Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

Bottle. Blackish beer with a red hue, the head is smooth and quite whispy. The aroma is sweet, spiced and mulled fruit in nature. The flavour is strong, liquor like with a load of spice, sweetness and appley fruits. Overall a pretty good comforting beer.

Had this at BJ’s Winter Ale Fest, 2005. Originally rated 8/01, 3/5, 7/10, 3/5, 15/20. Rerate: Beer is lightly hazy, dark-amber color with a small, frothy, white, mostly diminishing head. The aroma is malty, spicy—but extraordinarily and obstrucively peppery. Malty with moderate notes of toasted grain, caramel and a trace of molasses; Hoppy with a moderate note of oregano-like herb, resin/pine; Yeasty with a light notes of banyard, dough, attic and basement; Miscellaneous notes include light alcohol, heavy, dusty white pepper. Alcohol is well hidden in the nose.<P>The flavor is moderately sweet and lightly bitter with a warm, long, moderately bittersweet finish.<P> The body is full, the texture is velvety, the carbonation is lively, moderate warmth.

12.31.05 750ml bottle. Dark caramel color, looks like flat cola, with a medium sized, fairly lasting white head. Aroma is banana and bubblegum with a spicy and bready yeast (banana bread) and some hints of band-aid. Almond and vanilla fill in a spotty scent of chocoalte chips and dried apple. Unique flavors, it reminds of many dubbels I’ve tried but less yeasty. Body is lithe and ful of coating eff. Pleasantly sweet, not overly so, and a very light finishing snap of eff, alcohol, and spice. Licorice hints saturate throughout. Very nice stuff.

Deep red-brown body, thin/medium beige head. Flowery, perfumey aroma, spciy, with hints of yarrow, toast, and banana. Peppery, licoricey body, with perfumey yarrow, toast, and a tight bitter finish to go along with hints of chocolate and other candies. The spicy, flowery, peppery yeast flavors remind me a bit of something Brasserie des Rocs would brew. Good but a bit heavy on the spices for me.

Pours dark brown, with a tan head. Aromas of sweet malt, spices, dark fruit, yeast. Flavors are spices, sweet malt, dark fruit, brown sugar, and toffee. Body is rather thick and heavy. This one should age well.

This is another of my 2005 Christmas Beers. What a nice surprise. The head formation was modest and the color was deep amber or brown. There was excellent lacing down the glass. Upon uncorking this bottle there was an immediate release of yeast and malt aroma. The body is medium with some sweetness. There are hints of other spices and hops. The high alochol is hidden very well. This has been of the best Belgium ales that I have enjoyed.

A brown-black appearance. A sweet and fruity aroma. The taste is sweet, fruity and a bit malty. Not my kind of beer.(Bottle 75cl, tap)

750ml - Aroma is sharp bubblegum, cherry, red licorice, yeast, and spice. Pours a reddish-brown with small head and good lacing. Flavor is cherry, bubblegum, yeast, spice, and cinnamon. Palate is tart and sticky. Different and interesting.