Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Rood/Red

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

(Bottle) Pours golden with a huge white head. The aroma is of doughy, ester-ish and spicy yeast with undertones of candi sugar, pears, red/yellow apples, fresh and dried oranges, tart white grapes, subtle tropical fruits, mild lime, bubblegum, wine gum, vanilla powder, fresh nutmeg, coriander, mild white pepper and almond paste. Also some hospital/clove-like phenols. The malt and the aromatic hops bring tones of grain, dry crackers, white bread, spices, fresh grass and mild flowers. Wood dry hints from the alcohol, yet elegant on the nose. At the same time, there is a good deal of almond paste sweetness present. The alcohol warmth also holds some hints of nail polish. The flavour is of mild citric and fresh spicy with balanced tones of herbal hops, cracker/white bread-like malt, candi sugar and some phenolic hints lurking in the background. Hints of nutmeg, pepper, tart white grapes, apples and pears, black wine gums are all notable. The mouthfeel is dry (some sweetness in the beginning), round and clean without being lifeless with a carbonation that adds some champagne-like qualities. In the aftertaste linger phenols, citrus, candi sugar and a light bitter hop sting. Medium to full bodied. A very well made example of the style.

Bottled(750ml). -Cloudy yellow/golden coloured, huge frothy white head, spicy coriander nose. Lively carbonation. Typical and very pleasant BSA. Fruity, spicy and alcoholic taste with notes of hops and vanilla in the finish. 2008 vintage.

No love for the red? Why? Pale, but full of flavor. Lots of carbonation. Aroma sweet and nice. The blue was richer.

0.75l bottle at the Hopdevil shared with heavy.
Poured a nice hazy orange-golden body. Big thick white head that went away at a medium pace. Fresh nose, orange rind, dust, some malt. Pleasant. The taste starts with some lovely fruitiness reminiscent of orange rind, some soap blunted by hopiness. Earthy and not too heavy. Soft and chalky. Dulled down hop aftertaste (some fruit too for a sec), ends up being a bit herbal later. Some low tingly fruity/agrumey acidity. No alcohol detected. Used the adjective ’’sublime’’ in my notes but that’s too strong. In any case, Het Anker shows its worth again.

750, corked and baled. ’08. Thanks so much, Rich! Bright hazy straw under a pillowy platinum blonde head. The classic belgian pour, really. Sweet, somewhatcloying notes of toffee and some white fruit on the nose. Creamy medium body with plenty of fizz. Dust, green apples, and toffee. Beautifully done, but at this early juncture in its life, not much of a thrill.

Ths on of thoses cases where a beer is objectively good, but doesn’t really appeal to me. Nice aroma and it certainly looks good, but way to sweet and way too hot to really be a favorite. Certainly well made, but not my cup of tea. or beer.

Bottle, thanks to larsniclas. Golden color, huge white head. Marcipan aroma, yeasty, fruity and a bit sugary. Maricpan flavor, floral and with some alcohol. The blue one is so much better...

Bottled: Pours hazy, deep golden with a large head. Marzipan and orange aroma with some disturbing notes of sweaty socks and old cheese. light body. Flavour has more oranges, some caramel and a boozy finish.