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Gouden Carolus Classic
Brouwerij Het Anker
- From:
- Brouwerij Het Anker
- Belgium
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #28 - ABV:
- 8.5%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #5,727 - Avg:
- 4.11 | pDev: 10.22%
- Reviews:
- 438
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 04, 2023
- Added:
- Jun 13, 2002
- Wants:
- 81
- Gots:
- 168
Gouden Carolus Classic, the ‘Grand Imperial Beer’ from Mechelen, is brewed with dark, very balanced dosed caramel and aromatic malts. This unique beer combines the warmth of wine and the freshness of beer. This makes it very suitable in combination with culinary specialties such as stews, pâtés, ripened or strong cheeses.
Elected Worlds’ Best Dark Beer (World Beer Awards 2012).
Elected Worlds’ Best Dark Beer (World Beer Awards 2012).
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by fionn13:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by RaulMondesi from California
4.1/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.1/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
It’s good. Putting the word “classic” on it may be a stretch like a race horse winning down one. But I suppose that’s ok. It’s not a Beatles beer - not even Rolling Stones who should have called it quits long ago. Again, I’ll let it slide. Maybe it’s because right now I’m with my french family in Neuf-Berquin and doing French things…
Live it up, my children. If you try, it be worth it.
Sep 06, 2023Live it up, my children. If you try, it be worth it.
Reviewed by aleigator from Germany
2.7/5 rDev -34.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
2.7/5 rDev -34.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75
Pours a hazelnut brown color with a smaller, bubbly beige head atop.
Smells of candied apples, toffee and creme brûlée among a lighter, noble hoppiness.
Has a light mouthfeel with a very pronounced, almost harsh appearing mineralic effervescence.
Tastes of toffee, bakers chocolate and melting milk chocolate, together with chunks of caramel and sweet molasses. This sweet foundation gets a little elevated by a bubbly, stony effervescence, setting a somehow working balance in this. Finishes a little nutty with rock sugar and pretty much nothing else to speak of.
This is too sweet and one dimensional for my personal taste, with its mouthfeel not being overly pleasant as well.
Feb 18, 2023Smells of candied apples, toffee and creme brûlée among a lighter, noble hoppiness.
Has a light mouthfeel with a very pronounced, almost harsh appearing mineralic effervescence.
Tastes of toffee, bakers chocolate and melting milk chocolate, together with chunks of caramel and sweet molasses. This sweet foundation gets a little elevated by a bubbly, stony effervescence, setting a somehow working balance in this. Finishes a little nutty with rock sugar and pretty much nothing else to speak of.
This is too sweet and one dimensional for my personal taste, with its mouthfeel not being overly pleasant as well.
Reviewed by AzfromOz from Australia
3.26/5 rDev -20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.26/5 rDev -20.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Purchased at Purvis Beer in March 2022. Drunk in February 2023.
L: Scarlett brown in the glass, with ruby highlights around the edges. A rim of stained-teeth-white foam clings to the edge of the glass. Some carbonation can be seen near the head. Let's be honest, this is not a pretty beer.
S: Minerally blackcurrant and grape must. Light, sweet malty notes. There's not a lot to excite me here either.
T: Taste is mild, sweet, chalky cherry, nudging towards that Doctor Pepper/cough medicine end of the spectrum. There's some brown sugar and dried currants and raisins in there too. The 8.5% ABV is hidden very well, and the candy-like nature of the taste means this could be drunk quickly on a hot day. This could be very dangerous, but the overall sweetness of the beer probably precludes it being drunk in bulk.
M: Mouthfeel is smooth, with the chalky sensation I talked about in the taste also coming through.
O: This beer rises to no great heights. The sweetness is not offset by an alcoholic kick nor by carbonation, lending a chalky, almost flat nature to the beer. There is nothing offensive about the beer, but I can't see myself reaching for another one if other Belgian offerings were on the scene.
Cheers!
#196
Feb 18, 2023L: Scarlett brown in the glass, with ruby highlights around the edges. A rim of stained-teeth-white foam clings to the edge of the glass. Some carbonation can be seen near the head. Let's be honest, this is not a pretty beer.
S: Minerally blackcurrant and grape must. Light, sweet malty notes. There's not a lot to excite me here either.
T: Taste is mild, sweet, chalky cherry, nudging towards that Doctor Pepper/cough medicine end of the spectrum. There's some brown sugar and dried currants and raisins in there too. The 8.5% ABV is hidden very well, and the candy-like nature of the taste means this could be drunk quickly on a hot day. This could be very dangerous, but the overall sweetness of the beer probably precludes it being drunk in bulk.
M: Mouthfeel is smooth, with the chalky sensation I talked about in the taste also coming through.
O: This beer rises to no great heights. The sweetness is not offset by an alcoholic kick nor by carbonation, lending a chalky, almost flat nature to the beer. There is nothing offensive about the beer, but I can't see myself reaching for another one if other Belgian offerings were on the scene.
Cheers!
#196
Reviewed by guidodewaal from Netherlands
4.25/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dark red with creamy foam. Smells sweet and malty. Taste: Red fruit, caramel, vanilla with a bit of coffee. Very well balanced, making the alcohol almost not traceable. Easy to drink and absolutely delicious.
Nov 09, 2022Reviewed by KotR from Belgium
4.66/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.66/5 rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Excellent beer for the colder time of the year to enjoy, by an open fire.
Drink slowly, best with friends.
Could be used for cooking, but what a waste. So much better when drunk.
Raisins, caramel, somewhat bitter but nice aftertaste, full. Serve not too cold.
Dec 14, 2021Drink slowly, best with friends.
Could be used for cooking, but what a waste. So much better when drunk.
Raisins, caramel, somewhat bitter but nice aftertaste, full. Serve not too cold.
Reviewed by mothman from Minnesota
4.25/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle. Khaki head with lace. Copper color. Clear.
Raisins, plums, figs, caramel, toffee, cocoa. Smooth, warming, soft. Very complex, very enjoyable. Full bodied.
Aug 14, 2021Raisins, plums, figs, caramel, toffee, cocoa. Smooth, warming, soft. Very complex, very enjoyable. Full bodied.
Gouden Carolus Classic from Brouwerij Het Anker
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
958 ratings
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