Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

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

Serve in Trappist glass, Tulip, Tumbler

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Pours a very dark ruby tinted brown with a very large head and lots of lacing on the glass.

The aroma is sweet with lots of banana and some odd cooking spice. The bouquet contains plenty of grapeyness, some raisins and lots of alcohol.

The flavor is sweet, not horribly so though. There is a fair amount of grape kool aid, and some dark fruit notes. Mild roasty maltiness is fairly subdued... most of the "robust" character seems to be coming from booziness in general.

The beer is lively on the tongue while being pleasantly viscous.

I love a whole lot of what this line of beers offers, but this one just doesn’t do it for me the way a lot of them do.

Date code 06/08/12, 12071 @ 57° into Stölzle 13.75oz Berlin

Pours mahogany-tea into a deep brown body with amber highlights. Light khaki, tightly structured, two finger head dissipates to a half sheet with thick ring and peninsulas of lace.

Nose is very complex; plumbs, raisins, figs, vanilla, red and black liquorice, dried red and light fruits, spice, fruit cake, cola, light caramelly chocolate notes.

Tatse follows in a slick, but nicely carbonated mouth, which becomes creamy as it rolls around, approaching the heavy side of medium, spiced drying finish to cut all the sweet characteristics. Cola, vanilla, and spice dominate the aftertaste with light fruit nuances finishing out.

An exceptional dark strong - right up their with Rochefort 8 and De Dolle Oerbier from my perspective.

11.2oz bottle. My bottle is labeled 10%, with the stamp "L0870". Dark ruby red / purplish color. Good thin khaki head, leaves some decent lace. Nice nose of dark fruit, berry, red grapes... Kind of like a sherry. Chocolate in the flavor. Black cherry. Light on the spice. Bigger body, smooth lighter carbonation. More dry finish, no viscosity. Sweet taste, some bitter taste, and light bite. Alcohol pretty well hidden with the flavor. Noticeable, but not like you’d expect from 10%. Soild, tasty Belgian Noel ale.

330 ml bottle. Pours hazy dark brown with small head. Aroma of dark fruits, liquorice, banana peels and dark sugars. Taste of alcohol, dark fruits, heavy liquorice and fruits. Very nice beer

33cl bottle. The rest I don’t know because my girlfriend took the only bottle I had of this brew from my cave and drunk it .... She said it was good.

Dark brown body, khaki head. Arom has some pepsoden toothpaste and Dr. Pepper. Flavour has some chocolate, but overall this beer is really strangely spiced and alcohol is the only clear thing that I can pick up.

Pours brown with a big, fluffy, off-white head. Sweet malt aroma with dried fruits fig and apple. This beer is thick beer with heavy on malt, semi-sweet with alcohol coming through. Fairly complex, good for sipping on a cold night.

Cervezaca impresionante, un aroma afrutado con toques de plátano, y un sabor dulce que no empalaga, sino que deleita. Quiero otra ahora mismo!!!

Erg mooie fles, hele mooie donkere kleur met mooi donker schuim. Aroma is erg overweldigend zoethout/drop. Ik vind dit teveel overheersen en niet lekker. Goed mondgevoel en daarom een middelmatig cijfer.

Pours a large frothy light brown head that slowly diminishes. Lacing is fair. Body is flat and sparkling. Color is ruby to black. Aroma contains roasted malts, molasses, flowers, spices, dough, raisin, plum, forest fruits, cherry, tawny port, toffee, honey, alcohol and licorice (zoete drop, zoethout). Flavor is sweet, with light acidity and a warming alcohol and slight bitter finish. Body is medium to full, with syrupy (a bit sticky) texture and soft carbonation. Another great Christmas beer! Why couldn’t it be Christmas every day?