Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

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

Pour was very dark golden with fluffy light tan head. Aroma was strong of malt, caramel, and dark fruit. Flavor was very malty with bigger notes of dark fruit and some caramelization. Alcohol hidden well. Body was a medium to full with a sweet finish. Good brew. Would buy again.

Bottle, 2004-vintage. Pours hazyand dark brown with a little beige head. Nose of caramel and dried fruits and yeast. Flavour of dried fruits, liquorice, spices, yeast. Full bodied. Slightly alcoholic finish. A very nice brew.

Bottle from Frugal MacDoogal in Nashville. Pours amber mahogany with a beige head. Aroma of yeast, cherries, wheat malt, and banana. Full bodied with a oily and sticky texture. Initial flavor of vanilla, cherries, plums that transitions to yeasty and dusty middle, with a moderate amount of residual sweetness. Finish has a touch of alcohol. This was good, but lacks a wow factor. At a 99 rating, I was expecting something much better. Perhaps some time in the cellar will improve this for my palate.

2007 vintage. Pours a deep amber with abundant beige head. Nice lacing in the glass. Has a powerful aroma of banana, pear, rose and pepper. Taste is similar with the addition of caramel, figs, and chocolate. Some higher alcohol notes as well. Finishes a little sweet.

Bottle. 2006 vintage. Aroma is complex and filled with notes of sweet dark dried fruits, raisins, plums, also grapes, spice, wood, caramel, some yeast, apple, vino, and port. Just fantastic! Pours a very deep sparkling burgundy hue. Average off-white frothy head that left fantastic lace and mostly diminished. Flavor is earthy and sweet. Plum and sherry tones with a earthy yeast midway to the finish. Rather full bodied and sticky but not too heavy. Oily texture with lively carbonation. An amazing presentation but was hoping for more in the flavor, however, this is a fantastic brew.

Pours dark brown with light brown head. Aromas of dark fruits and dough. Flavor is sweet with raisins, figs, caramel, and licorice. Alcohol is barely noticable giving a slight warming feeling. Medium body with tingly carbonation and a creamy mouthfeel. Another great brew from Het Anker.

Bottle. 2000 vintage bought at Alvinne brewery shop for about 6.5 Euro (!). 8.5% ABV according to the label. Dark brown color with deep red hues and a small to medium, quickly-diminishing, beige head. Sweet sugary-caramelly malt aroma with some berries and some plum notes. Very sweet flavor with big maltiness, brown sugar, loads of dark fruits and a sweet finish with a bit of yeast and spiciness and some alcoholic notes. Medium body which feels too light to handle the strong maltiness. This is too sugary (gets even a bit cloying) for me. This beer is still ok but I’m actually quite disappointed.

How about his one? A bottle from 2000....yeah you read that right...2000! This happens to be my favorite beer as I have had previously 2006 and 2007. I didn’t do a vertical, but that event is in the works! Anyway, the aroma from the bottle just after release of the stubborn cork was overwhelmingly of dark fruit and sugar. It pours a dark-brown coppery color with a smallish head that seemed to dissipate quickly. Maybe some of the carbonation has worn off over the years. The aroma, once poured, was of dark raisins, plums, candy sugar, and carmel. Now for a sip...the flavor matches the aroma quite well. You get a potpouri of dark fruits such as plum and dark cherry. It almost has the fruitiness of a quality dark champagne! Great mouthfeel with a smoothness that I don’t remember being present in the more recent vintages. It also seems sweeter than those vintages. There is also, almost no trace of alcohol taste in the finish. Outstanding!