Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

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

750mL Bottle: Dark brown to black body w/ a huge light brown sugar head. Has some blood red in the body when the light catches it just right. Real sweet sugar, licorice & sweet malts in the aroma. All alcohol here, perhaps it needs some aging (one would think I’d learned my lesson w/ the Grand Cru). Perhaps this simply isn’t a style of beer that I enjoy. Maybe I’ll buy another one to age...probably not though.

(Bottle thanks larsniclas and rlgk) Pours deep reddish brown. The aroma is desert wine like with tones of sugar, light wood, sweet dark fruits but also lighter fruit tones of grapes, citrus/oranges, bananas, green apples, unripe pears, nectar and a light floral overtone. Malty tones of caramel and toffee. Some marzipan sweetness is also present. Hints of dark bread and liquorice. The flavour is nicely grapey vinous with some fruity tones of apples and pears. Too sweet finish with a lingering sugariness. Spicy and creamy yeast and malt mouthfeel. Alight sourish touch of dark berries is also notable. Medium to full bodied.

The pour is splendid a dark brown, with a large off white head and great lacing. The nose is that of dark fruit, rum, malt and caramel. The flavor is pleasantly sweet up front followed with nice touches of dark fruit and vinous characteristics, not to mention just the right warming effect. Another great seasonal, can’t wait to age some and try this one again.

Very nice... Interesting aromas of spice and earth, malt and caramel. The flavor is full of prune, banana, spice, malt, and alcohol. The blend is very nice, and has given me interest in aging a bottle for next year.

12/12/07, 750ml bottle, Christmas 2004 vintage. pours murky brown with off white head. nose is loaded with rum raisins, plums, and lots of toffee. flavor is initially sweet toffee, raisins, hints of rum and port wine. it sort of thins out towards the finish while the aged malts become clear with port wine and caramelized plums. alcohol is well hidden. body is medium. This has aged well and its really tasty but perhaps this peaked at 2 years.

Dec 2007 2005 (aged): Excellent!! Really aged nicely. Aroma of fruit and malt. Really smooth with minimal alcohol burn. Body maintains fullness. Great stuff. Thanks to Fatheads, Pitts.

Seriously heavy it is. Perhaps the best Christmas beer ever. The aroma is loaded with malt and fruit, but spice as well. Some coriander and liquorice. Anise in the flavor with more sweet malt and dark, fermenting fruit. Some red wine, port. Exceptionally full palate. World Class. I look forward to trying my 2005.

2007, poured a dark amber color, hints of sugar and light spices. nice tan head. sweet taste hoppy too. medium mouthfull, nice bitter ending. warming finish.. I liked it alot!