Gouden Carolus Classic

12 oz bottle.dark brown with small tan lacing. nose is very sweet-sugary malt, raisin, date, spices, alcohol. flavor is similar to nose with a hot alcohol burn that does not take over the palate by any means but shows its presence. a very nice belgian strong.

On tap. Dark brown with cream colored head. Aroma is caramel, molasses, raisin. Flavor is the same and slightly spicy. Nice sweetness without being overpowering.

Tasted late at night during the World Cup at the Delirium café, Brussels whilst the music thumped and the swaggering Italian horde around me cheered and olé’ed their teams latest victory. Into it’s own chalice from the bottle. Slight haze shadowed the lights beaming through it’s deep tawny copper body. Head was magnificently rocky, tannish, an inch thick and steadfast, lacing intricately down the glass as it went. From there on the notes got vague so I’ll rely on memory!?!
Huge malty aroma, bursting with savoury fruits, dusty hops, blended spices and rich liqueur. Big and aggressive start in the mouth. Spiced up and flowing with complex malts, burnt and savoury fruits and light little flushes of dessert wine in the back. Alcohol is well masked but does add into giving it a nice long, malty and warming swallow. Light prickle of carbonation before it settles in smooth across the palate. Quite nice overall. Wished I had of taken more notes. Another classic from Het Anker. One to try again. (33cL, BB 12/12/06)

Bottle. Dark copper body topped with a decent beige foamy head. Sharp malty/hoppy aroma with yeasty and plummy notes. Alcohol is very well hidden. Taste is complex and perfectly balanced. Here again, alcohol is barely noticeable. Ends with a good warming and yeasty aftertaste. Superb!

Pour is a deep dark brown with a smallish tan head, Arom is full of brown sugar, molasses and alcohol. Flavor is much of the same but even better. Toffee,dark fruits sugar and nutmeg all come to mind. Alcohol is there at the end but does not overpower.

Clear amber color with tan head and excellent lacing. Sugary aroma with a hint of beat sugar. Also a nice molasses and toffee smell. Flavor is cherries, dates, cinnamon, sweet toffee malts, maybe coriander and a hint of candi sugar. I also sense a little of the alcohol. Nice melded flavor brew. Enjoyable.

Bottle from Super Saver. Hazy deep brown/ruby pour with minimal tan head. Aroma of big banana nut bread at first, with caramel, brown sugar, vinous notes, and figs after sniffing for a while. The flavor is caramelly, slight burnt toasty malty, with some toffee, brown sugar, vinous fruit, banana, and almond hints. Very complex palate and fklavor profile which gets a tad tarter and fruitier as it warms. This one is outstanding.

No head at all, an older sample from Stuffed Sandwich. truly a beer that ages gracefully! Sweetness, malty, but really tastes more like a Red wine, dark red fruits, plain and simple. Delicious!