Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

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

330ml bottle.
My God, what a gorgeous beer. Pours a deep, ever slightly cloudy ruby-chestnut with a pillowy, bubbly khaki head. Streaming bubbles keep that head from disappearing so that it can leave lumps of Brussels lace on the sides of the glass from beginning to end. Aroma consists of layers of fruit and spice, including juniper, raisin, dried cherries, malty molasses, a touch of citrus and a judicious dash of black pepper. Flavor includes all of the above with a touch of anise for good measure. Moderate hop bitterness comes online on the middle of the tongue. Full-bodied with a smooth and strangely creamy finish. I have found a new favorite Christmas beer. Wow, is this stuff good.

Very deep and dark brown colour with blond medium head. Aroma is complicated and there are sweetness, liquirice, lot of anis and hint of herbs. Flavour is quite similar than aroma: quite sweet, anis, liquirice and maybe some alcohol. This is very pleasant, strong and complicated beer to warm up cold winter nights.

We drank this 2006 version of Carolus Noël while we were preparing our Thanksgiving meal. It was a gift and thank you. I liken this beer very much to the Gouden Carolus Grand Cru of the Emporer that I have drunk before. Very sweet, very smooth and way to tasty for a 10.5% beverage. This would NOT be my Go-To beer, but is a good special treat for the holidays. I like the slight anise flavor at the finish of this beer. This is skillfully done, fine beer.

Nice aroma...very nice appearance... flavor is great but not FANTASTIC. A bit too sweet for me with a hint of something... clean and hides the alcohol well. Palate is smooth and creamy..... Overall very pleasing. Not an everyday beer but a damn fine treat. ====================== After finding this on draft, I must recount. This beer has a great flavor; semi-sweet, hides acohol well, ....

Bottle (33 cl) from Barley Wine, Copenhagen, Denmark. Deep copper with a creamy large beige head. Sticky caramelly aroma with sweet liquorice and spices. Medium bodied and very smooth. Way too sweet.

Bottle (10%) from BevMo. Dark ruby in color. Sweet aroma. Some interesting spices, maybe ginger and anise. Some yeast and a root type of scent. Smooth mouthfeel. Flavor is somewhat spicy. Quite a bit of roasted dark fruitiness and more black licorice. Very rich. Good winter beer. Too bad we’re having Santa Anas. Alcohol is well hidden. Enjoyable brew.

Bottle. You dont get a much better balanced spiced Belgian Strong Ale than this one. Dark brown colour with a nice head. Aroma is dark fruits and spices. Flavor is dark fruits, caramel, anis and malts. A beautifull mouthfull.

750ml bottle (Gallows Bird, Espoo, Winter Ales 2004)
Rich brown. Sweet winey strongly spiced malts on the nose. Salty salmiakki in the taste, ginger and dark fruits. Very complex, very potent.
Rerate: 750ml bottle - shared by Janne - thanks! (7-4-8-4-14=3.7)
Apple, marzipan aroma. Crisp palate, lively carbonation. Apple in taste too. No hint of 10.5%.