Delirium Noël

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

Bottle: Poured a medium amber color ale with a super huge foamy and creamy off-white head with perfect retention. Aroma of cinnamon and another spices which results in a weird perfume that doesn’t excite my olfactory sense. Taste is also dominated by that weird perfume that I have a hard time to pinpoint. I also noticed some sweet malt. Body is real creamy with a good lacing. Alcohol is very well hidden. Even though Belgian Christmas beer is not a well-defined style, there are still some things that I expect (high ABV, full body, spice mix…) which I couldn’t find in here.

750ml on unusual coloured and designed bottles. Red top with campagne cork. Hazy brown in colour. Off-white, short lived foam. A bit yeasty aroma. Crispated body. Very complex in flavours. Acidulous, but with notes of lemon and spices. Bitter ending with warming alcohol. The strength of the beer is very well hidden. One bottle was consumed to a heavy chocolate cake. The bitter and sourish drink stands very well to a sweet dessert. Perfect combination! I have one bottle left in the cellar and will try to keep it for the next new years eve (07.01.2006 and 11.03.2006)

Pours a beautiful clear amber brown sunset with medium size froth that is short lived. Ample residual effers. Bananna malted nose. medium palate of dry, woodsy tobacco, earth, dried citrus rinds and smoke. Becomes more fruity as it warms. Drinks better warm.

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.

Bottle from Jim’s Foodmart - Houghton, MI Pours a rusty golden, with a silky lacing head of ivory and amber. Aroma is wicking spicy fig and pear, with heavy vinous tart grape skins and light floral cognac. Flavor is an intense heavy malt, mulled with a touch of spice and blended with a biting yeasty bread crust and a touch of wheat. Complex and fulfulling with a real glowing character. Unfortunately the alcohol comes on a little hot. Back end runs with light floral fruits and light colored fruits like pears, apricots, and apples. A hint of white chocolate. Finishes with a good smack in the face from the alcohol. Deliciously warming though.

Bomber courtesy of and shared with gputty. Orange/brown pour with a beige head. Fruity esters and yeast in the nose, with some spiciness (cinnamon, nutmeg and coriander). The aroma is rather pungent, almost perfumelike. Slightly over carbonated for my taste. Flavor follows the strong nose, albeit weakly. Slight alcohol burn and a dry finish.

From bottle. Poured an orange brown with tan head. Nose has a huge prune aroma with some spices and banana as well. Body is over carbonated though and only a thin rendition of the nose. Alcohol is noticeable.

Tap: amber body. Aroma is SMOKE with notes of caramel and spices. Flavor is the same, tasty. Best pink elephant beer I’ve had. Interesting, balanced and drinkable.