Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor

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

Wow. Bright golden color, huge frothy sticky head. Maybe I shook this one up too much or something but there were some very very tiny particles in suspension. No big deal though. The head on this beer was magical though...super light and foamy, bright white, sticking to the glass, creating a meringue-like appearance. Had to pour this one really slowly and gently, it was pretty lively. The aroma was a nice grassy, hoppy, bittersweet, nice and sugary/malty/sweet in that Belgian kind of way. Flavors were predominantly sweet and malty, though there was a huge amount of bitterness from the hops. It was actually fairly subtle and well-blended... the right combimation of hops to create a rich earthy, grassy, funky quality... not just plain bitterness. The body was pretty huge, very rich, well-carbonated and champagne-like. Kind of a like a crazy super hoppy tripel. This beer was great, this brewery makes great beers, plain and simple.

I poured this into a pint glass and initially the entire glass was filled with white foamy head. One this obnoxious head settled down, a nice hoppy belgian ale became noticable. Some lemon, flowery hops, and a belgian sweetness beneath. This is slightly below Houblon Doublon, which I consider to be the top of the belgian hoppy ales. Alcohol is more noticable here. Still a nice effort.

0.75l - Cloudy gold liquid under a thick, white head, nice lace. Sour smells, loads of hops on nose. Seltzerlike mouthfeel with a cinnamon note, and a long, dry, hoppy finish. Nice.

Bottle, has a hazy yellow-orange gold pour with moderate effervescence, produced a fluffy, dense foamy white persistent head, aromas of flowery hops, pilsner malt, lemon and orange fruits, faint yeast and herb spice fragrances, faint flower honey-nectar sweetness, sip has lots of hop herb flavor with fleeting light fruity lemon citrus, pilsner and gentle bread malt flavors, finish is pretty dry with hop bitterness and pepper on the taste buds, mouth feel is light with a creamy fluffiness. Why is this written as a Amber Ale on label? It looks a like a golden ale, anyway, this is a very nice ale, alcohol is hidden well, the 8% alc. is not evident, a very nice Belgian golden ale.

Lighter golden color with a thick, bubbly head. Aroma is quite sweet and mildly hoppy - honey, candi sugar, citrus hops, and a smooth yeastiness in there. Flavor is a bit more Belgian than most "hoppy Belgian styles" - just sweet enough with lots of sugar, citrus/floral hops, and a sweet maltiness that lingers. Very good with the bronzini and assorted Italian food I was eating. Nice creation.

Tap @ The Great Lost Bear in Portland. I was glad to get to try this and not have to spring for a bottle. Pours gold with a bright white ring. Nose is sweet and hoppy yeasty Taste is hoppy and yeasty nice lingering yeast 8.4.8.4.16

Pours hazy golden with a nice sized white head. Aroma is light fruits, banana, and spices. Flavor is estery fruity light malts, with flavors of candy sugar and piney, citrus, slightly earthy hops with a slight bitter finish. Good stuff.

Poured from a 750ml caged and corked bottle and served in a tulip. This beer poured a cloudy pale golden color with a big, off-white, meringue head. Very slow to settle, leaving behind, thick, bubbly lacing. The was made up of a huge dose of grassy hops, light lemon, citrus, pale malt, and just a bit of graham cracker. The included soft, grassy hops, mellow citrus, a touch of honey, slightly sweet pale malts, and more herbal, earthy hops. Huge hop presence, but not overly bitter. The mouthfeel was full-bodied and lush. Ample carbonation, yet very soft of the tongue. Mostly dry at the finish. Dangerously drinkable! One of the best hoppy Belgians I have tried. The herbal Euro hop profile is a welcome change of pace. Quite tasty!