Delirium Noël

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

2004 Bottle: This beer is a hazy brown color with a foamy thick beige head with decent retention. Nice lacing. Aroma of yeast, apples and malt. Medium-bodied and spicy, with fruit, yeast and hops flavors as well as a light malt balance. The alcohol is not overly noticeable but I was definitely feeling it after this large bottle. The finish is tart and lasting. Very enjoyable overall.

In short: An extra sweet and slightly spicy Belgian dark ale. Cloying but drinkable.
How: Bottle 330ml. Winter 2008/2009 batch. Consumed when about 1 year of age (2 years before expiration date)
The look: Cloudy amber body topped by a very small beige head
In long: Nose of some kind of spicy candy/desert. Taste is very sweet with a lot of candy sugar and only a little bit of caramel and molasses. Next to the overwhelming sweetness are raisins, cloves, yeast, hard candies, other spices, a little shot of Jack Daniels. The spiciness is the main attraction here, not intense but an interesting array of spices with no specific spice coming out strong except for cloves. Body is really full and heavy. A little alcohol warmth but feels less than 10%. A bit like their own Delirium Nocturnum with a lot of candy sugar added. I usually really don’t care for beer heavy on candy sugar but this one wasn’t bad. I give it an A. For Average

A spicey, malt, yeast aroma, cloudy, pomegranate colour, pours a huge, rocky custard head, a continuous stream of bubbles. Candied malt flavour, treacle, red plums, grapefruit, metalic notes, yeast and almonds. Medium bodied, very well balanced, complex, warming to the tongue, pleasantly sweet, dangerously easy to drink, nicely bitter. Wonderful! Joyeux Noel.

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)

Bouteille brune, peinturée imitation grès, de 330 ml obtenue via Importations Privées Bièropholie. Arôme: Odeur de caramel et d’épices avec une pointe d’alcool. Apparence: La couleur est ambrée légèrement voilée avec une faible densité de bulle. Présence d’un mince col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de caramel avec une pointe de raisins et de clou de Girofle. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement minérale. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Légère présence d’épices en arrière goût. (Rating #2483)

Peculiar, herbal/vegetable nose. Earthy malts with spices and vegetable flavors. Hints of sweet fruit. Overall, sour and bitter and slightly musty. Funky monkey yeast flavors. Not bad, but I wasn't too impressed with this sampling.

Beautiful red-orange-amber, big off-white head with thick lace. Delicious aromas of barley candy, candied orange peel, and lots of spice. Sweet and warm palate, lots of toffee and fruity yeast, brandy, ginger, mace... lots of great stuff! A very satisfying beer.

The 11.2oz bottle poured a clear copper color with thin layer of off white foam. The aroma is a bit light with a medley of fruit such as cherries, dates and raisins along with some spice and hints of alcohol. The flavor follows the aroma somewhat with up front fruitiness from raisins and cherries. Beyond midway a more tart fruit note surfaces tasting like apple and grapes. The flavor is rounded out with the help of coriander spice and pepper.