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Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue - Belgian Strong Ale

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

Mechelen, Belgium

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
8974.02/5.04.01/5.0Winter11%98.7Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler
View Statistics  P 

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?  
 daknole (2800), Plantation, Florida, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 12, 2008  
I have shared this with my neighbor a few times and there is a reason we kept the bottle for display...we only keep the bottles of really high quality beers. This one is wonderful. Yeasty, malty, banana, fruit, and bread aromas. Flavor is dried fruits, wood, malt...great beer.


Pompey (42), Longmont, Colorado, USA
4.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/510/105/519/20
Jun 7, 2008  
Having had their amber (Ambrio), which was enjoyable, but not fantastic, I was prepared to drink another "average" Belgian ale. Not so! This ale, 2007 Vintage, had an incredible body and mouth feel. It pours well with a moderate head. Hops were balanced/hidden by richness and alcohol. Some banana esters mixed with dark dried fruits and a hint of molasses. The mouth feel was unsurpassed. At 10% it was sort of sneaky and seductive. I drank the entire bottle in one sitting by myself -- not entirely recommended. Yet I do recommend this fine ale. It ranks right up there with the best.


 RollinHard (748), Fort Worth, Texas, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/59/104/518/20
Jun 6, 2008  
07 bottle. Pours a deep ruby red, a bit of brown and a modest tan head that fades surprisingly quickly for a Belgian. Nose is heavy on the dark fruits, sweetness and is oh-so-fitting for dessert. Smells of banana nut bread, hazelnut coffee, molasses, brown sugar, cherries, slightly leafy, and a wee bit of alcohol. Sweet molasses taste initially gives way to hazelnut, toast, more banana nut bread (but milder), cherries, and a bit sugar coated Christmas bread flavor. Finish emphasizes the subtle coffee and earth notes, dries out a little, and the fruit disappears, leaving only the most pleasant earthy sweet coffee/cake aftertaste. Delicious! Reminds me of PannepŘt a little bit, but with more fruit. The only problem is the disappearing head and that the palate seems a bit shallow and uncreamy, despite being viscous enough. Lovely, will gladly have this again sometime.


 stankenk (130), Maplewood, Minnesota, USA
5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/510/105/520/20
Jun 5, 2008  
(2008 bottle) Pours like a cola with a slight red tint; very minimal carbonation. Has a spicy taste that flows off the palate. The only beer that remotely resembles this one is the Delirium Noel for is spiciness.This has a fantastic lingering finish.


 joohefner (380), Isla Vista, California, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 5, 2008  
2005 bottle (lucky find, tucked away in a liquor store), pours a red cola color with a light tan head. Sweet toffee aroma with raisins and an alcohol spice note. Well attenuated with a high amount of carbonation. It has a caramel sweetness with a complicated spiciness showing up more in the taste than the nose. Plums and raisins strengthening the sweetness. This is followed by an underlying alcohol bite, which cuts through the sweetness. The beer is very complex and strong but surprisingly drinkable because of the light body.


 apshah99 (137), Portland, Oregon, USA
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/517/20
Jun 4, 2008  
2007 bottle. Mahogany pour with tan head. Very sweet malty aroma with dark fruit. Sweet initial taste, with fig, raisin, and brown sugar with spices. Perhaps a little sourness followed by a well-balanced licorice finish. Medium mouthfeel on the palate. I kind of wish I had aged this one a bit. This beer is close to being overly sweet for me; but it is just delicious.


Slokop (91), Tilburg, Netherlands
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/518/20
Jun 3, 2008  
A very fine beer to share with two or three. A whole bottle is too much taste for one day. Tasted the 2006 version with abv of 11 %. The beer is said to be good for ten years. We should check that out. The word evolution is often used but not many beers get better over time. For instance, Westmalle Triple loses its sharpness over time. That is progress to me. Will soon taste the 2007 version.


 UselessGdTaste (363), Long Beach, California, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Jun 2, 2008  
On tap at beachwood BBQ. So much is going on that I really have no idea where to start. It did take a while to get through the whole glass. Almost too much going on. Fruity is for sure and quite sweet. Quite good. I just think there was a bit too much for me to really enjoy as much as others seem to have.



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