Gouden Carolus Easter Beer (2007-)

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

Pours a golden orange with a healthy white head quickly diminishing to a dense white film. The nose is sweet with almost a floral or perfume-like bouquet, heh. Very light malt, not a ton of hops, but a little kick of subtle spice perhaps. Maybe some vanilla? Creamy smooth body, with reasonable substance and carbonation. A sweet beer, with more alcohol than I expected in the taste. Again a little floral, perhaps some spice, maybe even slightly lemony, perhaps that is coriander. A little pepper and lingering warmth. I like this beer, not quite as much as their Cuvee de van de Keizer

750ml. very hazy golden color with a well retained frothy white head. pineapple dominates the aroma with other dry estery fruits as well. crisp and dry. light and easy to drink. tart lemon meringue and a full spicy body. finish is quick and clean.

750 ml bottle, served at 9.0 degrees C. Shared with three. Not that much head and a bit thin and sour. Dark yellow, bit brownish pour, nice hops, and spices in very low quantities, so it’s hard to tell which. A mouth that is gone quite fast. Bitter is a bit more present. Not that feasty beer I would expect for the most important celebration in Catholic Belgium.

Bottle - 750ml. Nice hazy blond body with a thick, lasting white foamy head. Malty/hoppy aroma hides the alcohol pretty well and carries fruity, spicy and honeyish hints. Its complex taste ends with a decent bittersweet, warming finish. Good stuff.

750 ml bottle shared. Golden pour with nice head. Aromas of sweet fruit and some spice. Malty in the flavor too with similar flavors. Pretty good.

Big bubbly head. Amber. Aroma is apricot and alcohol. Big taste. Lots of alcohol presence. Spice and alcohol flavour. Breathing fire.

Bottle from Liquor Max in Loveland, CO. Hazy apricot color with a multifinger fine white head. Aroma seems a bit soapy, but also has a lot of light stone fruit. Kind of dusty in the nose. Medium body with spritely carbonation. Flavor is fruit -like banana mixed with light stone fruit? - Spice is mild. Touch of citrus zest. Maybe cardamom. It’s a really great ale. Finish is lightly dusty and fruity. Works very well for me.

I found this dust laden with one other bottle in a nook. I feel it’s one of the best Carolus offerings. Lovely carbonation on a full head over a hazed light brown pour. Aroma of yeast, dark fruit, a touch of citrus, and a hint of spice. It’s very mouthfilling with a heavy feeling of sweetness with not completely hidden alcohol. It’s the estery sweetness wrapped in a blanket of malt and yeast that makes the foundation for this fine ale. The flavor is very good with brown sugar, apricots, yeast and light esters with an aftertaste of spices, which I can’t define, and a hint of lemon. Hops add to the taste, but mildly so. Think I’ll see if the other bottle is still there.