Delirium Noël

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

UPDATED: DEC 12, 2004 the pink elephant poured a dark cloudy brown with a nice head.the aroma was similar to the other two deliriums i have had,but with some spice and a bit of malts.it has a nice complex flavor of caramel,delirium belgian yeast,hops,and winter spice.this is the best delirium i have had.

Aroma is strong, malty, with plenty of spice hints and even a bit of an odd, rubbery odor that still was not unappetizing. It pours out a dark amber-brown, almost the color of cola with a decent head. Flavor is strong and mouth-filling, malty and quite spicy, with a touch of hops. This ale is quite smooth but has a good bite to it.

Another good Belgian. I may be changing my favorite style soon. WHat I enjoyed about this great brew was the nice blend of bread, spice and alcohol. It even had a hint of banana bread an caramel malts to it. Very well blended.

Elephants on a white bottle, now someone was definetely doing some drugs to come up with that. Yet another belgian that i enjoyed at obrien's, courtesy of dasilky1. An average brown color, descent arrangement of flavors accented with a breeze of yeast. just another belgian as far as im concerned.

I had high expectations for this one - both because of its excellent little brother, Delirium Tremens, but also perhaps due to the stylish, rustique-like clay bottle and charming xmas label. The fact is, when you are up against so much competition among the holiday winter seasonals, you better make sure to get a mighty fine brew if you’re going out as strong image-wise as Delirium Christmas. Unfortunately, it does not quite deliver. The beer pours a clear, nougat transparency covered by a thin, off-white head that vanishes quickly. It reminds me of a common dark lager more than any Belgian Strong Ale, and the smell seems a bit immature and too vinous. The taste follows the track of my nose, revealing a poorly hidden high alcohol content which can only be forgiven because of the warm, christmasy feeling it generates in my system. Nevertheless, plums, figs, raisins and dark malts scatter around in my mouth, somehow reminding me more of a port wine than a beer. The various aromas could’ve been better fused (maybe I should have saved it for 2010), but my tongue eventually becomes more accustomed and ends up finding the overall result rather nice, if not exactly memorable. I long for some kind of aftertaste to add to my scrutiny, but little is to be found. However, the thin, barely existing palate does make it very drinkable, which comes in handy in those holiday situations requiring a fast intoxication curve in order to get through the evening without trauma. As a stand-alone xmas brew, however, it doesn’t quite stand up to most of the other seasonals. At least not from it’s native country.

On Tap at Archers Nice aroma of port, sugar some spices and apple. Big head on a darker amber body with nice lacing. Being served in its proper glass probably helps. Nice and smooth with noticeable spice and fruit in the front but ends slightly alcoholic with a bit.

Not my favorite of the Christmas beers I’ve tried but no slouch either. I can’t wait for next Christmas.

Diagonal tasting? Vertical between BB 13 and 14 bottles and horizontal with Brouwerij Huyghe Tesco Finest Belgian Abbey Beer. First bottle, BB November 13, pours a ruby colour with no head. Aroma of black pepper, cherries, wood, cloves and toffee apples. Big upfront cherry flavour with cloves to finish. Quite bitter with an oily mouth-feel. A little cloying. Second bottle, BB November 14, pours a slightly brighter ruby colour with no head. Aroma of sherry, cherry, yeast, alcohol and vanilla. Flavour of cherry and marzipan almond. Mild carbonation with light CO2 prickle and also a little cloying.