Gouden Carolus Easter Beer (2007-)

Pour is a blond with a large fizzy white head. Aroma is typical yeast and vanilla but also a crisp citrus. Flavor is a super spiceyness with some vanilla, candi sugar and lemon peel. Finish is hot as the alcohol is there in a big way as this warms. A tasty beer that will be gone quickly.

Personal Milestone: Belgian Rating #400 (out of 4031)!!!!!
It’s also my first Easter seasonal brew... but that might just be because I don’t get out alot....
"Delightful" isn’t a word that an ugly herterosexual old fart normally bandies about, but this is a delightful brew! Nice pour, an amber tinted golden body with a tall white head. Not much Belgian lacing occurring. The aroma - lots here - red plums and dark cherries, vanilla, flowery yeast, sweet pale malts, honey, soft fruit, white pepper, a hint of alcohol.... well, more about that later. I mean, I didn’t notice the alcohol much at all until I fell on the newspaper guy tomorrow morning... Wait! I’ll have to tell you about that in two days! In the erstwhile - it’s a medium bodied brew, pepperish on the tongue. The flavor is very fruity with the aforementioned plums and cherries, carries the other sensations from the nose, adds a blop of caramel, also a frong of floral bitterness. Bittersweet finish. "A commedable beer," the newspaper guy reflected a couple of days from now. Tonight, I’m enjoying it!

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/Places/ShowPlace.asp?PlaceID=7469>West Lakeview Liquors, Chicago, IL<font size=-1>

Bottle. Head is initially large, frothy, white, mostly lasting. Body is hazy dark yellow, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted grain, cookie), lightly hoppy (flowers), lightly yeasty (cobwebs), with notes of honey, dried pineapple, coriander, alcohol. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, watery texture, lively carbonation, moderately alcoholic. A dose of honey in this one, it seems. Alcohol is a bit overdone, and it’s not particularly elegant, but pretty enjoyable overall.

I was giddy to find a new beer from Gouden Carolus I hadn’t had.... until I tasted it. This has to be one of the biggest disappointments I’ve had in a long time. Pours blond / orange with a large dense pillowy head. The aroma is very peppery and spicy along with green onions, soap, plasticy, funky and in a word odd. Medium / full body that is still a bit crisp with lots of sharp carbonation. The flavor starts with weird fruitiness, lots of spice and a sweetness that tastes like artificial sweetener. The finish is so off with cotton, soapiness and plastic. Very disappointing from a brewery I hold in high regard.

Into my small Gouden Carolus chalice...seems appropriate... Hazed golden/orangish hue...solid white head on top. Orange and lemon zest hits the nose. Lots of lovely spice, some coriander, some ginger, maybe...lovely aroma. Airy, creamy, sublime. Big rewards for this one. Taste: big carbonation, lots of spritz, tons of fun on the tongue...plenty of fruit, and then that spice again...big carbonation, sweet flavor, plenty of spice, easy to drink, absolutely delish... the het anker/gouden carolus Easter Ale, listed here as a Belgian Strong Dark Ale tastes all the world like a witbier. Perfect spring brew that I got on sale in December. Zesty, lively, delicious, ... Although this is not what I’d yearn for at this time and place, it’s a damn good brew, and would make an excellent Easter feast. Some astringency. some bitterness, but very drinkability, quite smooth and flavorable. A super-wit is what I’d call it, very good stuff!

Clear golden with off white short lasting head. Sweet yeasty aroma with notes of peach. Flavor is sweet with orange peel, yeast and a warming alcohol finnish.

Poured a hazy yellow color with a large white head. The aroma was mildly yeasty and sweet. The flavor had a hint of tartness. Sweet and yeasty. Some fruitiness. Warming with a medium body.

750 ml bottle pored a hazy gold with a large lasting off white head. Aromas of pear, apple, melon, yeast, alcohol and light spice. Palate was medium bodied and crisp with a smooth finish. Flavors of pear, melon, peach, cookie, pepper and a hint of spice with a smooth lingering warming sweet finish.