Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

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

07 bottle. Pours a deep ruby red, a bit of brown and a modest tan head that fades surprisingly quickly for a Belgian. Nose is heavy on the dark fruits, sweetness and is oh-so-fitting for dessert. Smells of banana nut bread, hazelnut coffee, molasses, brown sugar, cherries, slightly leafy, and a wee bit of alcohol. Sweet molasses taste initially gives way to hazelnut, toast, more banana nut bread (but milder), cherries, and a bit sugar coated Christmas bread flavor. Finish emphasizes the subtle coffee and earth notes, dries out a little, and the fruit disappears, leaving only the most pleasant earthy sweet coffee/cake aftertaste. Delicious! Reminds me of PannepØt a little bit, but with more fruit. The only problem is the disappearing head and that the palate seems a bit shallow and uncreamy, despite being viscous enough. Lovely, will gladly have this again sometime.

(2008 bottle) Pours like a cola with a slight red tint; very minimal carbonation. Has a spicy taste that flows off the palate. The only beer that remotely resembles this one is the Delirium Noel for is spiciness.This has a fantastic lingering finish.

2005 bottle (lucky find, tucked away in a liquor store), pours a red cola color with a light tan head. Sweet toffee aroma with raisins and an alcohol spice note. Well attenuated with a high amount of carbonation. It has a caramel sweetness with a complicated spiciness showing up more in the taste than the nose. Plums and raisins strengthening the sweetness. This is followed by an underlying alcohol bite, which cuts through the sweetness. The beer is very complex and strong but surprisingly drinkable because of the light body.

2007 bottle. Mahogany pour with tan head. Very sweet malty aroma with dark fruit. Sweet initial taste, with fig, raisin, and brown sugar with spices. Perhaps a little sourness followed by a well-balanced licorice finish. Medium mouthfeel on the palate. I kind of wish I had aged this one a bit. This beer is close to being overly sweet for me; but it is just delicious.

A very fine beer to share with two or three. A whole bottle is too much taste for one day. Tasted the 2006 version with abv of 11 %. The beer is said to be good for ten years. We should check that out. The word evolution is often used but not many beers get better over time. For instance, Westmalle Triple loses its sharpness over time. That is progress to me. Will soon taste the 2007 version.

On tap at beachwood BBQ. So much is going on that I really have no idea where to start. It did take a while to get through the whole glass. Almost too much going on. Fruity is for sure and quite sweet. Quite good. I just think there was a bit too much for me to really enjoy as much as others seem to have.

Corked bottle. Medium dark brown pour, nce size head. Aroma of sweet malt and dark fruits. Taste of dark fruit, malts, candi sugar. Just a hint of hops and alcohol in the finish. Nice carbonation and mouthfeel. Great beer and much preferred to the red.

Bottle - 750ml. Nice cloudy brown body with a thin beige foamy head. Very well balanced malty/hoppy aroma with fruity, brown sugar, and vanilla hints. Alcohol is perfectly hidden. Its awesome taste is mild, complex and perfectly balanced. It carries very enjoyable fruity and sweet notes. Ends with a long, warming finish. This is a wonderful winter warmer.