Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

Just too overpoweringly medicinal...with VERY strong licorice and alcohol. Just couldn’t get past the anice assault on my senses...although the alcohol assault pulled me through to save the day.

Bottle, Dark ruby. Aroma of... everything? Notes of solvent and banana. Sweet taste, sweet finish, mmm

Has a bit of dry, chalky dustiness that conveys the spiciness, kind of nutmeggy, I guess. Sweet but not overly so, nicely malted with hints of biscuit and caramel, this is a very easy drinker for 10.5% (although my bottle said more - 11.5%)...Good Christmas beer for sure. Thanks for the bottle, Andre.

This ale is what the adjective "medicinal" was created for. Ultimately I liked the beer, a lot, but the intial hit of the aroma, a strong licorice and alcohol base blended with spices, reminded me of some of the cough drops that I had as a kid. But it grows on you. Brown with red highlights, it sports a solid tan head. The flavor is built on a rich, dark caramel malt laden with anise and containing elements of black cherries, spices, and alcohol. There’s a light sweetness to the medicinal, alcohol filled finish. Both interesting and warming to drink.

<font size=-4><a href=http://www.ratebeer.com/events-detail.asp?eventID=3098>Christmas & Winter Beer Tasting at Delilah’s, Chicago, IL 12/10/2005<font size=-1>

Very dark ruby body that is almost brown. The head is a very light khaki color and sticks around. The aroma is alcoholic with some cherry cough syrup, cinnamon and herbal tea. The taste is maraschino cherries with some light cinnamon spice. There is also some herbal tea and a warming alcohol finish. This has a thin and slick mouthfeel for such a big beer. Well made and lends itself to sipping and enjoying. However, it is a bit medicinal.

Another awesome beer from DragonStout. Bottle shared at the First Annual Florida Ratebeer Gathering. These ratings were taken from one day of about 60 different tastings all were good and all have blended together but I know I thoroughly enjoyed every one of them and none were bad.

Dark brown colour, diminishing off white head. Heavy aroma, fruity, banana, sweet caramel, little bit roasted. Taste is sweet and fruity, fizzy carbonation. Finish is sweet, but not to much, with some alcohol taste.

Bottled. Deep brown hue with a short-lived beige/caramel head. Heavy, roasty plums, figs, alcohol, caramel, Christmas-like spices, and a great musty Belgian yeast presence grace the nose. Absolutely wonderful malty flavor profile... loads of dark fruit including vinous notes, a little port, cloves, cherries, more holiday spices, and musty yeast rounding it out. Exceptionally smooth across the palate... flavors just dance. Finish is long, fruity, spicy, and warming. Excellent fireside sipper.