Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

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

Aroma is vanilla, malt, light wool, light caramel. Dark cola brown/black, with a tan head and good lacing. Flavor is malt, caramel, anise, dried fruits, slight cheese. Balanced between sweet with and a lightly bitter finish. Creamy rich in the mouth with good carbonation. Very well balanced and very drinkable.

Pretty good. Rich taste, dull aromas, nice aftertaste of sweet fruits and spices. Not a session beer, but can be enjoyed thoroughly in one sitting.

2006 version. Reminds me of a nice bottle of wine. Lots of sweet richness and it is a really a nice grand cru. really satisfied my palate. Found this 750 ml for 8.99 at peace st. mkt in raleigh

Bouteille 2006, 750ml. De couleur rouge brune foncée et transparente. Nez de levures fruitées (prunes, raisins légèrement vineux, léger de cerises, de figues et de dates, notes de bananes et d’agrumes), malté de caramel sucré légèrement rôti, de toffee, léger d’alcool, de chocolat noir et de sucre brun avec des notes de sucre bonbon, de mélasse, de réglisse noire et de pain. Moyenne-ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture riche, moyennement crémeuse et aux notes sirupeuses et vineuses. Goût de levures fruitées sucrées (raisins vineux, prunes, cerises, léger de dates et de figues, notes d’agrumes et traces de bananes) aux notes boisées (fût de chêne) avec un léger goût de réglisse noire et un goût rappelant le coca-cola lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût de malt assez sucré comprenant un caramel toffee sucré et légèrement rôti, léger de chocolat noir et sucre brun avec des notes de mélasse et de sucre bonbon ainsi qu’un léger goût de pain. Tout au long de la gorgée, parallèlement au goût de malt, l’on retrouve également un goût moyennement amer d’alcool moyen-doux réchauffant et aux notes liquoreuses et vineuses puis une finale légèrement houblonnée florale. Post-goût long, moyennement amer d’alcool moyen-doux, de chocolat noir, léger de rôti et de houblon floral et herbeux avec un goût fruité (moût de raisins et de cerises, pelures de prunes), des notes de levures et boisées.

The aroma is delightful. It seems more like a fine wine than a beer. This brew is far and away the best I have ever tasted. A wide open decanter is a must. I prefer to sniff, sip, and spool slowly so that I can savor every moment. An empty glass/bottle is the only disappointment. The newer 11% versions are still great, but the 8% has no distraction from the full-bodied flavor.

my corked and caged bottle set me back $9.48 at my local North Coast Coop. Poured a dark red to brown with a moderate tan head that left really sticky lacing as it settled. This was the 2006 version and checked in at 10% ABV. Nose is very fruity, with banana first, but in the background is a very complex set of odors with plums, raisins, and citrus. Mouthfeel is very full bodied and rich and sweet, and flavors are molasses, fruit, and chocolate malts. Finish is sweet. Very unique strong ale,and I guess I will have to go back and get some more and let it age some more. I plan to open a bottle every February 24th.

2006 vintage, 750ml bottle. Pours a very dark chestnut, with some red tinged highlights. The head peaks around one finger, and fades very slowly to a thick frothy cap. The lacing almost completely coats the interior of the glass. Smell; tons of dark fruits with plums, dates, raisins and surprisingly a hint of oranges. There’s also a solid malt presence with toffee, brown sugar, with a little bit of bread dough. Add in a little bit of an alcohol presence, and this reminds me a little bit of my grandmothers fruit cake. Very nice. Taste; very fruity up front with dates, plums, raisins and as with the nose there’s a little bit of citrus in there as well. Toffee, brown sugar and molasses give this a very sweet almost sugary profile, and has a significant alcohol presence. This is very good, but would be even better if it were not quite so sweet. Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, with a very smooth almost creamy carbonation. The drinkability is pretty good, put is hurt a little by the alcohol and sugary sweetness.

Pours a mahogany color. The nose is a mix of wine, prunes, some brown sugar and spice, and dark chocolate. The taste is a nice blend of sweet plum, chocolate, raisin, alcohol, and maybe some vanilla. I’ll have to buy a couple more to put in the cellar for a year or two.