Carlsberg Semper Ardens Abbey Ale

Brewed by Carlsberg Brewery
Style: Abbey Dubbel
Copenhagen, Denmark

Bottle.Dark brown colour. Aroma of roasted malts, caramel, bit fruitiness. Flavour is malty, caramellic, nice roasted maltiness, nice hops. Good Dubbel brew.

Bottled. It pours quite clear at the start, with more hazyness towards the bottom, sparkling and red-colored with a orange-brown hue. Decent beige head. The aroma meets you quite powerful when pouring, and starts with lots of banana-fruityness. Theres also spices, caramel-hints and some bubble-gum. The flavor is malty, spices, caramelized, fruity and hoppy, with a medium body. Warming finish with spices and caramel. Can surely understand that the Danes was pleased when Carlsberg started their Semper Ardens project, it is a good beer, but more on the average side than on the wauw-side. That is probably due to the development in the beer-world. It has a lot of Belgian style-mates that is better. (061220)

(70 bottle brought home from Copenhagen) Big sweet Belgian ale yeast scent. A bit shady brown look, small tan head. Strong sweet taste, alcohol. Medium mouthfeel. Low bitterness.

Bottle from what was likely my final Brewnosers tasting in Halifax. Dated 2002 I believe that was a best before, not a bottled on but I am not sure. Hazy brown, smallish tan head (3+). Sweet aroma, lightly yeasty and slight notes of oxidation. Mild fruit, light notes of raisins and plum. Sweet fruity malt, light fruit and caramel in the flavour. Very minute trace of anise that might be imaginary. Average to light palate has obviously thinned a bit and is probably the most noticeable sign of age. Surprisingly good, glad to try this one! Am very intrigued to try a younger bottle and compare.

Bottle. Brown colour with a small white head. Aroma of roasted malt, caramel and fruit. Flavour of sweet caramel, fruit and malt.

This beer is red / brown and opague. The aroma is a bit complex with both wheat, apples, banana, caramel, and a little bit of sunberries, but somehow it is not that impressive anyway. The flavor is sour and wheaty at first, but then it comes with different fruit and berries, although it is a little softened down. There is also some woody and cork-like notes. Creamy palate. Nice beer, but a little thin for an abbey dubbel and more dry than usually for this beer type.

Dark brown, small white head which is gone quickly. Aroma is fruity with hints of honey, burnt malt and black berries. Flavour is a bit thin with some alcohol but there is a pleasant aftertaste of blackcurrant and hops.

Bottle. An abby ale it is, and the consept of sempre ardens is the best thing they ever done. Carlsberg is like horse manure taste like shit, smell like shit but it is good fertilizer.