Delirium Nocturnum

4.5/5

AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 18/20

750 ml bottle into globe glass, Feb 2011 bottling notched on the back label. Pours dark reddish brown color with a nice 2 finger dense khaki head with fantastic retention that reduces to a thick cap that lasts. Some good lacing on the glass as well, beautiful. Aromas of raisin, molasses, chocolate, caramel, plum, apple, and light spice. Nice and well balanced aromas here with good strength. Taste of big caramel, molasses, raisin, chocolate, apple, plum, and spicy yeast. Lingering notes of caramel, chocolate, dark fruit, and molasses on the finish for a bit. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and smooth mouthfeel that drinks quite easily for being 8.5%. No alcohol noticed other than a slight warming on the finish. Overall this is an incredible Belgian dark ale, and definitely one of the best I have ever had. My palate has changed a lot since the last time I had it.

Incredible stuff here. My love for Belgian styles has definitely increased ten fold since the last time I had this one.

Delirium Noël

4.1/5

AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20

750 ml bottle into snifter. Pours slightly hazy dark red color with a dense 1 finger off white head with good retention. Aromas of cherries, dark fruit, molasses, spices, and Belgian yeast. Taste of sweet cherries with spices, and dark fruits, with lingering sweetness of fruits on the finish. Some slight alcohol warming after the finish, but overall very well hidden for 10%. Damn impressive and tasty for a Belgian, and this tops the Nocturnum for me. Great!

A great Belgian Ale, and it beats the Nocturnum for me.