Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

Huh, I’m actually a little surprised to see this beer rated so highly on this site. I thought it to be good, but not exceptional. Part of that opinion is no doubt due to my flavor prejudices where I value hoppiness, sourness, and roastiness; predilections no doubt shared by many members of this site (an opinion backed by the majority of beers in the top-100). This beer doesn’t really have those flavors, yet here it is. Appearance is brown, cloudy, and a little on the flat side (little head). Aroma is very malty: my schnoz detected caramel, spice, wine-like notes, and a certain booziness. There was also a sugary sweetness in the smell. Flavor was also caramel-y and spicey (and boozy), but that sugary sweetness in the nose became a butterscotch taste in the mouth. I also got some floral tastes. Well, I’ll give it this - it is complex (there’s a lot in there to enjoy). Mouthfeel wasn’t flat (as I remember it). I would recommend this beer. SurlySober brought this over to my house for a tasting with Flyer. We had Beatification, Allagash Black, Westvleteren 8 and Westvleteren 12 before this beer, so maybe it was just upstaged and I might have thought it exceptional on any other night.

2008 version. You definitely can’t have this one in any moment. Is like having a good botle of wine in some special moment. Nicely creamy and maybe a little excess of alcohol. I have 3 bottles left and i will keep 2 to have them LATER!

750ml bottle. Pours a dark brown with an off-white head. Nose is of dark fruit, some bubblegum and furniture polish. Taste is of dark fruit and spice. Very nice. Mouthfeel is medium with carbonation and some alcohol warmth. This was very complex and very tasty. Shared it only with myself and enjoyed every drop.

750 mL bottlte from 2008. Pours hazy brown with an enormous beige head. The aroma is raisin, plum, light caramel, light traces of vanilla, oak, and berries, hints of anise, and a little bit of carob as it warms. The flavor is sweet berryish malt mostly, with prune and vanilla standing out the most. There is a soft woody quality that reminds me of French oak. There is a bit of bitter chocolate toward the finish, with a hint of spiciness as well. A sweet maltiness lingers for a while, and the alcohol becomes noticeable in the aftertaste. This is quite a good brew.

2000 version. Pours dark copper color with thin head. Aroma is big, initial nose is slightly of alcohol but after this warms a little it becomes malty, fruity, with hints of raisins. Tastes of plums, spice (almost like very faint cinnamon), rich and dense. Quite complex. Carbonation is light so you really feel this meaty brew. There is a lot going here so I find it best to drink from a snifter and to share with friends on a cold night.

2007 version in cellar for a year.Green apple flavor with candi sugar abound. Awesome malt balance I cant recommend this beer enough. If you can get this buy it try it. Spice is just right and all the flavors blend together to create an awesome session with a marriage of Belgian goodness.Alcohol is non present for a 10 percent beer...recommend!

Bottle 2008 edition. Hazy reddish brown body with a creamy very long lasting light brown head. Very vinous aroma of dark ripe fruit, yeast and alcohol. Flavour is spicy, malty and sugary but there is too much alcohol present. Very creamy and thick body. The cellared editions are better though this wasnt bad at all.

Thanks AgentSteve. 2008 Pours dark reddish brown, dark fruits, caramel, malty, little alcohol, slight spice.