Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

Rich Brown opague color with small tan head. Chocolate Malt taste and smell. Has hoppy signature very unlike the Cru or the regular Gouden Carolus. It’s a very bready yeast present and the spices tingle your tongue and the aftertaste is a slow bitterness not too overwhelming. It’s thick and full and very wellbalanced with the malt, yeast, hops and alcohol. Available at Knightly Spirits in Orlando.

750 ml bottle, corked "champagne" style. ABV is 10.5%. Deep chestnut colour, large light tan head, nice lacing. Malty sweet and spicy aroma - aniseed, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, cloves(?) Notes of oak and leather too. Flavour is also dominantly malty sweet (too sweet) with caramel and spices, a certain hoppy bite too. Alcohol is evident, but not overwhelming. A fairly complex beer, but too much malty sweetness keeps me from giving it a top rating.

Poured beautiful mahogany/ruby. Looks like rosewood! Head is only one finger but very dense and long-lasting. On the nose are aromas of herbs, spices, anise, clove, fruit esters, alcohol, bready yeast and malt. The flavor is most complex -- against an earthy backdround, there’s a malt smokiness blended with a berry sweetmess and a malty caramel, some treacle/brown sugar, the blend of 6 herbs and spices (I taste cardamon, ginger star anise, sweet woodruff, and caraway), and a warm complex 3-hop finish. The alcohol is not that evident. Mouthfeel is delisciously thick and chewy, slow to release carbonation, and leaves a pleasant aftertaste. This ale has it all earthy malt, fruity sweetness and tartness, some herbs and spice, and a nice hop finish.

This dark brown ale poured with a modest tan head, eliciting a strong malty aroma. There was a flavor of caramel candy with a slightly bitter chalky finish and a noticeable carbonated mouthfeel. There was also a warming alcohol sensation after a few sips. This is a very satisfying drink.

NOt my type of beer, but it is really good. But the alcohol is strong with the aroma. After almost all the bottle, I started to get upset at this beer, I think it was too much.

Thanks for sharing KP! Pours a hazy tobacco brown color, no head. Aroma is stale plastic, salt water. Flavor is too sweet for me, syrupy in texture, brandy and caramel round out the flavor. Just not a fan.

This starts with a dark amber color under a creamy, thick, off white head. Lacing is incomplete, but it tries hard. Lightly sweet, spicy and well done, but I tried the Jolly Pumpkin Firefly just previous and this was the looser of the two although it had a spicier flavor.

Pours with a cloudy cherry brown color, and fulminant tan head with different bubble strata. The smell and taste both have lots going on. Smells of anis, oak, coriander, orange, and some very slight sweetness. The taste is sublely sweet with a sourness that lingers. Very spiced, with some cardamon and absolutely no indication whatsoever of its 10% alcohol. I had the pleasure of rating this and Gouden carolus easter side by side, and the main difference is that this is more fresh, smooth, and subtle than the easter brew.