Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

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

Version 2005. Brown red beer with a small beige head. Lot of port and madeira in aroma and flavor. Alcohol as well.

75 cl bottle, 2005. Brown/reddish color, small brown head. Complexe sweetness, alcohol, malt, fine bitterness. Lovely. (RBNAG’07 in Grimstad Nov. 3th.)

2005 bottle. A clear dark amber pour with a firm lightly tanned head. Inviting sweet aromas of toffee/caramel, candysugar and dark dried fruits. Notes of light acidic fruitiness. Sweet-flavored, mainly malt-sweetness with a delicate refreshing fruit-sweetness (apples, sweet lemon and tropical). Mild spicy and herbal notes. Medium to full body. Smooth and oily mouthfeel. A great beer. (Bottle @ RBNAG’07)

2006, "Lot 0650". Murky rust color, small yet incredibly creamy ecru head. Thin wispy strands of lace. Comforting aromas of brown sugar, rum-soaked fruitcake, banana peel, and vanilla. Flavorwise, a study in sugary decadence: candied figs, plum, maple/molasses, anise, pear. No detectable hop presence. Aftertaste exudes peppery etahnolic heat and bittersweet chocolate-banana-cherry. Although the texture is pillow soft, it is sadly overfilling and syrupy... finishing the bottle proved a challenge. Definitely a dessert sipper akin to an after-dinner liqueur.

Bottled. Poured dark with slight red hue with cream head. Very nice, complex aroma to match its taste.

27/10 Since I’ve tried Ambrio, my first Het Anker beer I always wanted to find this, the top product of my favorite commercial brewery. And here I am at Hopdevil in company of Doggythedog who is already killing me why I didn’t ordered it before (sorry :) ) And here it comes, the crown of the night and whole my visit to Zagreb... the familiar 0.75 l bottle, 2006 vintage, which poured deep reddish brown body with medium brownish head (tulip glass). Aroma is very nice, sweetish, malt dominated with caramel and some fresh coffee. Flavor quite sweet too, at first quite ordinary, with every other sip revealing its special fantastic and quite complex character. Very full bodied, there are lot of things in there, fruitiness, chocolate, caramel, coffee a bit...everything in a nice order, really a masterpiece. Like a real meal, as we have been kidding. Alcohol is felt but not very much. Finish is pleasantly sweet, not too much, quite simple but great. Wonderful beer, leaving a big smile and warm soul.

2006 vintage, 750ml bottle Poured a wonderful burgundy color with a slight white head . Aromas of wine fresh bread and malts . Medium-bodied and slight carbonation . This Ale drinks like a cognac . Big fruity flavors along with some malty sweetness but not overly sweet .This bottle was a well balanced. I will enjoy this Ale watching the Red Sox’s tonight nomatter what the outcome (Go Sox’s)

Rating #400. 2006 Vintage; 10 % ABV. Pours a hazy reddish brown with a couple fingers of creamy beige head that diminishes to a thin cap and leaves creamy lace sliding down the glass. The aroma is delicious: banana bread dough, milk chocolate, caramel, cherries, raisin, cloves, and a faint alcohol. Medium-bodied and silky/soft with a mildly vinous/dry finish and a touch of alcohol warmth. The flavor is of raisins, chocolate, cherries, red wine, and a faint alcohol note at the end. If it were just a tad less sweet this beer would be practically perfect. As it stands, it’s just very, very good. ;)