Delirium Noël - Brouwerij Huyghe

StAnthony

Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Man, they're not kidding about the pink elephants on the label! Packs a punch that sticks with you and grows exponentially for an hour or so after you finish. I knew about the 10% abv before the first sip, but forgot about it soon after because this seasonal is super, super smooth. A most enjoyable pint from the tapper that was velvety and well-balanced all the way through. I recall caramel and mulling spices being the most predominant flavors, with just a hint of apple maybe and a very clean, long finish that leaves you excited for the next sip. It's like a moth to the fire.

Serving type: on-tap

01-25-2006 16:13:53 | More by StAnthony

beerking1

Virginia

4.68/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours cloudy dark bronze, with a head of large bubbles that fades very fast. Aroma is big alcohol upfront, with dark fruits and some candi sugar and malt backing it up. Body is suitable medium to thin for a Belgian beer. Flavor is very fruity, sweet malt, with some balancing hops, an d a bit of sharpness from the alcohol. Finish is sweet but not heavy or cloying.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2007 01:41:14 | More by beerking1

lackenhauser

Maryland

4.7/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Beautiful orange color with a slight head.A slight phenolic nose with a hint of banana.Alchohol is right up front on the tongue with a nice warming after effect.Great mouthfeel-more complex then the "delirium tremens" triple.A great drinkability at a mild 10%-perfect for a Winters night-or a nite cap in July if you ask me.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2003 19:05:39 | More by lackenhauser

generallee

New York

4.7/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

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!!!

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 16:10:22 | More by generallee

pzrhsau

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I was able to find this on tap in the US at Brosserie Becks in DC.
Appearance: Deep brownish color with a robust head and great hints of red when light hits the glass.
Smell: Great aromas of malt, yeast, and a combination of spices. The head really allows the aromas to explode in your nose.
Taste: Very rich spicy flavor that is smoothed out by the malt as you sip. The beer then fades back into that rich spiciness on your tongue. Its a great flavor of Christmas and really makes you feel warm inside. You also get a slight hint of alcohol but it doesn't overpower the flavor.
Drinkability/Mouthfeel: Great weight, nice carbonation, and easy to consume.
The beers from the Huyghe brewery really have to be enjoyed on tap. Having tried this beer in the bottle, it is good. On tap, unbelievable. It becomes fresher and more flavorful, it's more carbonated which helps balance it; the beer almost pulls a night and day comparison with the difference. That being said, not easy to track down on tap unless you go abroad (this took me two years to find, but well worth the wait).

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2009 17:07:19 | More by pzrhsau

Saro

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bomber into a goblet.

A- pours dark red, half fingers worth of off white head that doesn't linger too long.

S- spice bomb. Alchol is very present in the nose of this brew. All the holiday spices are here for sure

T- the spices come thru very well, along with a gentle carbonation and a slow boozy burn from the 10% abv. This is a great beer to share for 2 ppl and hang out during the holidays.

M- again, lightly carbonated, small boozy burn, despite being so big on flavors, it finishes really clean and quick which can lead to a quick buzz

D- since I love beers that have very apparent high abv, I could drink a couple bombers to myself. Otherwise one pour is probably good for most people. Its a great beer, I like most of what they put out anyhow so I am pleased that I really enjoyed this

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2010 23:24:46 | More by Saro

Aiptasia

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +22.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I picked up this beer recently during a pre-superbowl beer sale. The bottle itself is very impressive and worth collecting. A little off-putting on the opening as my bottle not only was capped with the foil and wire wrap (like a champagne bottle) around the cork, but also a layer of what appears to be wax or just goop from the bottler. It was sticky and tricky to open.

I used a standard 16 oz. glass tumbler to enjoy this one. It's strong and sweet, with a lot of rich fruit essence and flavor blended with caramel and tamari soy sauce up front. This is definitely a beer for the sipping and savoring, and not one for the chugging. It's good and worth drinking if paired with foods like pork, asian dishes and curry.

A: Amber color. Very soft head dissipated within 15 seconds. No lacing. Very fine micro-carbonation.

S: Very faint hints of apricot, pear and anise on the nose.

T: Rich and sweet, tasting of caramel toffee, tamari soy sauce and a hint of liquorice and smoke on the back. Not much hops, not bitter at all.

M: Decadent and creamy. The light carbonation makes for a smooth mellow mouth feel. Hides it's higher alcohol content quite well.

D: A sipper, not a chugger. Drink more than one and the alcohol is gonna catch up to you quick. It's a nice beer to savor and enjoy with food, or when you have to nurse a beer and want a little flavor in your sipping.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2011 00:06:57 | More by Aiptasia

BarleyBoz

New York

4.8/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is a great beer! I wish this was available all year long. First thing I noticed was that the color was a little darker than expected. The color is dark amber and when held to the light you would expect to see a "Jurassic park mosquito in it like the old guys cane from Jurassic Park. It is slightly cloudy but very clear for a Belgium style. The nose is sweet like caramel; a great balance of hops and malt. The taste is unbelievable . For a 10% abv beer, the alcohol is hidden extremely well. Noel is very smooth from start to finish. It is very drinkable and could be consumed easily all evening long.

Also reviewed by JAbel9

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2010 03:46:05 | More by BarleyBoz

DatSideBeerMan

Louisiana

4.8/5  rDev +23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I love this beer! Had this with a bunch of fresh raw oysters. Amazing.

In Louisiana, we get a little of this but not much and it usually sells pretty quickly.

I have found that this beer changes from year to year but is is very good. I find most Christmas beers not that interested exept this one and a few others.

Look for this at your local store

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2011 23:27:28 | More by DatSideBeerMan

GClarkage

California

4.83/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

01/07/05- On tap at the Toronado in San Francisco, CA

Presentation- Served in a tulip glass.

Appearance- Beautiful glowing deep red color with a 1/2 white head and good lacing.

Smell- Deep sweet malt scents. Awesome fumes going upwards. A bit of alcohol, but manly sweetness.

Taste- Dull sweet fruits which works oh so well in this beer. Bananas, oranges, peaches and kiwi. But sugary sweet rather than sour and tart. Maybe a bit of chocolate mixed in.

Mouthfeel- Lightly carbonated, but creates a fairly heavy mouthfeel.

Drinkability- Again, my trip to the Toronado today was worth every penny. Three great beers and one good one. This one was the best of the four or damn close to it.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2005 00:41:35 | More by GClarkage

Buttermaker

California

4.83/5  rDev +24.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

There's two types of Christmas beers...the kind that tastes a bit like a fruit cake and the kind that's just a stronger, maltier version of whatever its root style is. I'm very fond of both. Delirium Noel is an outstanding example of the latter...a Belguim Strong Dark Ale that's perfect for a quiet December night in front of the fire but could just as easily be enjoyed during the summer when you're looking for a strong malt bomb. Pours beautiful (there's very few beers that don't look good going into the glass) lots of bananas on the nose and then the taste - pure malt. Delicious.

I enjoyed it a little colder than the recommended serving temp but I thought it was better for it.

Recommended music pairing: Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful Christmas

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2009 04:26:26 | More by Buttermaker

bonsreeb85

Colorado

4.9/5  rDev +26%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Comes out of a cool looking bottle with the signature pink elephant. I dig it! The body is a deep dark and muddled tawney color which features a long lasting fizzy and foamy beige crown and offers up some nice lacing.

The smell is that of distinct Belgian yeast and dark fruits. This makes for a sweet nose with understated spice.

Kudos to the brewers of this fine elixer. What could have been an overly sweet mess, is balanced and an absolute joy to savor. Just the right amount of spice and hops to balance the symphonic sweet melody of flavor. Harmony for the taste buds.

THe feel is full and creamy, smooth and velvty. Take your pick. Tightly carbonated.Excellent.

Perfect nightcap, I savored ever one of the 750ml in my bottle and it was enough. (that's not to say I couldn't have more, however I cannot say that I am not satisfied.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2009 02:23:28 | More by bonsreeb85

Blackdevil77

New York

4.9/5  rDev +26%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer is absolutely delicious. I have had this and the tremens many times, and time and time again, this stands out as the better tasting beer, regardless of its 10 percent alcohol content.Poured about a finger and half to 2 fingers of head, that dissipated rather quickly. Poured a dark, deep brownish red color. I always notice a bit of sweet taste when I first start drinking this, but it's not an overpowering sweet taste. This beer is just extremely delicious and really stands out. My friend likes this beer more than the tremens as well. It's a bit sweeter and has less of a "bite" then the tremens all while having a higher alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2011 15:21:44 | More by Blackdevil77

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Like all the Deliriums, this is a bottle that, once cracked open, is impossible to resist. It's like rushing to the tree on Christmas morning! Monumental, creamy white head. How to aptly describe this aroma, though? Spicy...dark..."vinous", as Michael Jackson would say. Beautiful carbonation, effervescence everywhere. Color's a gorgeous dark red, and the flavors continue to unfold. A constant, buy very pleasant assault, of dark fruit and spice. The finest thing you could put to your lips when the chill is on!
A dizzying onslaught of divine taste!

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2002 13:54:03 | More by feloniousmonk

jabergess

Georgia

5/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

So what do I end with after a Great Divide Belgian Yeti? Christmas in July tells me a Delirium Noel.
Wow. I am thoroughly impressed. It says its 10 percent alcohol. It's so fruity that's all I can focus on. Complex fruit flavors. Don't be afraid to follow an imperial stout with this one. Damn I wish I could tell you what fruits. Some people say cherries but I don't get that. Maybe fresh plums and dark grapes. It's unique but totally enjoyable. Get ya two. Drink one and squirrel away one for later.

Serving type: bottle

07-17-2011 23:31:12 | More by jabergess

ICantBelieveItsBeer

Massachusetts

5/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Appearance - A thick caramel note to it. It is almost opaque to the point you cannot see it. There is a vibrant red tone, almost a caramel color. There is a two finger head; almost like a rich molasses.

Smell - Very overpowering, but not in an abrasive fashion. It warms the nostrils and brings home that Christmas feeling. Very festive with a distinct fruity essence. High expectations.

Taste - There is a powerful punch that comes with this bear. It overwhelms the pallet with strong citrus notes. So much diversity of flavors, it is baffling. Almost mystical. Truly defies logic.

Overall - Eerily drinkable, delightfully effervescent, there is no hyperbole great enough to even take a shot at this titan of a fermented beverage review. Legitimately one of the great ones.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 03:51:34 | More by ICantBelieveItsBeer