RateBeer

Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

Percentile
99
overall
Brewed by Brouwerij Het Anker
Style: Belgian Strong Ale

Mechelen, Belgium

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
Find this beer

Add Distribution Data
send corrections | shelftag |
RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
9004.02/5.04.01/5.0Winter11%98.7Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
Every year on the 24th of February, the birthday of "Charles the fifth", the Brewery brews the Gouden Carolus "Cuvee of the Emperor" in a limited quantity and with an eye on the highest quality and tradition. This unique brewing, with only extra fine Belgian hops and with a higher alcohol level, guarantees a better evolution in the time, than the already known Gouden Carolus. This beer, as all our beers, is 100 % natural, with no preservatives, no adjuncts and no chemicals. We bottle it in bottles of 75 cl and closed with a quality cork. Excellent to store several years. Every year the public is invited to assist to the brewing process.
Was 8% abv in 2000-2002, 10% in 2003 and 11% in 2004.

DISCLAIMER: This is a dark beer and the label has a blue diagonal line.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Elwood (677), Leesburg, Virginia, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/510/105/519/20
Mar 22, 2009  
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!


 bedainedebiere (282), Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/59/105/518/20
Mar 21, 2009  
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...


 Jukkabro (3005), Tampere, Finland
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Mar 21, 2009  
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.


 Miksu (2215), Jyväskylä, Finland
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Mar 21, 2009  
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.


 pinkzambia (989), Boise, Idaho, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/104/517/20
Mar 17, 2009  
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.


 jake65 (1698), Williston, North Dakota, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
Mar 15, 2009  
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.


 jhumphries69 (722), Tyrone, Georgia, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/104/518/20
Mar 14, 2009  
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! :)


 IPAGargoyleGuy (139), Troy, NY, New York, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/517/20
Mar 14, 2009  
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!



CONSIDER FREE RATEBEER MEMBERSHIP



Join us! RateBeer is made by beer enthusiasts for the craft beer community. Your basic membership is free and allows you to read all beer ratings. Click here to create your account... and give your opinion!

SIGN UP NOW »

View Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90


About RateBeer | Add A Beer | Log In | Edit Personal Info | 100 Beer Club | FAQ | Feedback?
Copyright © 2000-2009, RateBeer LLC