Gouden Carolus Classic

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

Looks great. Really big body and nice off-white head. Unusual (for this style) banana aroma but otherwise nice caramelly malts. Flavour reminded me of a ’mini-me’ version of Rochefort 10. Not as much going on but quite similar. A touch of alcohol on the palate but sweet maltiness a just enough hops are enough to make this a good brew.

a welcome and ruby-orange denizen of the snifter, like a liquid cedar mulch, with proud tresses of oatmeal colored lace. lightly hazy with a ghost of micro fine yeast. aggressively arromatic nose pretends to be buttery bananas flambe´ in the half second before the flames consume the fog of alcohol. sizzling sugars and hazelnut apple puree´, a scent for sore noses. perfect carbonation and a cider sweetness are caressed to an elegant finish by the sculpting hands of skilled bitterness. thicker body and longer finish would nudge it to the brink of greatness.

Hazy dark brown pour, with a huge white head comprised of small bubbles, and nice lacing. Very nice nose. Fruit (grapes/ winelike,) hops, mellow malts and small hints of dough/bread. Grapes stand out a bit more in the flavor, almost seeming more plumlike. The wine similarity is there as well. Malts come out a little more as does the yeast and breadiness. Some spices; cloves and a little coriander. A nice rich body, spice filled palate, overall a very smooth beer. Very well balanced.

Clear ruby-brown pour. Medium light brown head with decent lacing. Huge malty nose, tons of dark fruits, toasted notes, chocolatey richness, maybe even coffee, caramel and grapes reminiscent flavors, very estery anyway. Very appealing and powerful. In mouth, the typical initial Het Anker rich sweetness is luxuriously accompanied by drying out yeast. Smoky, woody and mineral long finish full of memories with an ever so slight alcohol hint and noble hop bitterness. Medium-full bodied, moderate to high carbonation, rich mouthfeel. Fantastic malty belgian, almost like a doppelbock, enormous level of sweetness included. Still, more balanced if not as rich as the grand cru, but perhaps less exciting than the noël as far as I’m concerned. That’s a bit like comparing napoleon and alexander the great though. A must.

330ml bottle: Pours with a moderate, creamy head; heavy cookie, caramel, and yeast aroma; light, slightly piney hop, light doughy, musty yeast; overall, somewhat mild flavor; some dark fruit, wood, licorice, and tobacco flavor; warming alcohol; slight, late bitterness and tartness; what’s not to like?!

Murky ruby red body, with a small tan head. The aroma reveals raisins, dark fruits, alcohol, toffee and some spices, very nice! Impressive flavor! Sweet, yet its very refreshing, apple, spice, raisin, toffee and a nice alcohol burn in the end. This beer is quite remarkable... Het Anker is becoming one of my favorite Belgian brewers. Very good.

Bottle: Excellent aroma of fruit, toffee, light chocolate, and a hint of yeast. Pours a dark transparent amber with a small off-white head. Fruit, raisin, light chocolate, toffee, and yeast. Light alcohol flavor and moderate warmth come into play in the finish.

Spiritus aroma with dark caramel colour and small head. Malt spiritus flavour with smooth finish. Could drink this one all night!