Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

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

750 ml bottle 2004 vintage poured a cloudy reddish brown with a large, long lasting tan head. Aromas of raisins, plums and some spice. Palate was medium bodied and smooth. Flavors of dark fruit, spices, carmel and molasses with a sweet, warming finish.

Bottle shared with HogTownHarry, GregClow, tupalev & jerc -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Last beer of the night at our last tasting. Pours a murky reddish-brown with an average size fizzy tan head. Big sweet aroma of sugar, spices, fruit, yeast, caramel malt and more -- quite complex. Flavour is sweet and spicey with a big alcohol kick, some dark fruit, nuts and a nice bitterness. So much going on in the flavour. Mouthfeel is thick and syrupy. A perfect Christmas beer to end a great Christmas tasting with great friends. Bring on 2006!

1 pint, 9.4 fl oz. Pours mahagony with a frothy tan medium-sized head and lined lacing, good head retention. Yeast (dough, bubblegum) and medium roasted malt (caramel, nutty) with faint perfumey hops and alcohol notes. Warm, spicy medium sweetness and medium acidity, medium to light bitterness, sugary, caramel, maple, bubblegum, port and alcohol. Full, warm bodied, medium fizzy, medium dry palate.

Pours a deep brown with lots of ruby/amber reddish highlights and a large bubbly/frothy off white head that left lacing. Aroma of molasses, licorice, brown sugar, nutty notes, Belgian yeast and some various spices. Flavor of toasted malt, nuts, Belgian spices and yeast, some brown sugar, light alcohol. Got more spicy as I drank this.

Burned sugar, candy, warming full malt. Smooth, bitterness in the finish. The alcohol strength is evident, and almost masks a fine flavour of dried fruit.

750 ml bottle, 2003. Rich amber color with a nice head. Aromas jump out at you with black licorice and malt. Taste is strong all right with some flavors of ripe fruits, pine, caramel and an assortment of spices. Very sweet, it starts out as a sipper but as the palalte acclimates, it’s smooth sailing. Just too sweet to drink often.

Bottle. Small tan creamy, fizzy head that was mostly lasting, fair amount of lacing, transparent, visible carbonation, and a ruby hue with brown highlights. Nose was malty, hints of chocolate and caramel, alcohol was noticeable, light floral notes, and dark fruit. Flavor was vinuous, malty, darkfruit, and some chocolate. Mouthfeel was tingly with a slight burning, warming sensation. Medium body. Wish this one would have come my way during the winter as it would have been a very nice brew to sip on on a cold, snowy night. Oh well. Definitely worthy of a try if you get chance.

Bottled. Purchased at Delirium Cafe. Dark ruby body with foamy brown head. Nose is malty with chocolate and spices (ginger and nutmeg) along with dark fruits and anise. Taste is malty and rich with chocolaty notes, dark fruits, and spices. Sweet and spicy would sum it up best. Carbonated with light sharpness. Finish is somewhat dry with cocoa, dark fruits and spice. Great beer!