- Delirium Nocturnum
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Delirium Nocturnum 
Delirum Nocturnum bottle with serving glass and packaging.Manufacturer Huyghe Brewery Alcohol by volume 8.5% Style Belgian ale Delirium Nocturnum is the sister Belgian ale to Delirium Tremens produced by Huyghe Brewery in Melle. It is a triple fermented Belgian ale with re-fermentation in the bottle that is both strong complex with lots of flavor and character.
Contents
History
Delirium Nocturnum is brewed by the Belgian Family Brewery in Brouwerij Huyghe which is just outside Ghent, Belgium. The brewery is over 350 years old. It began in 1654 and is still at its original location and is still family owned. It’s known by many beer fans as the brewer of the well-reputed and amusingly named “Delirium Tremens”.
When Delirium Nocturnum (and Tremens) began being imported into the United States and Canada, it was quickly banned and taken off the shelves because of its name and the law that forbids the sale of an alcohol product that promotes "excessive drinking". It was refused to be allowed to be licensed for consumption, fearing the beers' names would encourage alcohol abuse. The dictionary defines the word 'delirium' as: ‘an acute mental disturbance characterized by confused thinking and disrupted attention usually accompanied by disordered speech and hallucinations’, and, ‘frenzied excitement’. It was also found offensive to people who have had the "DT's" which indicates a violent sickness induced by withdrawal after alcohol abuse. To circumvent the import restriction, Delirium was imported under the name ‘Mateen Triple’ for a while until the ban was lifted in the United States and Canada.
Because of the living yeast added for re-fermentation in the bottle (bottle conditioning), the taste of Delirium will change (and often improve) with age due to both metabolism by the yeast and the effects of oxidation in the bottle.
Bottle and packaging
The bottle is very well liked among collectors. It is a normal brown glass bottle, but ceramic coated in a gray speckled color. The label includes a yellow and blue psychedelic background with the big signature ‘Delirium’ pink elephant in the middle, and is lined at the top with golden doves. The bottle has a blue foil that seals the top of the bottle and provides confidence in the quality of the product. The cap is not twist off.
Delirium Nocturnum is sold in 750ml bottles that are sealed with a cork and cage setup, (like a champagne bottle), in four packs of 11.2 fl.oz bottles, or can be bought by the keg.
Taste
Delirium Nocturnum is an 8.5% ABV, dark Belgian Strong Ale. It is a triple-fermented dark ale using 3 different yeast strains and 5 different malts. Delirium Nocturnum pours a rich brown/ruby color, with a thick tan head that leaves a slight lace on the glass. It is mostly clear and has some carbonation.
The hops in Delirium Nocturnum become more present as the beer warms to room temperature while the alcohol smell becomes more present as well. While drinking, the ‘mouth feel’ has a full, rich feel with little carbonation, but runs fairly smoothly, with a soft, medium-bodied feel.
The taste is complex. It has a bouquet of aromatic sweetness with apple, berry, and honey maltiness and a hint of sourness (the smell can be a little similar to a brown ale). The flavor immediately bursts with raisins, bittersweet chocolate and aniseed. Halfway through tasting, one can detect plum and raspberry with an underlying yeastiness. The finish is long, with a fruity, plummy aftertaste with some spiciness.
Comparison
Delirium Nocturnum is a Belgian Strong Dark Ale.[1]
It carries a great deep complexity, alcohol warmth that is full of flavor and character without being too intense. Many say it is a must try for any serious beer lover, and is nothing like the popular corporate lagers. It is a pleasant experience for fans of Belgian ales, and not too difficult an introduction for newcomers.
Serving Instructions
Serve the beer slowly in a balloon glass (like one pictured) so as to create a rich foamy head. Leave some beer in the bottle so the glass can be topped up afterwards. Leave the yeast deposit in the bottom of the bottle and present the bottle with the glass.
Etymology
Delirium Nocturnum is Latin for "Night madness", Nocturnum translates to "Of or belonging to the night" while Delirium translates to "Madness".
References
- http://www.delirium.be
- http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Delirium
- http://chicagoist.com/2006/12/06/chicagoists_beer_of_the_week_delirium_nocturnum.php
- http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/180/1421
External links
Categories:- Belgian brands
- Beer and breweries in Belgium
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