Gouden Carolus Cuvee Van De Keizer Blauw/Blue

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

Finally entering all my "Better Know a Style: Belgian Strong Ale" tasting 07 results, the last one, phew. This was quite the bad end to an otherwise great tasting. Aroma yeasty and alc. Dark red with no head to speak of. Flavor was pure banana with some alc notes. Very syrupy body and burned.

This 2006 corked and caged bottled brew from a bottle shop marked lot 6668334 poured a large sized head of foamy finely sized light brown colored bubbles that were mostly diminishing and left behind a transparent strongly carbonated dark brown colored body and a good lacing. The aroma was floral dark malt anise and mild vinous. The mouth feel was tingly at the start and at the finish with a strong vinous aftertaste. The flavor contained notes of vinous brown malt mild caramel and mild licorice. Delicious and one I would certainly buy again.

8/4/07. Poured out of 750 mL bottle, purchased at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA 1/5/05. 2004 Vintage. Deep copper-bronze color with a dense, creamy, tightly-formed, medium-sized sandy-tan head. Lacing is sticky, slow, and falls in blotchy, thick ribbons, with swift but respectable sub-surfacing reverse-lacing. The head retains very well for the style in a thin wafer. Aroma is very strongly reminiscent of bananas foster, with caramel sauce and lots of rotten banana fermentation character, slight hints of black pepper, some warming alcohol (even in the nose), and other assorted dark fruits (dates, mostly, but some raisins too), all outlined by a slight toasty presence. But this is like toast that is very slowly browned (not burnt at all), then saturated with a fresh, deep brown honey to serve. Delicious. Flavor follows to fit that same mold-- caramel/rotten banana, some spice hints, a touch of cherry-like acidity (though no cherry fruitiness), and an earthy leather. Finish adds a very light bitterness which, when paired with the leather, makes for a nicely drying and gently massaging combo. There’s even a vague lime note to the acidity that helps with the balance. Body is medium-full, with just enough creamy carbonation to offset the sugary sweetness and soften the alcohol point. I do get a slight solventy note with the alcohol, humming in the retronasal like a super-smooth whiskey. Not an offensive alcohol presence in the slightest (but it’s worth noting that, despite the Commercial Description here on RateBeer, my ’04 bottle said "Alc. 10% Vol."-- whatever). Slight baked pear flavor in the finish. The beer is extremely sweet, for sure, but I’ve never shied away from that; the balance is fantastic with hints of dry leather and a quick lick of alcohol to scrub the syrup from off your tongue. The toast and dark honey/banana flavors linger forever. Probably the best $9.39 I ever spent and left sitting in the beer fridge for 18 months. When I open my own dreampub, I’ll be sure to have cases of this "on reserve" all the time-- only to be offered after they’re at least two years in the cellar. Here’s to aspidites for the jazz recommendation-- Chick Corea was a perfect pairing.

On tap at The Gate in Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY - 08/07. Really quite wonderful on tap--with a substantial puffy medium off-white head over mahogany with garnet highlights. Aroma is sweet and fruity with easy-going fermentation characteristics--not funky--malt, alcohol, golden raisins, dates, and prunes. Maroon berry fruit flavors with dark cherry, some molasses, candied dates, and fresh figs. Alcohol flavor is strong but tightly woven into the complex tapestry of flavors--dark malt sweetness, some oxidation, some bitterness--leaving a perfectly-balanced body despite its massive weight. Certainly a treat.

2006 750ml. This beer looks simply amazing, right off the bat. Deep brown at first but a strong red / mahogany in the light. The taste is in yo’ face, strong alcohol balanced w/ sugar & deep,dark, & fruity flavors. The yeast & all its flavors are there but easy, sleazy eazy. A must buy!

[Sampled at DØE-festival, Valby, 2007 with svoger AT THE LAWN.]
Taste it vintage and you are in heaven. Lots of dried fruits, alcohol, bombed with ingredients, warming, yeast, licorice and yeast.

Sagra 2006. Coloração escura, avermelhada, com um creme bege denso e persistente. Complexa. Consistência cremosa e aveludada. Notas de torrefação, café, floral, licor e frutas vermelhas. Carbonatação média, no ponto. Álcool muito bem inserido. Fantástica!

Vintage 2006. 750 ml bottle. Okay, so I probably shouldn’t have had this with Thai food. I thought it would provide a fruity sweet balance to my spicy meal. Did I burn my taste buds? Was I lost in a flood of robust flavor and spice from the dish? Yes. I was. So I stopped drinking the beer, had some water, and finished my meal. 750 ml is a lot beer so I had a good amount left for a fair tasting. Upon pouring the head suprised me. At first nothing. Hmmm. Then, from the depths, like a great beast surfacing for the kill...here came the head. Tan and full and quite yummy looking. Then it went away. Aroma is is like bread pudding. Rich bread pudding. Flavor is of the darker fruits with sugar and alcohol. Robust and rich. This beer is a chewer. Quite good.