: draft
Source: Taco Mac, The Fred
Aroma: sweet fruity aroma, christmas spices
Flavor: sweet fruity flavor, nice spicy character, candy caramel

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 15/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *** /4

(750 ml. Bottle) The red foil that covers the cork and cage has to go on these bottles. It is a nuisance to remove. Pours a medium brown with amber highlights and a medium-sized beige head. Has a fruity, caramel, and spicy flavors with a hint of port.

33cl bottle from Dorstvlegel, Antwerp. Russet, lots of sediment in suspension, lasting beige head. Surprising passion fruit and mango aroma. Malty in mouth. Sharpish on end with more fruit. Not as malty as the Gouden and Corsendonk Xmas ales I had before this. Fine.

On tap. Dark amber colour. A little off-white head. Lots of yeast in the aroma with some maltiness and hints of spicies. Sweet malty flavor with lots of yeast and caramel. Hard to feel the alcohol.

Tap at Chr. Firtal, Odense: Dark amber with fine white head. Smooth and filling texture. Spices, easy alcohol and malty sweetness. Very creamy and delicious. Live carbonation. Complex! Excellent lasting finish! Great Belgium!

Bottled (BB 10/2007)
Deep red-brown, a bit hazy, color with small tanned head. Typical Delirum-nose: malty and fruity. Medium-to-full-bodied, warming and malty. Flavor has cherries and prunes. Long bitter alcoholic aftertaste. Real winter warmer.

UPDATED: APR 6, 2003 Murky brown body with virtually no head. Aroma is moderately sweet, fruity (orange), bubblegum, and spicy. Taste is mildly sweet, fruity (orange and cherry), yeasty, and only slightly alcohol (less than would be expected with 10% ABV). Finishes with slight alcohol burn.