Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

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

Brown bottle, 33 cl, best before 25.09.09, via Importations Privées Bièropholie, savoured on Halloween 2007; eye: ruby, clear, good effervescence, voluminous beige head that turnes into a carpet, lacing; nose: alcohol, caramelized malt, candied fruits, spices; mouth: caramelized malt, alcohol, candied fruits, spices, pepper from the alcohol, Amaretto, finale in caramelized malt with a good presence of alcohol, creamy and alcoholic texture, full body, mildly sweet, not much carbonation; overall: fine FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 33 cl, meilleure avant 25.09.09, via Importations Privées Bièropholie; savourée à l’Halloween 2007; œil : rubis, claire, bonne effervescence, mousse beige abondante qui se transforme en un tapis, dentelle; nez : alcool, malt caramélisé, fruits confits, épices; bouche : malt caramélisé, alcool, fruits confits, épices, poivre de l’alcool, Amaretto, finale en malt caramélisé avec une bonne présence d’alcool, texture crémeuse et alcoolique, corsée, moyennement sucrée, peu carbonatée; en résumé : bien

Thanks to Joebrew for sharing this ’07 vintage. Spectacular, but will be better with some age on it. Sweet malty nose with spice revealed as the beer warmed. Similar taste with some dark fruits.

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Had to up the rating a little. HUGE anise flavor in this latest batch, one of my favorite Christmas beers.

Aroma of liquerish, alcohol and spice. Dark deep brown amber color, darker then i expected. Spiced amaretto liquor taste with traces of plum raison and spice, enjoyable but different then most other belgians. Deffinately drink this on a cold winter night.

750 ML Bottle-Clear brownish color w/almost no head. Spiced Belgian aroma. Dark Belgian flavor w/traces of plum, raisens & spice. Traces of pine to it. This beer has some kick to it; I’d call it a real Winter warmer. I drank it at the wrong time of year; save this one for a cold winter night around the fire & you will really enjoy it!

bomber corked and caged poured a thick looking brown red in color with a tan layer of foam on the beer. smell is yeast, plumb, alcohol, spice, pine, and some sweetness. the taste is really quite smooth, midrange on mouth feel, and finishes with a spicy alcohol snap. quite a layer of dried dark fruits like figs and plums, definitely some sweetness but not in a way that is over the top, many interesting subtle flavors like anise and licorice, and there is a light bit of mint. very interesting beer that warmed on me, perhaps because i drank the whole bomber myself.

2003 vintage on tap at Lucky Baldwin’s. Coffee with cream color and a creamy off white head. Aroma of caramel, tobacco, leather, and spice. Creamy palate. Amaretto liquor taste with a touch of orange and clove, tobacco in the finish and a lingering warmth.

750, corked and baled. Pours nearly black with a moussy tan head of unremarkable depth. Nice figgy, roasty, green-apple-y nose, with maybe a bit of cardboard taint in there but scarcely at all. Nice soft velvety body with subdued carb and gentle flavors. Figs in the lead, prunes, other tree fruits. Some light caramely sugary sweetness. Gentle, soft finish. Lovely stuff I’d happily drink anytime.

0.33 l bottle. Pours dark brown body with smaller brown head. Wonderful aroma of caramel mixed with lot of things like punch, vanilla, some fruits etc. Flavor isn’t any worser, very full, alcohol is not felt at all, a bit sweetish. Palate also without complaints. Low carbonation fits well on thins one. Nice long finish. Alcohol is felt only after finishing the bottle. Oh yeah, almost perfect beer!