Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

Bottles - Vertical 06, 07, 08 on March 14, 2009: Clear light brown color in all of them. I liked the 2008 the least. It had a hard core yeasty aroma with ripe bananas in the flavor. It needed to be mellowed out. The 2007 was a little more mellow. Sweet flavors, still with the over-ripe banana and almost a bourbon flavor. The 2006 had a tangy aroma like a sour ale and it was much more mellow than the 08, but you could tell it came from the same place. The finish was yeasty and metallic. It was pretty cool to have a vertical on Jake65’s departure to North Dakota. Thanks Sam for sharing on this special occasion. I only with I was more of a Belgian guy. I could have probably enjoyed these even more.

Vertical 06-07-08 on March 14, 2009: Deep amber pour with a thin beige head. 2008 has a sweet and malty aroma with a light fruity element. Lots of the abv stands out in the floral and light caramel flavor. Still hot. The 2007 bottle is more mellow with the sweet toffee and caramel notes standing out a bit more. The 2006 bottle adds a bit of candied fruit, but remains a sweeter caramel based and toffee flavor. Nicely mellowed at this point in age. I think I prefer the 2007 bottle out of the group, but the 2006 is a close second. The new bottle was just too fresh. Thanks Sam for sharing this fun vert.

750ml caged&corked bottle (shared with four others, so I had only a small taste unfortunately). Pours brown and a little cloudy with short-lived tan head. Aroma is estery and malty - lots of rich malts, toffee, fruit, and spice. Flavor is straight-forward, decadent malt up front - chocolate-covered caramels, toffee, delicious... Lots of esters and spice enter at mid-palate - little bit of bubble gum, subtle pepper phenols. Finish is dry and warming - remarkably smooth for 11% - and malty with continuing spicy phenols. Mouthfeel is full-bodied but heavily carbonated for a medium/light feel and soft, creamy, gassy texture. Overall, a very nice beer. I wish I had a bigger sample from this bottle - especially I bought it! :)

Christmas present, and a real good one, thanks sis. Fruity, rich and complex. I get apples, raisins, caramel, and sweet. Somewhat dry, and maybe even a little chocolate. Fantastic!

On Draught at Track 84. Light brown transparent pour with a thin fizzy white head. Aroma of malt and raisins with plum present. Smooth, though surprisingly thin, caramel taste with a mild ginger and malt finish.

Bottle at Chaucer’s Pub, in London ON- Deep hazed amber/brown with a frothy and long lived white cap. Nice lace here, lots of head retention. Nose of candied fruit, yeast, sherry wine, dates, some oak. Tastes fruity sweet matched with a nice hop balance. Raisins, plum, a bit yeasty, toffee, some vanilla and floral spiciness. Very creamy with a lovely spicy and fruity aftertaste, that lingers for ages. Top notch stuff.

PPWD Show. This was the 2008 Vintage. I would love to try one a bit older. Probably the best beer that I tried at the show. Again a little bit too cold but was able to warm in hand. Excellent beer and this as well I would like to try blind against Chimay Blue one of my favorites. Sweet dark dried fruits, some chocolate, hint of coffee and quite dry. Excellent beer.

Bottle. Pours a rich gold with a decent white head. Nose is fruity with some honey and yeast. Flavors really bready and at times tart. Nice fruit flavors too. Mouth is very chewy and carbonated. No complaints here.