Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

Vintage 2008. Opalescent ruby body with a minimal tan head. Vinous aroma of tannins and a hint of oak barrels. Spicy perfumes of cinnamon and clove, like a mulled vine. Some sweet roasted grains, dried fruits and alcohol in the nose too. The flavor is vinous too with some fruity character like wild fruits and plum, cherries and raisins. Some sweet roasted grains in the background, fine spicies: cinnamon, clove. When the beer gets warmed, its character develop to a higher level. Be sure of right temperature! Interesting, wondrous and exciting one, i’ ve waited an other character. The beer made me to buy some bottle tocellar ...

Bottled 2007. Poured amber with a dark brown head. Aroma was rich sweet malts, bread, raisin, with some big thick rich dark fruits tossed in. Flavor is sweet dark fruits, rolos, plums, bread, cinamon, and raisin. Rich thick chewy body. Rich beer.....just plain rich.

Read it and weep: 2000 Vintage. Yep. First year of production for this variety. Picked up in a small but glorious shop in Bruges, made the flight home, and shared with a like-minded buddy. This was a completely unique experience. I have only the ’07 and ’08 years to compare to. The years had treated this brew quite nicely, it had an almost sour bite that was unexpected, yet went quite nicely to balance things out. I’m really glad to have had the chance to try a truly once-in-a-lifetime beer.

On tap at O’Brien’s in San Diego. Pours a very deep almost brown with red/orange highlights. Has practically no head. The aroma is sweet and mellow and not overly powerful with just some hints of alcohol and raisin. Taste is sweet with noticeable booze. The review below mine mentions chocolate covered cherries and I get that, too. More alcohol in the finish. This one is drinkable and complex but a bit on the sweet side.

750 ml bottle. At the recommendation of my great bartender at Tuscarora Mill, I went with the 2007 (they had the 2008 as well). It pours a deep cloudy brown with ruby highlights. Musty nose with alcohol, caramel, a touch of cardboard (but not in a bad way). Champagne like carbonation with a rich, yet clean mouthfeel. Tastes of prune, fruitcake, chocolate covered cherries, some alcohol, and caramel. There is also a hint of raisin in the finish. I was very impressed with this ale and definitely plan to purchase some bottles to cellar!

12 bottles of 750 ml, batch 2008, 11$ per bottle, my first order trough Bieropholie’s private importation service (Bieropholie.com, french site). Opened my 8th bottle today, 8th because I have great difficulty with cellaring great beers. Maturity’s kicking in now, with a greater richer texture than the previous bottles I had, at least 5 months ago. The word decadent has been used a few times for this beer’s ratings and that’s perfectly appropriate. Complexity of caramel sweetness, spices, fruits (orange, at least) and a bitterness coming afterward. An amazing beer that I would have more often if I was rich...

Dark red ruby colored with little light brown head. Licoricy aroma with lots of spies and some ripe banana, mild alcohol and vinous note also present. Medium to full bodied. Flavor is more grainy with strong licorice still, spices and mild alcohol here too. Aftertaste dries with sherry like wine note. Excellent beer again from brewery.

0.75 l bottle (vintage 2007), thanks jukkabro! Dark brown color with big creamy head. Sweet aroma with chocolate, licorice, raisins, banana, nuts and warming alcohol. Sweet bready, nutty, toffeish, chocolatey, fruity and spicy flavor with banana, ginger and licorice. Very warming and slightly burning also. Tasty dessert beer with some cream sherry notes.