Delirium Noël

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

The .75L bottle poured a beautiful deep amber beverage with, at first, an ample frothy off-white head. The head slowly settled and turned to a small creamy head that fully lasting and left great lacing on the glass. The aroma was characteristically sweet keeping with the style. There were greater notes of bubble gum and rock candy with more subtle aromas of orange and pepper mixed in. The body was medium-full with soft carbonation and a creamy smooth texture. The flavor starts out sweet and stays that way through the long finish. There is also a nice afterglow warmth at the finish that, although it’s now June, reminded me of December.

330ml opaque bottle. Very dense dark amber color with a lasting head. Mellow spicy/malty aromas. Big body and full mouthfeel. Intense malt and estery flavors. Big malty flavor starts slightly dry and then tilts toward the slightly sweet, with the alcohol presence building into the finish. Complex and well done.

On tap at BW3. Light orangy copper to amber with thin dense white to beige head. Apple cider astringency, slight cinnamon malty sweetness. Full creamy mouthfeel with nice viscosity, not too carbonated, a little sticky. Flavors in line with aroma, though fuller. big sweet lght to caramel malts, apple cider tart, cinnamon, fruity finish and tart aftertaste, balanced and tasty.

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!

2009 bottle. The pour is a very nice translucent, crimson color with a moderate, beige, foamy head which is mostly diminishing but leaves a very thin layer of foam and minimal, tight lace. The nose is pleasant but simple for a winter beer; spicy warmth, nutmeg, cotton candy, dates, some toffee, and faint fig. The flavor is similar with mostly sweet notes but retains a mild bitterness to refrain from being cloying; notes of earth, nutmeg, similar spicy warmth, more cotton candy, dates and figs, and some brown sugar. Palate is seemingly light for a 10% BSA but kind of worked with this drinkable beer; medium, warming, nearly lively, and silky. Finishes with more hop notes of an earthy, almost herbal (thyme), moderately light bitterness, but ultimately sweet notes dominate with dates and figs, brown sugar, and an almost orangey/peachy note that lingers. So it is not the typical winter BSA that I usually enjoy but the drinkable manner and the delicacy of this one made up for it. A quite sweet beer but carries just enough bitter notes to remain pleasant and remains typical of other Delirium beers. Nice winter offering but not one of my fav’s.

2004 vintage. 750 ml bottle into a 2 oz Snifter glass. Pours a amber golden brown hue with a semi-foamy white head that hugs the rim of the glass throughout the whole bottle. Aroma consists of a very spicey and appley consistency with a solid hint of alcohol. Flavor brings out much of the same as in the nose, with a very fruity and appley flavor mixed with various spices. A hint of yeasty Belgian sweetness is also present. Moving into the finish a waft of alcohol climbs into the nose. This one aged quite nicely. A very solid XMas brew from Delirium!

2005 edition, 750ml bottle, poured medium red, lots of bubbles, sweet, faint caramel apple, fruity fragrance, candy apple, faint scents of spiced cider, cinnamon, cloves, taste of pepper, light malt, alcohol in the nose, apple, faint brandy, this was nice, beer was a little watery.

Color is a golden orange with sediment floating around. Carbonation is low producing a very thin head. Aroma of toasted caramel with back tones of fruit. Taste is sweet and fruity. Starting with a medium body it goes down smooth with just a faint crispness. Finish comes in sweet with dried fruit a hint of banana and a touch of citrus. In the after taste a nice yeast flavor comes in followed by a bit of alcohol. Overall its a nice Winter brew with good Belgian yeast fruit flavors.