Gouden Carolus Classic

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

Looks nice in the glass, an orange-brown color, wit a medium pitted, wispy head. Curious aroma, hints at caramel, bread dough, nuts, plums, coconut, nutmeg and/or thyme. Big fluffy sweetness up front, coupled with a palate-stinger from the alcohol and moderate high effervescence. Finish is very smooth and light, but with some alcohol...as Belgians go, it doesn’t mask the alcohol as well as the best, but it’s still a pleasing finish. Warming in the chest. Really feels like a cold weather beer, not terribly appropriate on this warm spring night, not that I’m enjoying it any less. Very even tempered, without being overly complex, but still possesses alot of the rich qualities you want in a strong Belgian. Perhaps approaches some of the famous strong trappistes, but definitely rougher. Made a nice match with strong roquefort cheese.

Has a mildly sugary aroma, some what like cola, belive it or not. Has the look of very light iced tea. Barely any carbonation. Odd old farm barrel initial taste but not like a lambic. Reminds me of the old country. Unique but alky is present without a doubt. A little rude and different to say the least. Difficult to swallow at times.

Bottle: Poured a reddish brown with a bubbly carbonated tan head. The aroma is deep dark fruit and sweet. The taste is full rich sweet malt, caramel sugary fruit. Awesome beer!

Bottle, split with after4ever. Pours a hazy brown with a lacy off-white head. Loads of caramel in the aroma and taste. The taste also musters ups some spice and fruit.

Malty, sweet, fruity aroma, with some brown sugar, banana, plum and raisin, also some faint bubblegum and spices. Deep brownish red color, opaque, with a fine and intricately patterned head. Flavor derives primarily from malt and yeast, with an overriding, vinous, estery fruitiness, dark sugar and faintly spicy hop. Finish is long, tangy, bittersweet and gently alcoholic. Enjoyable as a dessert or nightcap.

Brown colour with high fluffy head.Sweet fruity aroma with note of rosted malt slight bitter with nice mouth feels has a note of coffee really nice beer.

A favorite for both my wife and me. We have had it numerous times from a bottle and several times on draft at the Sharp Edge in Pittsburgh. Sampled from an 11.2 oz brown bottle this beer pours a hazy red/brown with a large tan head. The aroma is malty and very spicy. The flavor is malty with elements of caramel, molasses, nut and chocolate. The flavor is complex and changes as it lingers on the palate.

Pours deep dark brown with ruby tinges. Beige head with good retention. Aroma of dark fruits (raisins, prunes), berries and chocolate. Very clean deep aroma. Medium-full mouthfeel, smooth finish. Lovely subtle taste of dark fruits (raisins and prunes once again!), chocolate and sweet caramel. Very well balanced, not bitter, but not too sweet. Very nice, and VERY drinkable. ABV is brilliantly masked. Top stuff!