Delirium Noël

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

Ceramic-like brown bottle, 330 ml, best before October 2011, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savoured on June 9 2009; eye: copper, clear, light effervescence, beige head that turns into a tiny ring, no lacing; nose: caramel malt, spices, alcohol, candied fruits, pepper; mouth: caramel malt, alcohol, light astringency, candied fruits, pepper, alcohol warmth, a bit of hops, finale in alcohol with presence of malt, not much carbonation, medium-full body, mildly sweet, lightly bitter, alcoholic texture; overall: fine FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune aspect céramique, 330 ml, meilleure avant octobre 2011, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savourée le 9 juin 2009; œil : cuivrée, claire, légère effervescence, mousse beige qui se transforme en un petit anneau, pas de dentelle; nez : malt caramel, épices, alcool, fruits confits, poivre; bouche : malt caramel, épices, alcool, fruits confits, poivre

It is beautiful, dark amber with a huge, creamy head. The aroma has sweetness and notes of malt, caramel, berries, yeast and fruit. The flavour has sweetness and notes of malt, caramel, yeast, spice, berries, dark fruit and alcohol. The overall impression is rather vinous.

11.2 oz bottle. Dark brown with some orange at the edges. Lacy white head. Malty nose with toffee, raisin, bubblegum and yeast. Medium body with prominent sharp carb. Taste is raisin and brown sugar but nowhere near as sweet as expected. Bitter finish with green banana.

Presentation: It was poured from a painted "stone" bottle into a tulip glass. The sample size was 750ml bottle with a freshness date on the label. Appearance: The body has a deep, slightly reddish amber color. It has a slightly hazy appearance with some streams of very tiny little bubbles rushing up to the head. The head is tall, light tan in color and slowly fades leaving little to no lacing behind. Smell: The aroma is big and full of sweet malt and fruity notes. Taste/Mouth feel: The flavor is big and full of fruity notes inside a deep, sweet malty base. Flavor notes of tropical fruit like papaya, pineapple, and guava pop out of the sweet malt, no doubt full of Belgian candi sugar. Yeast adds some funk and alcohol is also present in a mellow warming way that adds another nice level of complexity. There is even a slight leafy hop note than brings a hint of bitterness at one point before being surrounded by everything else. Its mouth feel is big, smooth and well rounded. Carbonation is soft and its body is a solid medium to full. Notes: This is a wonderful and very enjoyable beer. Very well done, cheers Delirium Noel!!!

11.2 oz Bottle from Frugal MacDoogal for $2.99. Pours copper amber with a huge tan retentive head and effervescent carbonation . Sugary malt and spicy nose. Medium bodied with a mild spritziness on the tongue. Flavor of raisen, pumpkin spices, and Belgian yeast. Dusty and phenolic finish, with some warmth from the alcohol. Not bad

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.

Tumma hedelmäisyys, marjat ja rusinaisuus jotenkin puhuttelevat ihan erilailla näin jouluaikoihin, sen vuoksi muuten kohtalaisen keskinkertainen Gordonsin jouluolutkin sai hyvälle tuulelle. Tukevampi kroppa ja mausteet ovat juuri sitä, mitä haluan jouluoluen ollessa kyseessä ja tämä olut ei siinä minua pettänyt. Pullo on harvinaisen jouluhenkinen. Makeus ei ole liiallista, sitä tasapainottaa happamuus ja pienoinen katkeruus. Jotain banaaniakin tästä voi aistia, siinä mielessä voin yhtyä kommenttiin sahtimaisuudesta. Ei niin monimutkainen kuin monet klassikot, mutta pätevä belgi, lämmittää ja menee alas helposti. Can’t bother to translate that. A good xmas beer for what it is worth.

(Sample Date: 12/9/2008 Source:Capital Ale House - Downtown) Aroma of spices, caramelized sugar, and dark fruits. Clear dark amber golden. Malt accentuated flavor with spicy Belgian yeast and hop character. Nice alcohol warming.