Delirium Noel 11.2 oz

Belgian Brown Strong Christmas Ale

Brewed by: Huyghe Brewery
Country: Belgium
Style: Winter
Color: Red/Brown

ABV: 10.0%
Ratebeer.com rating: 93
BeerAdvocate.com rating: 87

Once banned in the US because the provocative title of this line of ales was thought to encourage overindulgence (the pink elephant logo on the label probably did very little to curb the argument), Delirium Noel from the Huyghe Brewery is a seasonal Belgian Strong Ale that pours dark red with a foamy beige head.

Top fermented and bottle conditioned, the brew boasts potent aromas of dark fruit, apricot, caramel malt, sweet cherry, cinnamon and clove with notes of vanilla, apple, banana and yeast.

Taste is similar to aroma and also includes toffee, plum, and red wine with notes of pepper and bitter hops.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied and creamy smooth thanks to generous and lively carbonation; the 10.0% ABV is well hidden, and the finish is lingering, spicy, and dry.

Food Pairings

Pair with beef, hamburger, barbecue, hearty winter soups, stews or chili, or serve to complement almost any sharp cheese.

Brewery Information:

Located in the city of Melle in the East Flanders region of Belgium, the Huyghe Brewery was founded in 1906 when Leon Huyghe purchased a local brewery ("Den Appel") whose history in the region went back at least several centuries, to the mid-1600s.

Under his stewardship, the brewery survived both World Wars and actually managed to thrive; but by the 1970s and into the early 1980s sales of the staple brews – then based on lager and Dortmund style beers – were in decline. The brewery found itself – like so many other small family owned breweries of the time – unable to compete successfully with Flanders' larger commercial breweries.

In 1985 the Huyghe Brewery refocused its efforts to concentrate production on high quality, high alcohol, specialty ales only. The flagship brew of this style, Delirium Tremens, was introduced to high acclaim in 1987 and the brewery's fortunes flourished once again.

Today, still helmed by the Huyghe family, the Huyghe Brewery produces and distributes award winning specialty ales to at least eight countries including the United States, Canada, Italy and Japan.