|
 Distinguished
by the pink elephant and white ceramic painted bottle that is a
trademark for all Delirium products, Delirium Noel definitely stands
out on a store shelf, but it is on the palate that Delirium Noel
truly shines. Alain DeLaet, owner and brewmaster at Huyghe,
takes tremendous pride in all of his products. (On the right, we see
Alain with some Delirium Noel on the bottling line.)
Known in Europe as Delirium Christmas, Delirium Noel is a strong,
rich, Belgian Dark Ale. Noel weighs in at a hefty 10% alcohol by
volume, but the sweet, fruity and spicy nature of this beer make it
extremely drinkable, if not a little heart warming.
Delirium Noel is the holiday version of Delirium Tremens, which was
actually banned in the United States for some years because of the
name and its association with the alcohol related disease, delirium
tremens. The flippant name was deemed unacceptable and the beer was
dubbed "Mateen", after an early Flemish brewer in America.
After several years of distributing Mateen in the
United States, permission was eventually given for the Delirium
Tremens name and the Mateen name was dropped.
The Beer: Delirium Noel
Pour
the beer gently into your glass. If you don't have an actual
Delirium Noel glass, then you could use a large wine glass
(something with a round bottom and a stem). The head forms early and
powerfully, erupting from the bottom of the glass and surging up
into a tower of velvety foam that over several minutes becomes
rocky.
The
aroma is characteristic of Belgium, a sweet maltiness with a hint of
candy sugar. If decanted gently the beer will be clear and a rich,
hazelnut brown. Hold the beer up to the light. You'll see just how
gassy this beer is. Think Champagne. The bubbles will be swirling
and churning and sustaining that luxurious frothy head.
Delirium Noel has a complex taste. Initially, it's tart but also
sweet. It's full bodied and thick, filling the mouth. This is a
beefsteak of a beer. What you'll notice about this beer is its heat.
This beer is alcoholic, but not unpleasantly so. This is a beer to
warm you up on a cold winter's night.
History of
the Huyghe Brewery
 Ever
since 1654 there has undoubtedly been some kind of brewing activity
in the "Appelhoek" in Melle.
In
1902, Léon Huyghe settled in Melle. Barely four years later, in
1906, he bought the brewery, which he named "Brouwerij-Mouterij den
Appel". During the First World War, several breweries got into
trouble, and after the war the brewing-coppers, which the occupying
forces had claimed, had to be replaced as quickly as possible.
(Nowadays, one of those coppers hangs above the bar in the museum as
a kind of decorating dome). In 1938, the brewery was renamed "SPRL
Brasserie Léon Huyghe" .
In
1939, the new buildings along the Geraardsbergsensteenweg were
finished. They contain the new brewery-hall, which is still the
pride of the brewery.
When the brewery was radically reformed in 1985, production and
company divisions were formed. The restructuring of the company was
coupled with considerable financial investment, and the production
of traditional pilsen beer was switched to that of high fermentation
beers. For the first time, export was considered. On July 5th
1985, the amber beer "Artevelde" was put on the market.
In
1987, the brewery started fermenting beer in the bottle, by
producing the " Artevelde grand cru".
On
December 26th 1989, the famous "Delirium Tremens" was
born. The particular character and the unique taste of "Delirium
Tremens" result from the use of three different kinds of yeast. Its
very original packing, which resembles cologne ceramics, and the
colourful label contribute to its success. The label depicts the
different phases of the production of "Delirium Tremens" the "Pink
Elephant" was up and ready to conquer the world.
Questions, complaints or compliments? Email me at:
beergeek@worldclassbeverages.com |
