Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

Hmmm...I thought I’d rated this before, guess not. 2002 bottle. First impression even before the color is that I can smell a bit of vinegar from the aroma....Lots of strong alcohol in the aroma(subdued in the taste) yeast and dark fruits. Flavor is pretty mellow but reveals a very nice gradual sweetness of burnt banana. The initial aroma/taste of vinegar threw me off, but the sweet goodness comes through.

2005. Pours a deep brown, quite cloudy. Aroma is very strong, fruity, liquor, alcohol, yeast. Flavor is less boozy than the aroma, which is good. Chocolaty, fruity, yeasty, it’s a big Belgian beer and it’s good. I had it the other day, so I’m going off memory but these are the numbers I decided on when I drank it.

2004 vintage, bottle Poured into a Corsendonk tulip glass. Pours thick mud-like, murky brown, completely no clarity. Looks like the bottom inch of sediment rich beer in a carboy. Minimal head that leaves a minimal lacing. Aroma is woo wee strong something spiced. Strong spices, licorice, anise seed, and more that I really dont know enough about. Just a hint of smoke as well. Beneath that a great chocolate and cocoa mix. Man its original especially for a Belgian brew. Really this tastes like a suped up version of Ancher OSA 2005 or I guess thats a light version of this. Taste flip flops a bit where the sweet chocolate plays the dominant role and the strong spice is right behind that. The body is just a bit on the thin side for me. Leaves a light spice aftertaste. Mouthfeel is a bit to soda like. But just so damn creative.

2003 vintage, draft No head a bit of lacing. On tap at Mugs Belgian Blast. This time it tasted a lot like an Anchor 2000, which I also had at the bar. This one was definitely chocolate-y but a lot oxidation. Thin taste, thin body, and low carbonation. 8/3/6/3/14.

I’ll stick with my 2004 bottle rating, who knows what happened to that keg and despite the lower % on the 03 version, this bottle doesn’t seem to be heading in this direction this quickly.

2002 vintage. extreme vinegar in the nose, sherry and candysugar. Small but firm head, murky red brown appearance. Tastes like it´s at least 10 years old, so much is the vinegar and sherry overpowering. Ultra sweet. A nice winterwarmer but nothing to rave about

A 2004. Tastes disturbingly like red licorice. Make that the best red licorice I’ve ever tasted.

Bottled(750ml). -Not as good as I thought so, but maybe it has to age a few years to be better. Dark reddish/brown coloured, medium sized beige head, Aroma is malty, fruity (figs, raisins, plums, etc.) and mild yeasty with notes of toffee and caramel. Nice brew but Christmas and Triple are better. 2006 Jaargang

2006 Bottle. Pours dark amber-brown, rubyish. light carbonation visible, very short-lived head. Nose is sweet and alcoholic.Very light on the palate, with a bit of carbonation. Taste is balanced alcohol with caramel and banana peel. Lots of other flavors in there, definitely figs. This is a great beer, but looking back, I need to re-rate this for it to be so high up on my list.

Served before the stroke of Midnight on New Years Eve 2006/7. My last beer of 2006 was also arguably my best of the year (and ever). A 2002 vintage corked bottle that I shared with great friends. Poured a slightly hazy chestnut brown with a wispy head. The aroma was quite light, with subtle brandy/caramel notes. It somehow doesn’t do justice to what comes next. A sip reveals a deliciously balanced sweetness of figs, melted brown sugar and nutmeg. The five years in the bottle have softened out any bitterness, imparting a feather-light mouthfeel. This beer was right for so many reasons. It converted a table of non-beer drinkers to the possibilities of great beer, and for me it was the highlight of a great beer year. I’ve got a 2004 vintage bottle in the cellar and will be reserving it for a very special occasion.