Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

Brewed by Brouwerij Het Anker
Style: Belgian Strong Ale
Mechelen, Belgium

75 cl bottle at Redlight Redlight, recommended by Teech (sp?). Poured into a trappist glass. Nice big fluffy head, seems to be a little sediment but hard to tell in the light. Smells of Banana as most Grand Cru’s do. Strong alcohol flavor but not horrible so, its a sipper but a good one. That being said I find its missing some of the complexity and depth of flavor of some other beers that got lower ratings, the Brooklyn Extra Brune for one. This one could also stand with a touch more carbination to make it a little more drinkable. Well crafted but I’m not as enamored with it as some.

750ml courtesy of Mes, thanks! 2002 vintage, 8.5%. Piney, slightly medicinal aroma. Hazy mid-brown amber with heavy dark sediment. Caramel, malt and alcohol on the tongue, with a rich finish. Not bad but I don’t feel it’s a 4+.

Bottle thanks to the cheeseman. Pours a well carbonated amber brown color with a tannish head and nice lacing. Aroma is very sweet with plums, cherries, caramel and just a hint of alcohol. Flavor is sweet brown sugar, dark fruits and warming alcohol. Thick bodied chewy texture. Long sweet finish.

Pours a dark brown with a thin tan head that quickly disapears. Aroma is caramel, malty and has a hint of plum. Very nice aroma. Taste is sweet, well carbinated. Touches of brown sugar, carmel, fruit, malt with a kick of alcohol. Did I say this is nice...This is a very good Belgian Ale. 2007.

750mL bottle, 2006 vintage. Pours a dark, cherry brown color with fine particulates; light tan head with fine-bubbled lacing. A ton of delightful things going on in the aroma: dried dark fruits, caramel, pleasant levels of esters and alcohols; never boozy or sticky sweet; an intricate, layered Belgian strong. Average-to-relaxed carbonation. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: following the nose, just tons of sticky, chewy dried dark fruits (raisins, dates, plums), toasty and creamy vanilla (suggesting creme brulee), and a complex, oily alcohol / estery character; a bit sweeter in the mouth than the nose suggests, but still incredibly tasty and well-composed; I’ve had a number of different vintages (pre-rating), and things improved with even a few more years behind it. Lengthy finish, showing breadiness, esters, and Belgian sugar; a touch of doughiness and dry toast.

750 bottle 10%abv. dated 2007. corked and caged poured into a Trappist glass has a dark muddy brown color with plenty of floating sediment and a beautiful thick tan head pulling back to a volcano of erupting froth in the center. aroma has plumbs, cherry, over ripe banana, raisin, brown sugar, and sweet malt. really nice on the nose. mouth feel is medium with coating and fairly active carbonation. flavor is smacking, sweet malted back with such rich dark fruits. layers of plumb, raisin, cherry, dark sugar, rich molasses, vanilla, and malt. very well blended flavors and the alcohol is totally hidden. wow, this is a luxury treat.

2007 Pours dark brown with a good sized head. Aroma of toffee, caramel, fruit. Nice sweetness, alcohol presence is a little strong. copyright grimreeser.

2007 Pours dark brown with a good sized head. Aroma of toffee, caramel, fruit. Nice sweetness, alcohol presence is a little strong.