Delirium Noël

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

UPDATED: FEB 21, 2007 On tap at the Trivia Pub in Moon Twp. Pours reddish orange with a light tan head. Head settles quickly. Appears to have lots of fizz but in tasting is almost flat. Smells really beery with rotten apples. First flavor is a strong initial alcohol bitter hit. Taste of sweet whiskey bubblegum. A lingering bitter finish that fades quickly after a minute or two.

(750 ml. bottle @ The Real Beer Expo - Rochester, NY) Orange/amber in color with a puffy and lasting white head. Aroma is loaded with malts, spices, yeast, caramel, and some plums. Flavor is very smooth and malty with some nice dark fruit flavors and a spicy finish. Very warming, even though the 10% is hidden well. Aftertaste is very dark and malty with some sweetness.

2007 version 330ml bottle. Pours orange . copper with a small dirty tan head. The aroma has bread, toffee, cream cheese, light spice, meringue, banana and light cotton candy. Medium body with semi-sharp carbonation. The flavor starts with some caramel, Belgium yeast, mustiness, raisins, spices and richness. The finish is lightly metallic and astringent. I like this a lot better than last year’s version, but remember this as being much better in the past. On sampling some vintages I’ll hopefully be able to add to the notes and bump up the score as well.

750ml bottle - Pours brown with a big tan head. The yeast gives the aroma a nice fruit character and the malt comes in with some caramel accents. The flavor is sweet, nutty, and enhanced by dark fruit notes. It’s medium bodied and that 10% abv makes for some guaranteed winter warmth. Nice beer.

Bottle, 33cl. Pours a clear nutbrown beer, almost without head. The aroma is sweetness and raisin, notes of alcohol. The flavor follows the nose. The palate is a little sharp from the alcohol, but else it has a smooth feel. Overall an exciting beer with complex sides.

Big Bottle. 2004. Aroma is very vinous and sweet. I smell a fair amount of pineapple and pears in the aroma. Sweet candies as well. Slight yeast spice hints. Smells sexy! Mild to moderately hazy garney/ruby orange color. Has a nice light tan head that is fine and with decent staying power. Start is somewhat fruity and spicy with a nice alcohol burn in the middle. Nice roasted chocolate maltiness shows up in the end. This reminds me of a Unibroue beer...La Terrible. This has a nice subtle hoppiness to it as well.

Aged sample on draught at the Half Moon in Kennett. Poured a dark brownish color, tripel fermented, they said. Nice initial head that subsided and provided ok but not outstanding lacing. Aroma was spicey and of dark fruits and caramel. Flavor was much of the same, mouthfeel nice and creamy. A very enjoyable beer with a touch of bitterness to finish.

Bottle courtesy of and shared with Mabel and Jerc. Dark orange, small white head. Sweet candy sugar aroma. Good sweet boozy taste - lots and lots of alcohol. Good straightforward strong Belgian.