Gouden Carolus Tripel

Brewed by Brouwerij Het Anker
Style: Abbey Tripel
Mechelen, Belgium

Rich flavors. Deep color. A really nice beer that deserves higher ratings here. Pours a nice malty body. Not too sweet. But nice and "brown."

One of my favourite breweries and one of my favourite styles, so there may be a little bias in this rating. Happened to be a wonderful brew that seems to stand alone from this brewers big dark ales. Tasted from the bottle and poured into its own gold rimmed chalice, cool and not cold. A big dense and creamy white head formed atop a hazy orange-gold body. Head lasted the distance and left a web of lace down the glass. Intense, treacly sweet candi sugar nose with a strong balance of pears, apples and zesty oranges. Only a light amount of yeast and alcohol spice, peppery, was detectable and this came through long into drinking. In the mouth a blend of zesty fruity esters, prickly, medicinal and mellowing alcohol and yeast spice, and sweet candi and vanilla were amplified by the high carbonation that moved things along quickly. Light fresh herb flavours and leafy hops come in in the back and dry out with the alcohol to follow through to a long warming and reasonably smooth swallow. Light in body and filling in the stomach, this was a lovely beer, perfect for the winter, that came highly recommended by the boys at the Int’l beer shop, W. Leederville, and for that I thank them. Lovely!!! (33cL, BBE 01/07)

A vey sweet triple not cloying but right at my limit for the style. beautiful initial head with poor retention nice cnady sugar upfront Turbinado? with a apricots and white grapes to finish out the palate.

Poured a cloudy yellow with a huuuge white, rocky yet smooth head. All the triple aromas are there (coriander, citrus). Alcohol on your throat going down. Comfort beer.

330 ml bottle. Golden pour with very fluffy white head that lasted forever. Very malty aroma with ripe banana and bread. Flavor is matly as well. Lots of yummy yeasty flavor too. Nice pepper finish and touched of alcohol. Very good tripel.

Bottle at Paters’ Vaetje, Antwerpen. Orangey golden, hazy with an eggwhite-like head. Toffee aroma as well as some grassy hoppiness, even ryebread nose. Toffee and ryebread flavours and a good balancing bitterness. Good carbonation, dry mouthfeel, full-bodied. Not as clean as a traditional tripel, but a great beer nevertheless.

Poured from the bottle to a cloudy, dark orange color with thick, highly carbonated, off-white head and good lacing. Initial aroma was slightly sour fruit. As beer warmed, the scent of the 9% alcohol became more noticeable, but at no time overpowering. Likewise, the alcohol crept in nicely in the taste to help accent the fruit and hint of spices. Finish was smooth and long. I really enjoyed this beer.

Poured out a nice amber brew until the junk on the bottom infiltrated my glass....that’s ok though. Small bright white crown, thin retention, slippery lacing. I guess it’s been awhile since I’ve had a nice tripel so the aroma here is killer! Apricots, a bit musty, peppery, caramel and bread - put all that stuff in a blender and drink it... how do we get a way with it in a beer? The taste here is great as well - lends to very easy drunkeness. Smooth fruitiness (more apricots, white grape juice?? - I’ll have to check that one out I think), weak caramel is blended in nicely, a bit of yeast, good pepper quantity on the finish. This is the softest tripel I may have ever had. I’m on my 4th since I started this review. I’m trashed. So damn good you don’t want to waste time typing. Mouthfeel is great! Smooth and soft with a bit of alcohol bit. medium bodied... nice spicy and candy finish. The spice has good legs for the finish. Did I mention that I went old school on the tunes this whole time? W.A.S.P. self titled. Blow me.
OK. I saved the sediment from each of the 4 bottles I just drank and poured them all into one glass and then slammed it back. I tell you, that may be one of the best glasses of beer I’ve ever had. Woop Woop! My poor liver...