Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

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

pours a dark red brown with an absolutely massive frothy head- gorgeous pour. Aroma is smooth and tasty, with notes of caramel, raisin, and yeast. Head is still rising with carbonation 2 minutes after initial pour. Flavor is excellent- definite sweet notes with plum, cinnamon, and molasses. Alcohol is definitely evident, giving a nice aggressive sidebar to the sweet flavors. Smooth palate, really nicely crafted brew.

Had already a lot of them on bottle. Next year i will do a vertical tasting of this splendid beer. Have already 5 different years of this bottle. Did a vertical tasting of all cuvée van de keizers. Had a very amazing experience. First 2008 still missing some body. The 2007 version was a little sour. And then came 2006. We had frm every year 12 bottles in a box. They stayed together in same conditions and then we could taste it. My bottle was very nice and good ballanced. Then asking an other table and asking them what they think of the beer and they told me it tasted as cardboard. I tasted also from that bottle and I agreeded. Then I asked a 3rd table. And their beer had a more sour taste. And I agreed. Then we went down to 2004 till we had a food break. After that break we went further down till the first 1999 brew. But yes tasting 10 different years of the same strong beer is very hard to do. But it was worth while. Tasted 10 dark Cuvées and the blond one.

Clear, dark carmel color with a fast disappearing head. A lot of carmel in the nose, and mouth for that matter. Only the darkest, most shriveled fruits in this beer, with some earth spices. The alcohol is ever present and warms the throat as well as any night time cold medicine, with with a taste that doesn’t make you grimace.

A dark brown/ruby colored beer, with a foamy beige head. It disappears quickly. The aroma is typical from Gouden Carolus. Very complex, notes of caramel, wood and roasted malts. The taste of dried fruits like raisins and prunes. It’s spicey, alcoholic. The aftertaste is burning sweet. A very good beer.

Vintage 2007. An imposing wooden red mahogany hue with a frothy cap of beige. Sweet, decadent and vinous nose of butterscotch, chocolate, raisins, and figs in the first breath, which is a mite too buttery. But the depth of nuance in the bitter tones and the sweet ones is unknowable; a westvleteren-like unconquerable cave. Peppery red wine, caramel, raw cocoa nibs, tannins, cinnamon. For the most part, the dryness of alcohol it offers is in the vein of a fine cabernet, as it seems so dark and tannic, and buried deep in that mysterious pure-chocolate soil. The butterscotch sweetness at the beginning is a cumbersome gateway into the ocean of character here for me.

Enormously full flavor; a fully realized, deep malt and yeast collaboration at every turn. Wildflower honey-dipped hazelnuts. An arresting red wine with every warming caress and velvety nuance it offers; cinnamon, sweet red peppers, brown sugar, and powdery cocoa. There’s an ebullient brightness of citrus that blends sunshine with the tartness of the wine character into something undeniably attractive. A fulsome thickness of chocolate, blackberries, caramelized pears and alcohol nearing the finish; warm and expansive, but dusted starkly with a surprising herbal bitterness, that couldn’t be better placed to balance the delirious sweetness and complexity altogether, and to wrap it up on a succinct dry kick. Wow.

Full palate, syrupy and effervescent, with a wholly erudite impression of cleanness and complexity from start to finish. It calms down a bit into maple syrup at the very end, showing a touch of alcohol, generously and appropriately. The balance and warmth of this gorgeously complex experience isn’t divine inspiration, but it’s quite breathtaking!

2008 750ml corked bottle. Pours a beautiful golden/red/brown with a very lively frothy beige head that produces excellent lacing and has wonderful retention. Aroma is sweet brown sugar and there is a bit of alcohol at the end, but what do you expect for an 11% beer? Flavor is of dark fruits and brown sugar and a touch of spice. The finish is a bit dry but I guess you could expect that. There is a touch of warming in the back of my throat as well. Mouthfeel is teetering on the syrupy side. This beer is wonderful.

Poured a nice ruby red color with nice frothy head. Aroma of alcohol, brown sugar and fruit. Flavor is sweet and some spices and alcohol on tongue. Overall a good beer but not overly impressed.

Dark ruby red hue with a thick sustaining layer of frothy tan foam. Aroma is sweet malts and dark fruits with a nice background of spice, sugar, and alcohol. Initial taste of rich dark fruits and caramel malts dominate and followed soon by spices and light chocolate, finishes sweet and slightly dry. Palate is a creamy smooth texture with ample carbonation. Overall, a fair Grand Cru that is somewhat lacking in flavor and complexity.