Gouden Carolus Classic

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

I think the best thing this one has going for it is the way it looks. Aside from that its a lot like some other belgians but not as complex. the alcohol overpowers this one whereas in others strong beers it compliments the wide variety of flavours you’re experiencing.

Have had this at a couple ABVs. An ale I can get here in Alberta and haven’t visited enough. Pg 192 of Michael Jackson’s Great Beer Guide and only 379 out 500 Classic Brews to go.

Bottle from Uto. Pours a lovely mahogany with orange highlights and a hearty tan head. Words do little justice for the appearance. Aroma of raisins, caramel and plum with an underbelly of yeast and rum. Sweet to spicy taste of toasted malts, caramel and berries. Wonderful full body, this is glorious stuff!
Re-rate - Draught @ Brasserie Het Anker. Deep amber with a creamy malt head that left a great lacing. Aroma of malt, yeast, dark fruits and chocolate. Taste is much the same, slightly sweet but all the other characteristics keep it from going too far. Creamy and smooth on the palate with some alcohol warmth. As the name implies, a classic...

Bright ruby body with a modest frothy beige head. Warm kettle caramelization, plum, cherry, and toffee aromas. Flavor is medium sweet with light fruit skin acidity and bitterness. Cola tones early, but nice dark fruit qualities develop as it warms. Very solid stuff from Het Anker.

darker than i expected, big off white head, aroma id lots of fruit, especially raisins and plums. flavour is the same, but i’m getting alot of booze, as it’s warming up he bozeis comming through more and more decent belgian but........nothing spectacular.

[103-20061118] Tap @ Point Brugge (Pittsburgh, PA). Aroma is malted and yeasty, reminds me of sweet beef OXO boullion cubes. Cloudy, brown body with a fair-lasting creamy light brown head and nice lacing on the glass. Some raisin and figgy fruity flavour characteristics along with light celery, hops, and some chewy toffee in this OXO beefed-up beer, and the alcohol is obvious. Medium-full body. Seems exotic, would have preferred a smaller sample.

750ml bottle pours dark copper in color with a creamy light tan head that stays fairly well and laces some. Aromas of raisins, caramel, candi sugar, and a touch of alcohol. Flavor is full and rich with caramel, raisin, prune, yeast ,some bannana, and some pepperlike spice at the warm finish. Well carbonated palate with good full body and a somewhat dry finish..

Brown bottle, 33 cl, best before 4.09.09; eye: ruby, nice creamy coffee-color head, clear, light effervescence, nice creamy lacing; nose: alcohol, concentrated caramel syrup, banana, concentrated fruits; mouth: velvety despite the powerful tastes, alcohol, syrupy, caramelized malt, almost hidden banana, hint of grainy hops, finale in alcohol entetwined with caramel and a hint of alcohol that comes back as pepper, full body, creamy and really slighlty grainy texture, lightly astringent, mildly sweet, really light hoppiness, medium carbonation; overall: quite good FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 33 cl, meilleure avant 04.09.09; oeil : rubis, belle mousse crémeuse, claire, légère effervescence, belle dentelle crémeuse; nez : alcool, sirop caramélisé concentré, banane, fruits concentrés; bouche : velouté malgré des saveurs puissantes, alcool, sirupeux, malt caramélisé, présence subtile de banane, léger houblon granuleux, finale en alcool entremêlée de caramel avec une touche d’alcool qui revient sous forme poivre, corsée, texture crémeuse et très légèrement granuleuse, légère astringence, moyennement sucrée, très léger houblon, carbonatation moyenne; en résumé : pas mal bon