Delirium Noël - Brouwerij Huyghe

francisweizen

Australia

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

An Excellent X-Mas Seasonal Beer! This poured a nice, refined looking, reddish-brown colour with almost no head to speak of(which is understandable at it's high 10%ABV!:-) This smelled very wine-like and it also reminded me of Chimay blue. That was the taste to me as well, a chimay blue mixed with some nice red wine. This beer had a very wine like mouth feel as well, with some definate oak notes and barrel flavors in the mouth. All this makes for a wonderful if not strong, extremely drinkable beer!
merry x-mas and cheers!
F

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2003 08:18:36 | More by francisweizen

beerluvr

New Jersey

4.65/5  rDev +19.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This poured into the glass with a high & tight head, just this side of off-white. Reddish-amber liquid. Nose is wonderfully fresh, malty fruity and a bit hoppy too. Taste starts with a blast of medium maltiness then the healthy amount of hops mix with alcoholic warmth. Finishes up dry and very drinkable, I would recommend this to any fan of "Big Beers" without hesitation. Delicious!

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2003 10:05:47 | More by beerluvr

purplehops

Maine

4.33/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Delirium Noel pours a sparkly red-brown with a light tan head that dies quickly into a thin ring. Little or no lace on the sides of the glass. The aroma is christmas stollen with alcohol. Very fruity with notes of plum, fig, apricot, and citrus. The taste begins with a smooth warmth of malty goodness and moves on to spice flavors of coriander and grains of paradise. The finish is a blend of prickly carbonation and dried fruit with hints of hops. Flavors of carmel, orange peel, and an unknown ( simular to a single cask aged rum with vanilla and coconut flavors )swirl around in your mouth forming new flavors with each sip. The aftertaste is lingering alcohol and notes of hops and citrus. The mouthfeel is smooth and warm with a slight syrupiness that in no way detracts from this ale.
All in all another winner from brewey Huyghe. Good by itself or with seasonal treats. In the end the pink elephants say it all.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2002 05:35:48 | More by purplehops

maxpower

Missouri

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2000 750ml grey bottle with pink Elephants pulling santas sliegh, pours a bright cloudy reddish-orange color. Fruity aroma of pears and tropical fruits, small bubbly head, bready, spicy fruity apple flavors, soft and full palate, nice lasting finish, very well hidden alcohol at 10%, warming feel, a great winter ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2002 16:02:15 | More by maxpower

StevieW

Florida

4.63/5  rDev +19%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big 750 ml bottle with cork and cage. Red foil seal over the cork and cage. This bottle is sealed up tighter than a frog's ass in water. Only minor stitches will be required to fix my hand.
The label depicts a big pink elephant with the same santa hat we all are wearing now. Santa riding along in the background with more pink elephants leading the sleigh. The big pink elephant has the distinct impression he knows something you don't. You are skeptical of this beer, but he knows better. That's cool with me.

Soft medium brown in color. Opague, and slightly cloudy. Full, creamy beige head. Stayed forever. Rich seasonal aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, and roasted plums hit your nose across the room. First taste is a tremendous explosion of belgian flavors. Nice roasted plums, figs, raisans, match with a spicy nutmeg, cinnamon combination. Slight hint of oak aged port wine, and warming alocohol slide by. Subtle earthy flavors appear as the beer warms. Nutty spicy flavors, slow down, rich warming alcohol presence finishes strong. Murky sediment shows up in the glass. The elphant winks, nods, and whispers "drink it, my friend" And I do. Slightly thinner on the finish, but you are too happy to care. Nice warming feeling falls over your body, as you belly thanks you again and again for saving this one.
Perfect with the back doors open and the cool Florida Atlantic winter breeze washing over.
That damn pink elephant knows this now at the top of my Christmas beer list.
Happy Holidays

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2002 14:35:54 | More by StevieW

CharlesRiver

Connecticut

4.35/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is the first time that I have tried any of this breweries beers. I don't have a Delirium glass so my Rapscallion glass will have to do. The pour is amber in color with a nice off white fluffy head. The spices hit you right up front with a touch of alcohol as well. I also get hints of nutmeg and clove. Big time warming feeling as it goes down. The flavors stay with you long after.

Overall I am very impressed with this beer. Again, another one that I would like to cellar for awhile. Buy one (or five) this holiday season and drink it next holiday season.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2002 15:59:23 | More by CharlesRiver

TheLongBeachBum

California

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I tried this on 12-17-2002 at a Beer Tasting held in the Rock Bottom, Long Beach.

Fourth beer of the night and a good swill with the iced-water supplied was in order before tackling this one. Presented in true Delirium style, the Noël comes in a white painted bottle with black speckles, a red foil top covering the neck of the bottle, and oh yes how could I forget? – A number of Pink Elephants all looking very seasonal with Santa Hat’s. Very Huyghe!
Deep brown chestnut color with a very mild haze, no problem though, the head was tan brown and quite sturdy in the sampling glass, carbonation was average at first, but it did die away very quickly. Aromas are of an alcoholic sweetness at first, with some dark fruits, dates, etc. also some yeast and a really strange lingering smell that I was familiar with but just couldn’t my finger on at the time, a dank fruit-spiciness of sorts.
Tastes are of alcohol, warming and smooth. Caramelised malts introduce the beer, and then I get the taste that belongs to the smell I cannot describe – a fruity, tropical, yeasty, spiciness is the best way I can try. Nice, but as it not a uni-dimensional taste, it can be a bit confusing at times – but never unpleasant, just ever-changing – a challenge. The middle of this beer has blurred edges at times and changes are constant as you swirl the beer in the mouth before swallowing. Solid mouthfeel that does the job, you know you are drinking this beer. However, the beer does finish with a clean, crisp spice-hoppiness and a mild warming in the rather dryish end. A very satisfying finish, and has the characteristic “Delirium drinkability” for a 10% ABV beer, a little too drinkable at times!
Always a pleasure to drink this beer on a cold night. But remember the label has Pink Elephants with Santa Hat’s – so don’t take this beer too seriously!!!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2002 20:23:30 | More by TheLongBeachBum

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my personal part 2 of the Delirium Chronicles, having opened with (or, gone to bed with) the Nocturnum. We have here a very attractive, clear chestnut-colored bier. The head was fine and very thin (too thin for me), with a smidge of lacing in the goblet. Nose is nicely sweet, with alcohol very present. An aroma of dark fruit makes its way into the mix, too. Body was medium to medium-plus; and as far as smoothness goes, it had a fine, bubbly carbonation leaving a pleasant prickliness on the tongue. Quite the tasty bier, with lots of dark-fruity flavors, like currants, as well as some candi-sugar sweetness. Seemed to be a tiny bit of spiciness, if palate is not deceiving me. I do feel a warmth making its way south into my belly, too! Though I didn't find this to be outstanding, I enjoyed it aplenty!

overall: 4
appearance: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4

428

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2002 15:19:54 | More by Bierman9

HopheadEd

Pennsylvania

4.4/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Delirium is one of my favorites, this is no disappointment. Pours a medium brown with a nice head that laces throughout the glass. Murky aroma, and, stay with me, floral, fruity, dry, somewhat licorace like first taste. Very complex, very nice. You can almost smell the carbonation, effervecence. Crisp, dry finish with hints of plum. Just a damn good Belgian, Seasonal or not.

Serving type: bottle

12-12-2002 19:56:18 | More by HopheadEd

Gusler

Arizona

4.43/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Delirium Noel 2001 Release:
On the pour a delicious orange to cherry red color as it sits in the glass. The body covered by a voluminous head, frothy in texture that melts to a fine sheet of lace that drapes the glass. Aroma’s of ripe fruit, such as pineapple and banana with hints of yeast also a underlying malt sweetness, quite a refreshing. Start is agreeably sweet, the top voluptuous in feel, the finish has a razor-sharp acidity and the hops scrumptiously hopped, malt dry aftertaste that has a slight alcohol bitterness. The big 10% ABV, warms the tummy and seals off a quite quaffable beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2002 15:34:48 | More by Gusler

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

doerickson

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Color of iced tea or a dark cider, with a thick, almost tan-colored head. Simultaneously sweet and sour in the nose; some yeast and barnyard aromas as well. Medium carbonation. Taste definitely runs toward the sweet side, but not too syrupy or cloying. The Belgian candy sugar is apparent. Pleasantly warming on the way down from the alcohol. The sweetness and alcohol become more pronounced as the brew warms, with brandy and port-like characteristics emerging. Will keep you warm on a winter's night for sure.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2002 19:41:04 | More by doerickson

goindownsouth

South Carolina

3.68/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Not a bad Belgian brew. Delerium is one of my favorite Belgian brands and Noel is no exception. It is rather fruity to the nose, drinks a bit harsh at the start, but finishes extremely well. With the high ABV, not for the faint of heart. Bottoms up!

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2002 05:58:46 | More by goindownsouth

tigerpaws

South Carolina

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

They advertise as the best beer in the world, well I wouldn't go that far but it is a very good one. The alcohol is hidden well and will slip up on you, after four I could feel it..LOL. The smell woldn't bring me to this beer but it did have a very interesting taste. Not for the novice beer drinker........CHEERS

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2002 15:56:22 | More by tigerpaws

cokes

Wisconsin

4.58/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A flavorful and immensely complex brew here. A delight to drink, even though it is nearly crippling in it's alcohol content (in a 750ml bottle).
Throws a lightly hazy copper/amber color. White head fades quickly.
Lots of Alcohol, dark fruit and spice on the nose. Quite inviting. Seems dangerous (and rightly so)
Taste is explosive. Tropical fruit (I got alot of pineapple), yeast spiciness, carmelized sugar, and a little hint of rum. But honestly, there was very little alcohol in the taste. For a 10% ABV brew, it is outright scary. Very easy to drink, and enjoyable all the while.
Mouthfeel is a little spritzy, but with some heft..overall quite wonderful.
Another winner form Huyghe. I am quickly becoming a disciple. I love their brews (even though I know this feeling is not shared by everyone, as the reviews tend to be all over the place).
Personally, I can't recomend this brew or the Delirium Tremens hightly enough.

Oh, and VENOM, I agree...the foil top is a pain to remove.

Serving type: bottle

04-12-2002 00:32:26 | More by cokes

ZAP

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

These Belgians always taste so sweet to me..like straight cane sugar...I think I read somewhere they use like candy sugar or something like that...I'm no expert on this style, but I'd prefer a barley-wine when opting for the high alcohol beer..This is pretty smooth...creamy...sweet.....sweet....sweet.....minimal if any hopping...I had a much better belgian at a bar this dude bought me around Christmas but I can't remember the name...it was a treat...this is very good but not at that level...

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2002 19:49:07 | More by ZAP