Gouden Carolus Noël (Christmas)

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

This was beautiful, just a stunner! Poured a reddish brown with a full head. Featured a big phenolic bubble gum nose with hints of caramel floating about. The flavor was quite similar, not dominated by bubblegum, but punctuated with it, as it was all cut by a lively carbonation and tingle of alcohol. There was also a hint at fruitiness, perhaps apricot and rum raisin. Finished easy. Semi-sweet.

On the pour, the beer appears to be a somewhat caliginous cherry red color, the head Bunyanesque in size, the texture creamy, with sticky sheets of lace to caress the glass. Nose is fruit sweet, over ripe apples and or banana comes to mind, malt tones and light caramel hints also present a treat for the old honker to sniff. The start is honey sweet, the top lean, the finish is pleasantly acidic, cheerfully hopped, dry and somewhat alcohol bitter aftertaste. Yes, it does “Warm the Tummy”, and should definitely be put in the “Winter Warmer” category. If you like strong high ABV beer this is a must try, but you may find it a bit pricey at $10.49 a 750ml bottle. Personally I don’t mind the price, because “I’m Worth It Baby”!

Very attractive pouring mahogeny colored beer with a big well retained tan colored head. Aroma is malty with spruce and tons of spices, cinnamon, clove, and more. Flavor is big and deeply malty with one of the strongest use of spices I have ever experienced, however in the case of this beer it is not over done. A perfect ending to a wonderful Christmas day.

750ml bottle, 2004 vintage. 10% abv. Fruity, sugary aroma, malty, spicy, complex and rich with hints of red grape, dried orange peel, black cherry, milky chocolate, toffee, faint leafy herbs, flowery perfume and doughy yeast. Hazy rusty red-brown color with a fully lasting ivory head and spectacular lacing. Flavor profile is predominantly malty, dark and sweet but featuring plenty of subtlety as well, with suggestions of mint, cookie, raisin, banana, licorice and pepper in the background and with an extremely lengthy, fruity, spicy and satisfying finish that shows only the merest hint of the stated alcohol content. Creamy and very smooth on the palate, body is quite full. Decadent and highly enjoyable. A fine choice for this time of year.

Dark brown, tan head. Sweet spicecake nose with nutmeg, ginger, licorice. Flavor is quite sweet, with a nice bready yeastiness. Spice flavors are notable, as is a slight touch of chocolate.

2004-06-04, Keg, 8-5-8-4-16=41
Dark amber color, ruby; creamy head. Can really smell all the 5 spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, …). Malty, velvety, spicy: wonderful Xmas treat!

2004-02-22, Bottle, 7-4-8-4-15=38
Dark amber color; creamy head. Aroma dominated by the caramel, with a light feeling of ammonia. Quite sweet, and a lot of caramel, a quite good Christmas beer, but missing some complexity. Thanks Jens (Ungstrup) for this bottle.

Very fruty and heavy. Banana flavor. Quite dry, but still well balanced. Strong alcohol taste. It explodes in yourd mouth.

A great looking beer. Dark brown with a red tone and a massive head. Sticky lacing on the glass. Aroma is sweet, fruity, and alcoholic. The aroma describes the flavor as well but there is much more going on. Flavors of black pepper, plum, alcohol, toffee, anise, and more, all in no particular order. This one is in the "WOW Zone."