Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor - Brouwerij Het Anker

Fatehunter

Oregon

3.31/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25

Poured a big head with a cloudy dirty straw colored body.
The aroma is like a candied lemon.
The flavor hits from the beginning with a sharp bitterness the relents to a mild sweetness in the latter part of the profile. The finish is fairly short mild bitterness.
The texture is a bit on the fizzy side with a medium body.
The fizziness with the strong bitter beginning make this an aggressive ale. Enjoyable but be ready for it.

Serving type: bottle

05-08-2013 01:17:14 | More by Fatehunter

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle was poured into a tulip at Hops N Scotch in Brookline.

Appearance: This beer poured a crazy two finger billowy head that is for the most part still there. It is a hazy pale yellow with some clarity and bubbles coming up through the glass. Nice lacing on the glass as the beer was drank.

Smell: resiny, grassy, and citrusy hops. Nice bready and pale malts.

Taste: Same as above. Nice tingly hop bitterness and alcohol is a little noticeable.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, tingling, medium bodied, light to medium carbonation, and good.

Overall: Pretty solid Belgian IPA and the alcohol is not even noticeable too. Nice completion of their whole lineup.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 18:55:50 | More by Flounder57

Darkmagus82

Montana

3.89/5  rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a chalice glass

Appearance – The beer pours a hazed yellow-orange color with a big and billowy white head. The head has a decent level of retention, fading over time to leave a nice level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is sweeter with a fairly strong orange and lighter lemon smell. Notes of grapefruit citrus are also present mixed with some spice like aromas. Other non fruit/sweet aromas of a bready nature as well as a decent yeasty nature are present as well. All these aromas mix with a bit of a grassy and herbal smell creating a rather grassy Belgian triple like aroma.

Taste – The taste begins on the drier side with some malty and bready tastes as well as a decent amount of a citrus like sweetness with the citrus consisting of mainly orange, but also a bit of sour lemon. Upfront there are some hoppy notes of a more grapefruit nature. The hop begins lighter and grows in strength as the taste advances. Soon after the initial taste a stronger yeasty flavor comes to the tongue. With it comes a spice flavor of coriander and clove. Other hop flavor of a more grassy nature start to take over the lighter grapefruit hop flavors that were present upfront. The sweetness dries out more as the taste moves to the end. The taste ends with a very crisp and dry flavor leaving an almost citrus and yeasty champagne brut flavor with a light hop accent like taste to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the average side in its creaminess and thickness for a Belgian IPA of its strength with a carbonation level that is possibly a bit above average. Both are nice for drinkability and more citrus flavors of the brew but neither are anything too exceptional for the hoppy flavors of beer. Overall I think they did it right for the style however and overall it is pretty good.

Overall – A pretty decent Belgian IPA that is rather drinkable and enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 01:36:37 | More by Darkmagus82

newton99

Belgium

3.14/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

not impressive!
hopppyyy hoppy hoppy hoppy hoppy hoppy hoppy in the nose and in the mouth. blond in colour, white head.
Not so drinkable. Hoppy Hoppyyy

Serving Type bottleee
appearance niceee
smell good hoppy
taste hoppy
mouthfeel hoppy medium body
overall if you like hops!

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 09:51:29 | More by newton99

bashiba

Iowa

3.18/5  rDev -21.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.75

Poured a cloudy dull orange with a light ring of white head.

The smell is very sweet and a bit oxidized with a ton of belgian candy sugar.

The flavor is a bit more balanced than the nose. A big sweet belgian candy flavor starts out strong with a floral and slightly mint hop flavor quickly comes through evening it out nicely. Still has some stale oxidized quality coming through, in theory this should be a fresh bottle having just come from a new supplies, but it has an oldish taste to it.

The mouthfeel is light and a bit dry.

A pretty mediocre beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 20:32:51 | More by bashiba

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4.24/5  rDev +5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle served in a pint glass.

A: Pours a very cloudy pale yellow forming a huge white aired and fluffy head. Huge retention. Its foam looks whipped cream, leaving tons of lacings around. Beautiful. Reminds me Duvel in this aspect

S: Very citrus. Orange and lemons. Sweet grains, grassy hops and Belgian yeasts. An authentic Belgian IPA

T: Slightly sweet malts upfront. Strong notes of oranges, orange zest, lemon, grassy hops and Belgian yeasts. A bit bready and earthy too. In overall a dry taste and a stingy but not very strong hoppy bitterness

M: Medium body. Good carbonation. Malty, citrus and hoppy bitter aftertaste

O: Very drinkable. Authentic Belgian IPA. Recommended

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 19:22:09 | More by eduardolinhalis

Filosoof

Netherlands

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A heavy nice round hop style. Okay, but nothing much to mention - I thought last year. Now I look better and see the quality.

L: looks great; nice pearls in a big, lasting head. Color: like a German whitebeer.
S: strong whitebeer? round hoppy smell; smells like a heavy pilsener, orange,
T: nice harmonic taste, with a nice hop character, but not too much as some other hop beers. Small white pepper. Bitter, dry end.
M: a champion!

Very good combined with French cheese (Calvados Brie). Both cheese and beer lose a bit of theit bitterness if combined.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 18:12:16 | More by Filosoof

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.55/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Everything I have had from this brewing company is amazing. William, the beer manager at Total Wine & More in Scottsdale is obsessed with Belgian beers. He prefers the Belgian dark strong ales, but this one is an IPA. This is a newer brew, as well. By the way, their Easter beer is AMAZING! Oh, and their Christmas might be even better than that.

The last few Belgian pale and India pale ales I have had did not impress me. The hop profile is usually much lower, and being a hop head I love a hoppy bitter beer. So I am going in expecting the hop profile to be much lower than what I have come to expect from the expected American styles. The price, however, makes me think this is a really good offering. Makes me want to go back to Belgium! Let's drink.

In the Glass: I could smell this as I was pouring, but it didn't smell like hops. Not the kind of hoppy aroma I expected, anyway. Maybe I need to lower my expectations when we drink a Belgian IPA. In the glass it is LOADED with bubbles and has a ridiculous head. This is a fresh bottle, too. Grabbed this theater night at Total Wine & More. It has a nice golden straw color, and is somewhat cloudy when I try to look through it. I wonder if the aroma is more pronounced in the glass.

Nose: Imagine taking an orange and a lemon, smashing them together, and fermenting their juices. That is what this smells like. Yeah, it has some hop aromas in there… but mostly I am getting citrus. It is also ice cold, but for an IPA like this, I would prefer to drink them a little bit colder.

Flavor: There aren't as many bubbles as I expected on the tongue, and the flavor is very similar to the aroma. That is rare for most beers. I am a big fan of the flavor, and while it is not all that hoppy, this is a beer that I could easily drink six of and not even know it. You never taste the 8% ABV, either. This is a very nice flavor for a beer trying to compere with the American styles.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is actually quite nice. It's not thick, but it has a nice pillowy thing going on. As you swallow some of the bubbles really start to come forward, but you never feel like this is a carbonated beer. Not what I expected from the initial pour. Oh, and let me mention this… the glass still has a thin layer of lace all around it. No matter where I look, the suds are hanging on. That is a good sign.

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is where the hops really come forward. It's not all that bitter, but what bitterness is there hang on and gets more pronounced as you swallow. I actually like the aftertaste so much, I don't want to take another drink! But I will, because the flavor here is good. When we were in Belgium, I had a couple of beers from Het Anker. Our next trip will be during Belgian Beer Weekend, and we will just chug beers like this. We have an extra week of vacation this year… maybe we will go to Belgium!

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 20:46:43 | More by rickyleepotts

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

330 mL bottle with freshness date. Poured a monster head of white pillowy foam, really solid retention. Colour is a slightly hazy straw golden colour. Excellent retention, lacing and film.

Smell has very floral hops, violets (lavender?), also a chewy malt undertone, caramel malt. A hint of barnyard muskiness coming though. Opens up really nicely, quite fragrant.

Taste has fair bit of hops, but not so much bitter as really fresh and juicy. Grapefruit, apple, citrus notes all combined with a mild minerally Belgian funk. Some mild acidity and yeast gives way to a more malty caramel mild woodiness. Malt provides some definite caramel and toffee sweetness. Finish is quite dry, bubbly and a bit grassy. A bit of lingering malt and yeast. Really rich, tasty and the flavours work really well together.

Mouthfeel is moderate, I had completely forgotten this is 8% as it is so remarkably drinkable and light. Carbonation is moderate, altogether pretty smooth, a bit malty on the palate, but comes across really nicely and refreshingly.

Definitely one of the better beers Ive had recently. A really solid take on the BIPA style with plenty of juicey hops, pretty mild bitterness, and a nice overall feel to it. Really tasty. Try it out.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2013 20:53:02 | More by mick303

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky orange-brown with a foamy tan head small cap on top of the beer. Small patches of foam form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, fruits, and some hop aromas. Taste is much the same with a malty finish. There is a mild hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer that is tasty and easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 04:54:32 | More by UCLABrewN84

JimTeal

Nevada

4.88/5  rDev +20.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I thought to myself what the heck is Gouden doing making an IPA? Their lineup is so solid, but this excellent brew reminds us to keep an open mind. Great creative people always see something new and exciting just over the horizon. This is a beautifully crafted beer. Initial taste (great spices, properly infused), look (on the wheat beer side), smell and finish (clean and crisp) and makes for an oh so interesting pleasure. Good surprise find and more than well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 22:06:10 | More by JimTeal

Philousa

California

4.45/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

33cl bottle well before the 2013 expiration date.

Pours with a big, billowy white foam, three fingers high atop an opaque tawny yellow beer. Great retention and the lacing rings the glass well. Green, floral hop aroma mixes with pungent, slightly spicy Belgian malt. The two go together very well and balance each other out. Peppercorn probably stand out more than anything else, not too bold but impressive. Belgian malt taste gets spicy: allspice, pepper, then pungent and moves to the throat. Bitterness comes in gently but stays firmly towards the back of the tongue. A little earthy, gritty. Balanced feel, dry finish.

The spice and floral, nectary hops go together like love and marriage, PB and J, well... you get the point. This is just a well crafted Belgian IPA that isn't over the top. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 22:43:40 | More by Philousa

mscudder

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a globe.

A - A deep and murky blend of brown and gold, completely opaque. A thick multi-finger pale head. It is frothy and leaves some nice lacing with ample lacing behind.

S - Very dry herbs, spices, Belgian malts, citrus and subtle hops. Certainly a foreign aroma, one which in its complexity, turns me off.

T - This is an interesting one for sure! As it hits the tongue I get a popping sensation of crackers accompanied by lightly-sugared fruits, particularly pear, perhaps some light tart alternatives. The hops jump on the tongue in a way not found in American-styled brews. The complexity of the hop bitterness and the sweet malts/fruits makes for an intriguing contrast. I must note the balance is top notch. Some pepper and clove seem to be the source of the explosive taste.

M - A creamy light-medium body with a big quantity of carbonation. Explodes on the palette.

O - An enjoyable brew from our Belgian friends at Brouwerij. I feel as if this is a bit off of my particular tastes although for a bitter hop explosion on a Belgian base, this is an exquisite brew.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 08:18:49 | More by mscudder

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presently, this is ranked #17 on the list of best Belgian IPAs here on BA.

Served in a Port City tulip.

A: Poured a super murky, yet lively orange color, with a massive 2-3-4 finger head that stayed a cloud formation on top of the liquid even minutes after the hard pour.

S: I got sort of a fresh, farmhouse quality right away, along with some grass clipping, and lots of orange peel.

T: Excellent use of the Belgian yeast strain. Normally, this is not my thing whenever American breweries do it, however, this kept the whole leaf, sizzle effect in check and let the Belgian-infused citrus fruit do the work.

M: Extremely creamy and infinitely drinkable. I didn't find this dry or boozy in any way and the citrus sweetness was kept in check by the fresh grass clippings.

O: This was actually the fist time I've ever had this one, and it definitely won't be the last!

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 23:38:35 | More by Chaney

Momar42

Maryland

3.93/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Small bottle pored into Duvel tulip

A - huge, fluffy white head. Lingers wonderfully yielding fantastic typical Belgian lacing. Great looking BIPA.

S - some banana, Belgian yeast, light citrus. Nose isn't as strong as the appearance but announces itself.

T - a very Belgian BIPA if that makes sense. Not an overwhelming sensory trip or wealth of crazy characteristics. Just solid, Belgian yeast and hops goodness. Aftertaste could be stronger, but overall spot on to the style.

M - high carbonation effects this brew on the negative side. Otherwise a nice finish. The high carb level produces an almost astringent effect.

O - maybe not a game changer but easily a solid go to if ou can find it. There are an increasing amount of new takes on the BIPA style, but this is a classic example. Quality beer from a solid brewery.

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2012 01:58:59 | More by Momar42

Jamesthebrit

Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Super bubbly hazy light golden color.

S: Some hops come through, some fruitiness. Smells a little light.

T: The taste is very delicate but insanely well executed. Some hints of apple, cheery, a good sourness to it which, again, is very delicate. And yet somehow the alcohol is well masked. Oh... just now noticed this is labeled wrong in the style description. This is a blonde ale not an IPA and there certainly aren't any IPA aspects here.

M: A little heavy on the carbonation but otherwise sits with a good body and with no harsh flavors.

Overall this is a great beer in terms of taste (and thats what counts!) It's light yet complex which is something that I've rarely seen made doable. I think no matter who you are you will like this beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 23:59:58 | More by Jamesthebrit

superspak

Michigan

4.28/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle into chalice, bottled 4/15/2010. Massive cork pop upon opening, I almost didn’t need to force it off at all. Pours slightly hazy golden orange color with a beautiful 2 finger dense white head with unbelievable retention, that reduces to a thick cap eventually that lasts. Some nice thick soapy lacing clings to the glass, with a fair amount of carbonation streaming up. Aromas of big lemon, orange, pepper, herbal, floral, lime, pear, bread, earth, and yeast spiciness. Very nice and well balanced aromas with great complexity. Taste of big lemon, orange, pepper, pear, clove, herbal, floral, bread, earth, grass, honey, and big yeast spices. Fair amount of bitterness on the finish; with lingering notes of citrus, light fruits, pepper, herbal, floral, earth, grass, honey, and yeast spices on the finish for a good bit. Great flavor balance and complexity; great malt and spiciness/bitterness balance as well. Very high carbonation and medium bodied; with a slightly slick and extremely crisp mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden, with only a very slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is an outstanding Belgian IPA. Great hop flavor complexity and malt balance; and extremely smooth to sip on. Very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 03:33:14 | More by superspak

avalon07

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a goblet. Had an orange-yellow color and a cloudy consistency. There was a massive, creamy, long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: A sweet, enticing aroma of light fruit, hops, and malt.

T: Tasted of hops (a moderate amount), fruit (citrus, grapefruit probably), malt, and a hint of yeast as well. In general, this is a solid, focused, well done flavor.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a smooth finish. Medium-bodied.

O: On the whole, a well made, drinkable beer. Very solid.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2012 12:15:57 | More by avalon07

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.85/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

330ml bottle. Gouden Carolus Chalice glass. Enjoyed on jun´12. Pale yellow color, foggy appearance. White froth, creamy, copious & rocky crown. Sugar, alcohol & spices to the nose, bready & yeasty touches. Taste is ripe fruits & sweet malts with spiced & clean bitterness. Creamy palate. Medium body, moderate carbonation. ABV well masked. Delightful. Smooth bitter finish.

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2012 19:08:02 | More by GONZALOYANNA

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a hazy gold color with a white head. The aroma is heavy on the perfume, with some orange citrus and bread malt notes thrown in. The flavor is similar, with the floral notes really standing out initially. There is also some bread and grass, as well as some Belgian yeast and a low amount of bitterness. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 19:02:37 | More by Mora2000

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

330ml bottle, a single liberated from the confines of a Gouden Carolus sample pack.

This beer pours a cloudy pale golden hue, with a fistful of fingers' worth of silky, puffy, foamy white head, which leaves a small crusty, layered array of lace around the glass as it lazily recedes.

It smells of perfumed citrus hops, sweet orchard fruit, some subtle white pepper, a bit of zesty yeast, and bready, crackery pale malt. The taste is semi-sweet tropical fruit, simple pale malt, some spicy, peppery yeast, and soft floral, grassy hops. Very little, if any, sign of the big ABV.

The bubbles are fairly mild, the body an even medium weight, and pretty earnestly smooth. Nicely blended hoppy, yeasty, and sweet grainy finish.

A splendid example of a prototypical Belgian IPA, nice to run into so shortly after exposure to a local-ish New World emulator.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 01:08:22 | More by biboergosum

SebD

Ontario (Canada)

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: It has a nice cloudy golden/yellow color to it. It has a nice thick white head that dies down slowly and leaves very nice lacing.

Smell: The aromas definitly give out hints of citrusy/tropical fruit with some spices, yeast and light bready malts.

Taste: Like the aromas, it has a fruity character (citrus and tropical fruit) with some bready notes, yeast, and lemony spices.

Mouthfeel: It has a high carbonation with a nice overall balance and feel.

Drinkability: It's a smooth drinkable beer accompanied with good flavors and aromas.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 18:25:04 | More by SebD

Dope

Massachusetts

3.03/5  rDev -25%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

A: A cloudy, pale golden-orange pour. Huge, roiling bubbly white head. Leaves decent lacing behind as it slowly fades away. Island of foam resides in the middle at all times.

S: Loaded with overripe, sweet citrus - oranges and lemons. Sweet melon too, like cantelope and honeydew. Lots of banana. Very sweet bready malt in there too.

T: Again, lots of sweet fruits, bolstered by a big bready malt. Has an off flavor though that I can't quite discern. Some kind of spice that drags it down. Almost like spoiled fruit.

M: Medium, relatively smooth.

O: Will have to revisit this one. Smells great, tastes great initially but a lingering spice or tartness in the aftertaste ruined it for me. Perhaps an old or infected bottle, I am unsure - never had an "off" flavor like this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2012 04:43:39 | More by Dope

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Got this through private import.

The beer is hazy and pale yellow, on which crowns a very white foamy head that looks like cloud. The aroma is belgian yeast with some tropical fruits. Quite strong on those fruits. Hoppy. Nice. It has quite a bite in the aroma zone. I like this.

Now lets taste it. This is dominated by hops. Lucky me! Tropical fruits mainly with in the back some belgian yeast. It is very dry on the finish... as well as bitter. Very nice Belgian IPA. Its how I like it!

Looks show that it is quite carbonated. The foam sticks so well to the glass its crazy.

Glad I've got more than one of this one! Cheers all. A must try if you like hops!

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2012 01:47:56 | More by ZorPrime

ChopperSmith

Minnesota

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

Poured from a 750 ml corked bottle into a clear tulip glass.

Appearance: Hazy deep golden color with a nice big fluffy white head. Great retention time and nice lacing as it faded. Settled to a nice white frothy cap throughout.

Smell: Citrus hops and sweet Belgian yeast with a slight spice to it.

Taste: A good blast of bright and clean citrus and pine hops up fronts that mellows out quickly and gives way to some light roasted malts and a nice sweet yeasty flavor with some grass and light fruit. Very nice.

Mouth Feel: Medium body with good creamy carbonation. Finished semi-dry.

Overall: A really nice Belgian IPA, with a good balance of hops, light malts and a nice strain of Belgian yeast. I like this a lot and would happily buy more again.

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2012 21:56:21 | More by ChopperSmith