Gouden Carolus Classic - Brouwerij Het Anker

superspak

Michigan

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330 ml bottle into chalice, no bottle dating. Pours a very hazy dark reddish brown color with a small 1 finger dense khaki head with good retention, that reduces to a thin film that lingers. Some slight spotty lacing on the glass, with minimal carbonation streaming up. Aromas of huge raisin, prune, pear, caramel, molasses, toffee, biscuit, tobacco, roasted malt, light chocolate, herbal, and mild yeast spiciness. Very nice and balanced maltly aromas, with good complexity. Taste of big caramel, raisin, prune, pear, chocolate, biscuit, tobacco, molasses, butterscotch, toffee, and light yeast spiciness. Big malty flavors on the finish, with moderate dryness; and lingering notes of caramel, toffee, biscuit, dark fruits, chocolate, and light herbal for a short bit. Great balance of flavors with good complexity; and no cloying sweetness. Light-medium carbonation and medium-full bodied; with a very creamy and slick mouthfeel that is quite nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming after the finish. Overall this is a great Belgian dark ale! Quite robust feeling with nice complexities; and a big malty flavor profile. Really enjoyable stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 03:09:25 | More by superspak

ChrisCage

Alberta (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Poured into my tulip glass....comes out hazy and a milk chocolate brown in color....hard to say what the carbonation is like with this one. The head is a tan color, about two fingers thick at first and has decent retention, eventually settling down to a thick film. Lacing is excellent, with lots of sticky foam clinging to the glass. A nice looking brew!

S- This is quite malty in the aroma, and there is hints of dark, along with tropical fruits, such as raisin, banana, prune etc. There are some hints of various spices including clove and black pepper. The alcohol is hidden quite well, with just a mild whiff noted.

T- Well the alcoholic punch definitely shows up on the palate and takes a couple of sips to get used to. There is malt and toffee sweetness, which is countered by syrupy overripe fruit, along with spicy notes and an earthy dry-ish finish....going back into this after it's warmed up a couple degrees, there is some milk chocolate flavor in this as well. Quite nice and well balanced!

M- Solid medium body and rich smooth carbonation really makes this a delight to sip on. The flavors really are alive on the palate!

O- I find this to be really easy drinking in general, especially once the alcohol mellows. Lots of flavor, and balanced well between sweet and dry, this one isn't a beer that one wants to chug, per se, but this deserves to be enjoyed....it changes slightly as it warms, but keeps you feeling cozy. I recommend this brew for sure and will seek it out in the future!

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2012 23:50:15 | More by ChrisCage

deadonhisfeet

Kentucky

3.93/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a small bottle into a Duvel tulip. A jaw-droppingly beautiful clear, dark mahogany color with a nice 2-finger head that dissipates pretty quickly. Getting some of the classic raisin-like dark fruit notes on the nose. Also getting some cherry-like notes. Overall, the nose is too faint to be memorable.

The beer is medium-bodied with a firm, yet lively mouthfeel (from carbonation) and the flavor is primarily sweet and fruity. The taste follows the nose quite well. Sweet, jammy, fruity notes on the front of the palate are joined by nice carbonation that opens things up as the flavors get just a bit tart. I could spend 30 minutes trying to pick out all the different fruit flavors that are there. On the finish, there's a nice lingering alcohol warmth.

Nice beer. Those Belgians really know how to produce dark, fruity beers like this.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2012 01:11:26 | More by deadonhisfeet

Dope

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: A very dark amber pour with a large tan head adorning it. Fades slowly, leaving decent lashes of lacing all over the glass.

S: Raisins, fig, caramel, and a bit of banana. A bit spicy too.

T: Lots of caramel malt with fig and toffee. Raisins, apples and a bit of molasses follow in the middle. Spicy aftertaste with maybe some black pepper. Maybe hints of brown sugar in there? Nice balance of flavors. Touch dry in the aftertaste.

M: Medium bodied and smooth.

O: A smooth and well balanced malty BSDA. A little sweet but not overly so. Easy drinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 04:28:50 | More by Dope

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sometime soon i'm going to be doing a vertical tasting of the cuvee from this brewery, so I'm excited to try this one. No bottled on date but the guy at the liqour store said the bottle said it's about a year old and I believe, he knows me well and knows I can appreciate an aged beer so he has no reason to lie to get me to buy it.

Pours a very hazy straight up brown color with a huge off white head. Nose is comprised of rich cocoa covered espresso beans, vanilla beans, chocolate layer cake with underlying notes of figs and belgian candy sugar.

Lacing is stellar.

Fruitier than the nose lets on with absolutely no chocolate. Lots of carbonation, big in body. Amazingly subtle, Sweet brandy soaked fruit. Mild tannins. Amazing clean finish with a slightly sweet after taste but nothing cloying. Body thins out a touch on the swallow leaving way for a slightly crisp finish. Amazingly the flavors all hold together through the vigorous carbonation. balance comes in the form of a touch of earthy yeast flavors.

Incredible balance and slightly sweet. Very drinkable. But nothing crazy or out of the ordinary.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 03:15:26 | More by jtierney89

dansmcd

Australia

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - A finger and a half of dense eggshell head caps a deep dark mahogany brown. Webby sheets of lace later.

S - Blackberry, chocolate, yeast and coffee.

T - Cream, chocolate and lots of dark berries.

M - Moderate carbonation, smooth medium body. Sweet finish.

O - Beautiful flavours and incredibly drinkable for an 8.5% abv ale.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 13:39:20 | More by dansmcd

n2185

North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a dark mahogany with three fingers of beige head that fades into a thin cap with great lacing.

S: Some slight spice aromas up front followed by lots of bubblegum and candy sugar. There's an odd aroma that smells similar to fermenting fruit in there as well. Sweet, buttery bread aromas bring up the finish.

T: The spice notes are a bit stronger here, and the bubblegum and candy sugar not quite so. Dark fruit flavors are also intertwined, with the finish being bready with a slight alcohol warmth.

M: Medium body with mid-high carbonation, this beer is dry and nicely attenuated so that even with its high abv, it's quite drinkable. The alcohol presence does detract from it somewhat.

O: A good beer, overall. The aroma is interesting, though a bit odd, but it is still tasty and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 06:47:16 | More by n2185

Filosoof

Netherlands

4.65/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I ordered a Gouden Carolus. That was the only thing the menu card mentioned about this beer.

Getting it, I have to admit that I couldn't find out whether this was the Cuvee van de Keizer, wich I already knew, or something else. I didn't know the Classic yet. So it was quite a blind tasting!

When I was tasting this beer, and the waitress told that this was the classic, I concluded: this one is maybe even beter than the Cuvee. Strange, because the Cuvee is more complex and more expensive? No, I think this one is maybe even beter, because of the lower alcohol. It is more drinkable because of that and level interesting. The mouthfeel is absolutely fabulous! 5.0 overall. This beer is the name Classic worthy.

Serving type: on-tap

03-04-2012 21:48:16 | More by Filosoof

Mar02x

Netherlands

3.08/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

With thanks to BA Andrejes, I was able to try this beer. Andrejes brought his beer to a tasting organized by Fiona de Lange (the Dutch beer lady). Andrejes cellared this beer for 23 years!!! Yes people this beer was bottled in 1989.

A - A clear brown fluid with no head whatsoever.

S - It has got the smell of a medium dry sherry.

T - Dry, watery en lots of taste. It is like drinking a watery sherry.

M - A light to medium carbonation, no bitterness.

O - A real different taste compared to the original. A funny experiment and my first experience of a beer this old.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2012 17:21:48 | More by Mar02x

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this bottle from volunteering the BBF back in September and have finally decided to enjoy after a nice Saturday night working at the restaurant. 11.2 oz bottle was poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: The beer poured a small head that has reduced to a thin layer and left some lacing on the glass. A hazy and thick brown with no clarity and they signs of carbonation coming up the sides of the glass.

Smell: dark fruits baby. bananas, raisins, molasses, figs, plums, cherries, holy smokes. Super malty too. Can't wait to try a sip.

Taste: all of above is blended well, alcohol is noticeable given the 8.5%, delidious too.

Mouthfeel: carbonation seemed high, but still easily smooth enough to drink, full bodied, sipper, got easier to drink as it got warmer, and super delicious.

Overall: Pretty solid beer and wish I waited more than 5 months to enjoy it. Oh well, it was still enjoyable and enjoyed to the last drop. Need to get me more of this soon and sit on it for a few years. I still more beers from volunteering in my stash and not sure what I am going to move on to next.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 08:25:43 | More by Flounder57

drtth

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a tulip glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.

Appearance: As served the beer is a very dark brown color with a ½” light tan head that persists and leaves behind spider web lacing as it recedes. Sipping creates more spider web lacing which clings to the sides of the glass so that when the beer is more than half done there is an intricate network of lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell: The aroma is rich and full of figs and dark caramel. There are also hints of tobacco and licorice.

Taste: The flavors were strong and assertive, with tobacco and licorice showing first and most strongly. Then the fruitiness emerged with both dark fruit (figs and plums) and orchard fruits (apples and pears) popping out here and there. There was some sweetness that reminds of caramelized brown sugar. Eventually some nice chocolate puts in an appearance as well.

Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is on the full side of medium bodied and quite smooth. The carbonation is active, persistent and just strong enough to keep things active. The finish is relatively long with a touch of alcohol noticeable as it slides through the fruitiness to a semi-dry finish.

Drinkability and Overall Impression: Initially my impression was that this was a bit strong and overwhelming. But as I sipped my way through I found that each sip followed the last naturally and easily. If pressed for two words to describe this beer I’d say they are “complex” and “complex.” ☺ But I would not use the word subtle. This one is assertive and lets you know it is there, even though some flavors take a while to emerge. My overall impression was that this beer deserves close attention and the time spent to enjoy it slowly it as it warms through a range of temperatures.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2012 02:45:12 | More by drtth

heygeebee

Australia

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brown body. Three finger head stays nicely with good lacing.

Aromas of figs, caramel, toffee, butterscotch.

Taste is more restrained than the nose would indicate. Warmly alcoholic with sherry notes. Belgian yeast, raisins, fruitcake.

Mouthfeel quite light for the ABV. A little creamy.

Good example of style, however, somewhat light overall of flavour.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 10:40:10 | More by heygeebee

u2carew

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2oz bottle
A) Pours with a finger thick head then settles to a thin lacing on top. Dark mahogany body.
S) Raisins. Plums. Roasted malts.
T) Brown sugar. Hints of molasses and clove. Finishes with a hint of alcohol.
M) Fizzy. Medium body. Alcohol warmth.
O) A delicious Belgian brew. I would definitely have another one.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2011 01:50:30 | More by u2carew

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This poured out as a dark brown color with a fluffy tan colored head on top. The retention isn't too bad here along with the lacing. The smell of the beer is lightly malty with some roasted aromas. The taste of the beer was pretty good, lots of malty flavors in there along with some burnt flavors. The mouthfeel was nice, lightly creamy feel along with some good carbonation. Overall this beer was good, I would probably try it again one day.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 00:41:53 | More by Knapp85

SolipsismalCat

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass. Reviewed alongside Troegs Mad Elf.

A: Dark amber with particles and three-finger, off-white, creamy head that lasted a while and left great lacing.

S: Dark fruit like sugar candy. Some yeast.

T: Solid sweetness and light bitterness. Complex, spicy, Belgian yeast. Pretty good.

M: Medium bodied with soft carbonation. Silky smooth and warm. Slightly dry.

O: Looks great, smells so sweet, and tastes like a great Belgian ale. Smooth, warm feel too. This is definitely better than the Troegs Mad Elf.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 02:13:32 | More by SolipsismalCat

evilkalla

Alabama

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Serving: 750ml bottle into a snifter glass. I've had the bottle for almost two years but never got around to drinking it until now.

A: Very dark brown, almost opaque. Pours with half an inch of very foamy, thick head. A fair amount of carbonation is visible. Lacing on the glass is big-time thick.

S: Darker malts and candy sugar. Has a bready smell to it as well. Very nice.

T: Slightly sweet, with just a hint of bitterness. Tastes of dark candy sugar with a finish that sory of reminds me of coffee and butterscotch. Very, very smooth. The age in the bottle may have something to do with this. Very nice.

M: Smooth and slick, with just a hint of carbonation bite to it. Very nice.

O: Very solid, enjoyable dark belgian. I would definitely buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 22:15:00 | More by evilkalla

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle...

A - Slightly cloudy, dark brown body, with a splendid caramel-coloured head and nice fine lacing. The picture of this beer could be placed in the dictionary, under "Belgian strong dark ale". Excellent!

S - Chocolate, caramel, yeast, and DARK FRUITS! The aroma lets you know that you're about to taste something complex and deep. There is also a faint alcohol note in the smell, which may get stronger if you are serving the beer a little warmer.

T - Starts out sweet and malty, with a pronounced dark chocolate taste and some caramel. Don't let this description fool you, though, for this beer is all about dark fruit! Raisins, dates, prunes, a bit of cherry... This beer has an interesting and unique flavour feature: lingering prune flavour in the after-taste. Also some nice roastiness and not much bitterness. Flavourful all the way!

M - This beer is not for the faint-hearted in terms of its body. Quite thick, a little syrupy and a bit astringent, with an apparent alcohol presence. And yet this is a very smooth beer. You do taste the alcohol, but I wouldn't go as far as to call this a boozy beer. The warming sensation is a bonus, and your palate will appreciate the silky texture of this beer, after it warms up.

O - This isn't an acclaimed beer for no reason! There are more drinkable examples of this style of beer, but Gouden Carolus is certainly one of the most flavourful ones.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 22:06:39 | More by NightINgale

pettis

Japan

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Gouden Carolus Classic pours a dark brown with frothy head that settles into a one cm lacing. Looks and smells delicious--spice, dark malt, and fruit in the nose. As the beer warms, the Belgian candi sugar comes through much more.

This ale tastes wonderful--even more spice, this time coming through as cinnamon or maybe clove, and fruit on top of a dark malty base. Finishes quite sweet, with the malt and candi sugar linger on the tongue.

Every swirl of the glass brings the head to a creamy froth, which makes for an excellent mouthfeel. Overall, a very satisfying drinking experience. One of the best, and most drinkable, Belgian strong dark ales I've had.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 11:53:48 | More by pettis

ksimons

New York

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A-pours a hazy dark chestnut brown with two fingers worth of creamy colored head

S-Really nice smelling, rich malts, dark fruits, yeast, and a bit of a spicy bite.

T-Taste is very complex but subtle, rich in malts, caramel and juicy plums and other dark fruits, there is a bit of tartness also that seems to come from the fruit and finishes with a spicy yeasty flavor. Excellent.

M-medium body, good amount of carbonation, silky and smooth

First had this beer at the Het Anker brewery and it is just as good as I remember. Worth finding.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 23:05:57 | More by ksimons

fx20736

New York

4.47/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a goblet, served at cellar temp (~60f).

Burnt Umber with orange highlights when backlit. Towering mocha head settle to 2 fingers and eventually leaves a creamy coat of lacing.

Aroma of molasses, alcohol, cloves, plums and other dark fruits such as dates or figs.

Mouthfeel: effortless mousse

Taste: the malt is disguised as Brown sugar sweetness which lays down a bed for a rich prune & plum delightfulness.

Notes: My 2nd Belgian Dark Strong Ale (the other being Chimay Grande Reserve) and I daresay this is a wicked, beguiling style of beer that ranks among the best beers I have had. I guess one either loves the taste profile of molasses & dark fruit or one does not. As a lifelong lover of dark fruitcake I am smitten by these flavors and seek them out as the weather turns colder and the Holiday Season approaches. I will add this beer to my pantheon and eagerly await the next bottle.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 16:17:26 | More by fx20736

Squelch

United Kingdom (England)

3.8/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Amber colored. Dark. Not cloudy, just dark. Minimal head and lacing.

Smell: Dishwater, followed by honey.

Taste: Extremely complex. Licorace, finishing roasty. I have to take multiple sips to take it all in. Slightly off flavors in the finish or this would be ranked excellent.

Mouthfeel: Syrupy, and hot. Interesting play against the taste.

Overall: A pleasure for the senses, but not my cup of beer...

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2011 21:56:29 | More by Squelch

jayhawk73

Maryland

4/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at Churchkey:

Review from notes:

Pours a dark brown color w/ excellent lacing on the snifter glass. Smell is dark fruit, malt, brown sugar and yeast. Somewhat sweet nose on this brew. Very well balanced, and none of the characters stand out. Taste profile is about the same as the nose, with some wood and sweetness really coming out. Feel is medium plus, with good carbonation and an underlying bitterness behind the malt. Overall, this is a really nice beer- but there are better in this style. Glad I got to try it on draft! Cheers.

Serving type: on-tap

10-29-2011 01:12:56 | More by jayhawk73

IPA35

Netherlands

4.53/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Looks very dark brown with a reddish hue. Off white head.
Looks nice.

Smells is exceptional: dates, dark cherries, slight sour note, dark fruits in general, dark and sweet malts, belgian yeast, prehaps a hint of wood and some hops in the back.

Next, taste.
Again, very good. Sweet malts, dark fruits, belgian yeast and more bitterness than expected. Sour/fruity aftertase as well as a medium dry bitter finish. Sweet but also spicey.

As it warms up it becomes less sour and a tad more robust with the malts becoming more pronounced.

Mouthfeel is quite thin, the carbonation is not huge but it certainly bites in your tongue. The alcohol is very well hidden.

Overal one of my favourite Belgian brews, of the ones I had. Easy to get also. I wonder why I should look out for overpriced and hard to get American brews when I can get this for €1.70?

Fit for an Emperor.

Served in a Kasteel glass.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2011 19:58:24 | More by IPA35

MrIncognito

Virginia

3.95/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Churchkey in DC

A - Dark mahogony with almost a purplish hue in certain lights. Fluffy white head that settles to thin lacing with good lace on the glass

S - Dark fruits and sweet & spicy alcohol. Rum soaked plums, raisins, brown sugar. Enticing aroma.

T&M - Very much like the smell with the dark fruits and alcohol really coming through. Light carbonation and a thinner mouthfeel than expected. Almost a cola type of sweetness that is muted a bit by the spicy alcohol.

O - A very nice sipper that I really enjoyed. Not quite as complex as others I've had like Chimay Reserve but great flavors and aromas overall

Serving type: on-tap

09-28-2011 20:04:50 | More by MrIncognito

magictacosinus

California

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip glass from a 330ml bottle. Freshness date is "07/04/14."

Apparently this beer can be considered to be a brune or a dubbel, but I think BA's categorization of the style pretty much hits home. Although what's undeniable is how much like a dubbel that *this* looks. With a reddish, darkened color with a decent head slowly shrinks, I can tell that this is probably going to be a malty one. Still, with the carbonation grazing all around the head, and the foam sticking to the glass, it's very beautiful.

The smell here is absolutely excellent, releasing malty notes but plenty of brown sugary aromas. There's substantial caramel with a big, bready scent. Honey is definitely prevalent, and there are notes of tamarind as well. Definitely leans more towards a candy-sweetened side than a fruity side, which makes me hope that this thing isn't too sugary.

With one sip, I'm instantly proven wrong! Not nearly as sweet as it smells, the beer instantly grabs your tongue with heavy malts and spiciness aided by the hops. While it is strong in ABV, it's not noticeable at all until you finish your sip. As this thing warms up, the malts become more present, but so do fruity esters such as cherries and blackcurrent. (Or blackberries? You decide.) It's far creamier than I'd expect it to be, and the flavor is extremely nice and toasty.

As this warms up, the difficulty to categorize this beer is revealed. It's malty like a dubbel, but it's got the roasted flavor of a strong dark ale. No matter what, though, it's a great beer to drink. You get introduced with the malty notes, then immediately swoon by the fruity, toasty, and hoppy flavors, and then completely warmed up by the high ABV. It may smell sweet, but the sugar and alcohol is nearly absent from the flavor as a whole until it warms up. This is an extremely well balanced ale that I would champion in its beer style. Definitely worth buying more of, despite its obvious strength that doesn't make it too "sessionable." Whatever, that's not the point of this brew, so drink away and enjoy the crap out of it!

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2011 17:15:17 | More by magictacosinus