Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

8/4/07. Poured out of 750 mL bottle, purchased at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA 1/5/05. 2004 Vintage. Deep copper-bronze color with a dense, creamy, tightly-formed, medium-sized sandy-tan head. Lacing is sticky, slow, and falls in blotchy, thick ribbons, with swift but respectable sub-surfacing reverse-lacing. The head retains very well for the style in a thin wafer. Aroma is very strongly reminiscent of bananas foster, with caramel sauce and lots of rotten banana fermentation character, slight hints of black pepper, some warming alcohol (even in the nose), and other assorted dark fruits (dates, mostly, but some raisins too), all outlined by a slight toasty presence. But this is like toast that is very slowly browned (not burnt at all), then saturated with a fresh, deep brown honey to serve. Delicious. Flavor follows to fit that same mold-- caramel/rotten banana, some spice hints, a touch of cherry-like acidity (though no cherry fruitiness), and an earthy leather. Finish adds a very light bitterness which, when paired with the leather, makes for a nicely drying and gently massaging combo. There’s even a vague lime note to the acidity that helps with the balance. Body is medium-full, with just enough creamy carbonation to offset the sugary sweetness and soften the alcohol point. I do get a slight solventy note with the alcohol, humming in the retronasal like a super-smooth whiskey. Not an offensive alcohol presence in the slightest (but it’s worth noting that, despite the Commercial Description here on RateBeer, my ’04 bottle said "Alc. 10% Vol."-- whatever). Slight baked pear flavor in the finish. The beer is extremely sweet, for sure, but I’ve never shied away from that; the balance is fantastic with hints of dry leather and a quick lick of alcohol to scrub the syrup from off your tongue. The toast and dark honey/banana flavors linger forever. Probably the best $9.39 I ever spent and left sitting in the beer fridge for 18 months. When I open my own dreampub, I’ll be sure to have cases of this "on reserve" all the time-- only to be offered after they’re at least two years in the cellar. Here’s to aspidites for the jazz recommendation-- Chick Corea was a perfect pairing.

Draft. Beernutz. Hazy brown color. Big creamy head. Medium sweetness, at least. Flavors were raisin, fig, candy, brown sugar. Big time complexity. Really enjoyed this one.

brown, clear, tan foam, soy sauce, cereal, bread, full body, oily feel, average carbonation, long finish, heavy cloying sweetness, medium bitterness,

750 ml bottle courtesy of Jonas (non-RB). 2010 vintage. Pours tiny hazy dark reddish brown with a rather small creamy pale brownish beige head that is rather quick to dissipate while leaving some lacing on the glass. Smell is sweet, malty and spicy with dark sweet bread, rose pepper, prunes, dark sweet cherries, burnt caramel, orange zest, black pepper, wood, alcohol, dark grapes and hints of lemon juice and vanilla. Taste is sweet and malty with dark bread, wood, prunes, orange zest, plums, alcohol, liquorice root, black pepper, dark grapes and hints of toffee, pears and apples. Mouthfeel is sticky sweet, tiny boozy, very tiny tart and medium to full bodied. Finish is sweet an tiny tart with dark bread, apples, pears, toffee and orange zest.

tulip. brown unclear body fluffy head maybe two finger tall. aromas are caramel, ripe pear, piloncillo, berries, and it has alcohol and a sense of char stake. Flavors are strong in sweet and fruits.

Bottle. Cloudy copper pour with off white head. Caramel, raisin, dark berries, cinnamon, brown sugar, flower spice. Better as it opens up. A bit sweet for me but a nice beer

Bottle for Sunday night Game of Thrones viewing. Pours deep amber with finger head of beige fluffy fun. Great nose of candy and soda. Tastes of root beer, caramel, malt, molasses, licorice, and yeast. Really delicious.

Catching up on old reviews - Deep mahogany brown pour with tan head. A sweet aroma of dark fruit, bananas, caramel, cherries. The taste was extremely sweet and even overpowering at first. The warm and farther into the beer I got, the better I could pick out the tastes...malt, brown sugar, various fruits, cinnamon, cloves, molasses, candy. There also was a nice presence of earthy and bready yeast. Fairly moderate body and carbonation. Interesting complex beer, that I enjoyed in a small dose, but I don’t think I could handle the sweetness in more than that.

pours light root beer brown, minimal head compared to the blond, ringed retention, lots of slow-moving CO2 streams. Strong thick and heavy malts on the nose. Drinks with 8/10-level sweetness up front, alcoholic presence is apparent from the start, tastes of heavy malt, brown sugar (demerara/turbinado), figs, scotch, caramel, mild-medium bitter finish. Med-high complexity, med-high depth, good transitions, great carry, okay drinkability (less as the temperature raises). A potent dark beer with lots of flavour but also heavy and hits harder than the blond.

Draft. Pours murky amber-brown with a med-large tan head. Buoquet of dark fruit. Raisin, plum, prune, fig... you name, its in there. Very sweet aroma that matches the nose. Yeast and alcohol as well. Full body, sticky texture, and a very lengthy finish. A little too sweet for my taste, but still a great beer.

Bottle, 2011 vintage. Colour is amber brown with a beige head. Fruity aroma. Taste is fruity with some sourness.