Delerium Nocturnum 750ML

Delirium Nocturnum 750ML is a Belgian strong dark ale brewed at 8.5% ABV and sold in a distinctive 750ml bottle. Scored 90 on BeerAdvocate and awarded Bronze at the 2020 World Beer Awards in the dark beer category, this triple-fermented, bottle-conditioned ale from Huyghe Brewery stands among Belgium's most respected dark ales.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.5%  |  Origin: Melle, East Flanders, Belgium  |  Style: Belgian Strong Dark Ale  |  Brewery: Huyghe Brewery

Production & Heritage

Huyghe Brewery, founded in 1654 in the Flemish town of Melle, is best known for its Delirium range — anchored by the globally recognized Delirium Tremens. Nocturnum is the darker sibling in that lineup: a top-fermented, bottle-conditioned dark ale brewed with three different yeast strains and five distinct malts. The addition of licorice and coriander as botanical spice additions, combined with the multi-yeast fermentation process, creates a layered complexity that separates Nocturnum from straightforward Belgian dubbels and dark strong ales.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Rich dark fruit — dates and berries — rises first, followed by bread-like yeast character and subtle chocolate. Deeper in the glass, notes of toffee, caramel, and a whisper of licorice spice emerge.

Taste: The entry is surprisingly soft, with a rounded mouthfeel that carries honey and ripe banana before shifting into peppery spiciness and dark roasted malt at mid-palate. Candied fruit, mocha, and anise weave through the second half, supported by a carefully calibrated bitterness from both hops and chocolate malt.

Finish: Medium-long, with a rising interplay of bitter roast, residual sweetness, and faint tartness that keeps the palate engaged. The lingering impression is one of balance — dark fruit and spice trailing off without cloying sweetness.

How to Drink Delirium Nocturnum

Pour into a tulip glass or the branded Delirium goblet at cellar temperature (50–55°F) to open up the full aromatic range; avoid serving ice cold, which mutes the malt and spice complexity. Nocturnum is primarily a sipping beer, but its robust profile also works in creative drink applications: a Belgian Dark & Stormy (substituting Nocturnum for stout in a beer-cocktail riff with ginger syrup and lime) plays well off the spice notes; a Dark Ale Float with high-quality vanilla gelato highlights the caramel and chocolate dimensions; and a Beer Mimosa pairing Nocturnum with tart cherry juice makes a brunch-worthy combination that leverages the ale's dark fruit character.

Best For

• Gifting a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates Belgian tradition
• Winter evening sipping sessions alongside a cheese board
• Pairing with a multi-course dinner as a dessert beer
• Expanding a Belgian beer collection beyond Delirium Tremens

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Delirium Nocturnum taste like? Delirium Nocturnum delivers a rich, layered profile dominated by dark fruit, chocolate, roasted malt, and peppery spice, balanced by honey sweetness and a faint lingering tartness. The 8.5% ABV is well-integrated, giving the ale a soft, warming mouthfeel without harsh alcohol heat.

How does Delirium Nocturnum compare to Delirium Tremens? Both are brewed at Huyghe Brewery at 8.5% ABV, but Tremens is a pale Belgian strong ale with citrus and floral hop notes, while Nocturnum is a dark ale built on roasted malts, dark fruit, and spice. Nocturnum is the richer, more dessert-like of the two, with deeper caramel and chocolate character.

Is Delirium Nocturnum good for sipping neat? Absolutely — this is a contemplative beer designed to be savored slowly from a tulip glass at cellar temperature. The complex layering of three yeast strains, five malts, and botanical spices rewards unhurried attention.

Where is Delirium Nocturnum made? Delirium Nocturnum is brewed at Huyghe Brewery in Melle, a town in the East Flanders province of Belgium. The brewery has operated at this location since 1654, making it one of Belgium's oldest active brewing sites.

What foods pair well with Delirium Nocturnum? Aged Gouda or Gruyère complement the caramel and roasted malt notes; braised short ribs or beef carbonnade mirror the ale's dark, malty depth; dark chocolate truffles echo the mocha and cacao flavors; dried figs or date cake amplify the dark fruit aromatics; and blue cheese provides a salty, pungent contrast to the residual sweetness.

What sizes does Delirium Nocturnum come in? The standard format is a 750ml bottle, which is the traditional Belgian sharing size designed for pouring into goblets or tulip glasses for two to three servings. Smaller 330ml bottles are also available in some markets.

Is Delirium Nocturnum worth the price? Delirium Nocturnum positions as a mid-premium Belgian import, priced in line with other 750ml bottle-conditioned dark ales. Given the multi-yeast, multi-malt brewing process, a 90-point BeerAdvocate score, and international award recognition, it represents strong value within its category.

Why Delirium Nocturnum?

The combination of three distinct yeast strains, five malts, and botanical additions of licorice and coriander is not a production shortcut — it is a deliberate layering technique that produces a dark ale of unusual depth. The Bronze medal at the 2020 World Beer Awards and a 90-point BeerAdvocate rating confirm that the complexity translates to the glass, not just the spec sheet. Where many Belgian dark ales lean heavily on sugar-driven sweetness or aggressive roast, Nocturnum threads a careful line between fruit, spice, bitterness, and malt, arriving at a finish that stays balanced through the final sip. For anyone who already knows and enjoys Delirium Tremens, Nocturnum is the essential dark counterpart — a richer, more contemplative expression from the same storied Flemish brewery.