Cuvée Van De Keizer Rood (Red) - Brouwerij Het Anker

ksimons

New York

4.24/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2009 Bottle
A-a cloudy golden orange with two fingers worth of rocky white foamy head that sticks to the glass as it subsides

S-pale malts, sweet fruits, yeast, and some herbs or spices that I can't place

T-Pale malts, yeast, very sweet fruits, and some alcohol warming that continues to grow the more I drink. Sweetness kicks in even more at the end and is mixed with the herbs/spices from the smell

M-medium body, high carbonation

Very complex, but overall it is not my favorite from Het Anker. Drinks a little too hot and sweet. The more sips though, the more the flavors seem to blend more nicely.

**edit: 2012 Bottle
I gave the 2009 bottle's taste a 3.5 but think I am going to have to up it. Even though the bottle is younger I am not getting the hot sensation that I had from the 2009 bottle. Going to go up to 4.25 on this one.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 22:32:59 | More by ksimons

newton99

Belgium

3.51/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Aroma is floral, spicy w/ a mild lemony zing. Just a subtle hint of musty yeast.

Taste is clean pale malt, yeast, and hops. A delicate balance of basic flavors. Water is a key ingredient too. Very slight candi sugar sweetness, increasing as it warms.

Mouthfeel is smooth, semi-dry.

Serving type: bottle

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 09:56:05 | More by newton99

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle into tulip glass, bottled on 10/9/2009. Pours slightly cloudy golden amber color with a nice 2 finger fluffy white head with great retention, that reduces to a thin cap that lingers. Spotty foamy lacing clings on the glass, with plenty of streaming carbonation retaining the head. Aromas of big apricot, pear, golden raisin, apple, banana, bubblegum, honey, candi sugar, herbal, light pepper, clove, floral, and herbal earthiness. Fantastic aromas with great balance and complexity of malt and fruity/spicy esters; with zero alcohol presence. Taste of apricot, golden raisin, pear, apple, banana, honey, candi sugar, clove, herbal, light pepper, and herbal earthiness. Lingering notes of light fruits, honey, candi sugar, clove, herbal, light pepper, and earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of fruity and spicy notes; with a great malt balance and zero cloying sweetness present after the finish. Medium-high carbonation and medium-full bodied; with and slick and fairly prickly mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is extremely well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent Belgian strong pale ale! Great complexity and balance of malt and fruity/spicy esters; and very smooth to sip on for 10%. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:40:41 | More by superspak

laituegonflable

Australia

2.6/5  rDev -35.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Pours a pale golden colour; healthy bead. Head is huge, white, sparse but healthy bubbling. Yeah, looks pretty good.

Smells yeasty, with a honeyed edge. Yeah, honey-oat kind of character with a touch of earthiness. Herbal, gravelly bitterness, possibly hops or possibly just phenols. Otherwise pretty nice.

Taste opens up quickly to a very bready, yeasty palate. Loads of honey sweetness, oatmeal, golden syrup, yeah just cereal sweetness. Bit of depth to the palate but I find the overall flavour quite distaasteful, so can't call it great.

Fluid feel, not too bad. Drinks alright.

Sweet, grainy beer. Feels like the type that gives you a headache. Just sweet overall, not my thing.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2013 04:39:30 | More by laituegonflable

King_KongDCO93

Minnesota

4.7/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

bottled in 2009 and tasted on 2/21/2013

A: Golden, yet looks murky (reddish/brownish)and has large carbonation. with white head.

S: smell somewhat skunky, lost of cherries, raisins, pineapples, and toasty

T: notes of grapefruit/citrus, cherries, its sweet yet has mellowing bitterness

M: Large carbonation, large body. yet feels like your drinking a soda

O: Letting this beer develop really helped mellow the booziness. the alcohol is slightly notable

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2013 23:44:44 | More by King_KongDCO93

BlurryVisi0n

New York

4.1/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in snifter.

Appearance: A real nice semi-cloudy amber has a heavy light orange tint all over. Light tiny bubbles that body sediments floating throughout and white head roughly a finger's length.

Smell: A yeasty bread scent. Comes off with hard fruit, preferably dark and just inside your nostrils like hot air under a balloon. I say that in regards to it's sticky feel.

Taste: A little all over the place with this brew, yes a little sweet but lightly bitter at the same time. Almost like raisins perfectly blended with the right touch of bread.

Mouth: Medium, sticky...it leaves a little bit of a sour after taste. It comes off a little dry similar to a red wine but still doesn't fail.

Overall: This beer did it for me just right. I prefer the Blue a little more but this one is still on point. Grab your favorite pork chop and give this a go. Salud!

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2012 21:20:39 | More by BlurryVisi0n

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 vintage, caged and corked bottle purchased from Slowbeer by @epiclurk. Shared this with @tobeerornottobe and @LaitueGonflable.

Pours a very clear golden hue, with a frothy, but bubbly and large-bubbled head of white. Lacing is streaking and falling, but solid enough. Body is exceptionally light. Looks pretty solid.

Nose is classically Belgian: big rounded sweetness, soft malt and honey characters, with just the hint of some esters and fragrant greenery from the yeast. There's a touch of acidity to it, but it's all very well integrated.

Similar characters on the palate, slightly earthy Belgian tones, sweetness and spice on the finish. Mild, stretchy funk adds an odd overtone, but it's all just part of the rich tapestry. Overall, it's all the classic, slightly redolent, earthy, funky and rounded Belgian characters in a bigger and more expansive format. I really just takes me back to one of the squares of Bruges or Antwerp. Tastes of nostalgia.

Overall, it's good: I mean, it was always going to be good. It's good, in a standard, comfortable and recognisable way. It's good so that you know it's good, and so you can't disagree with the fact it's good. It's comfortable, it's warm, it's familiar.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 06:42:48 | More by lacqueredmouse

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.78/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A clear golden beer with a huge head that is really persistant.

Smell of esters with mostly apples, also some exotic fruits. The yeast character works well with the malt. The malt is light and adds a light graininess. There is a subtle hoppy note, which is floral and noble.

The taste is well balance with the same characteristics as the smell with a fruity taste with notes of apple, pineapple and peach. There are some light cardboard whiffs, but very light. The malt is grainy and gives the impression of wheat with slight musty taste. The bitterness is low, but high enough to balance the alcohol. The alcohol is very well hidden. The body is quite thin. Aftertaste is pretty short with the fruitiness lingering for some time.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 20:59:29 | More by Absumaster

hardy008

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 Vintage

Pours gold with a large foamy white head with excellent retention and lacing. The aroma is sweet, and has apples, pears, spices, and Belgian yeast.

The taste is just like the aroma. Sweet with apples, pears, spices, and Belgian yeast. The alcohol is somewhat detectable, but not enough to get in the way of the other flavors.

Medium plus bodied with plenty of carbonation. Smooth and easy to drink, with an apple and pear aftertaste. Finishes somewhat dry. Just like most everything else Het Anker makes, this is a great beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-21-2012 02:30:15 | More by hardy008

UCLABrewN84

California

4.15/5  rDev +3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle pour from Wowcoolman’s tasting.

2008 vintage.

Pours a clear orange with a foamy bone colored head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, caramel, honey, yeast, slight spice, and some floral aromas. Taste is much the same with a slight tartness and a sweet fruity finish. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. There is also a slight numbing quality in the mouth that I got after each sip. Overall, this is a good beer that is strong but easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 01:13:31 | More by UCLABrewN84

JudgeRoughneck

Louisiana

4.85/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

2009 vintage, sampled in August 2012

LOOK- Hazy golden with a huge, billowing, bright white saison-esque head and effervescent carbonation, visible legs

AROMA- candied fruit, honey, rich pils malty sweetness, spicy phenols, perfumy but no alcohol, lovely herbal tone..licorice..? fresh cupcakes...all intense..absolutelly mouthwatering..

FLAVOR- Wow. I have never tasted anything quite like this. Creamy with cake-like sweetness rounded out with stone fruit, cherry, vanilla, spice,...moderate hop bitterness keeps things grounded though no real identifiable hop character. Very refined and soft clove, anise, fennel, maybe even a wisp of coriander?...just an awesomely complex mix of botanical characters peeking out in the finish. Which is btw very clean. Alcohol gives just the softest touch of warmth. This beer is serious.

MOUTH FEEL- Medium-full, well carbonated, and creamy creamy creamy.

OVERALL- This was a fantastic beer that really made me re-think the style. Has almost nothing in common with the "Devil" beers. Popped it open because the brewery reccomends aging no more than 3 years but I think it could go longer.

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2012 03:06:37 | More by JudgeRoughneck

jrenihan

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 Vintage.

Beer is light golden with a large white head.

Smell contains light fruit (peach, banana), spice. Rather perfume-like. Some yeast.

Taste is very nice. Quite fruity, a variety of light fruit flavours dancing around. Peach and banana stick out for me, but it is rather varied. Some spicy notes, white pepper perhaps the closest. Yeast, a bit bready. Slightly sweet, but finish is quite dry.

Full bodied, highly carbonated. A bit irritating, but beneath the carbonation the beer is quite soft and creamy.

Overall, very nice. A very good BSPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 18:15:18 | More by jrenihan

zeff80

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottled in 2009 - consumed in July 2012.

A - Poured out a hazy, golden yellow color with a one-finger, tan head of bubbly foam. It left thin trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled fruity - dried fruits. Some spicy notes, too.

T - Good dried fruit flavors - apricot, apple and plum. Good yeasty, spicy bite of bitterness.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry, clean finish.

O - This is really good with years of age on it. I imagine it would be just as good fresh.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 19:12:17 | More by zeff80

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.7/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle. Pours hazy-orange with a short lasting white head and a lot of carbonation. Aroma is of Belgium yeast, pale malt and sulfur. Body is medium, tangy. Taste is cherry, pears, peach, yeast, candy sugar, peppery hops, biscuit malt. Finish is long, spicy and dry. Taste is much better than nose.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 13:48:47 | More by mikeg67

ryanonline

Florida

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Looks hazy and orangey yellow with a big 'ol white head and lots o lacing.

Smells like lots of spice, lots of orangey citrus and a touch of toasty bread.

Still more spice and orange in the flavor. But nothing new, maybe a touch of licorice.

Mouthfeel is a bit syrupy but with a strong level of carbonation. A bit prickly and foamy with a bittersweet dry finish.

Moderate drinkability, a bit too heavy to drink a lot but otherwise good.

Really great beer, though too orangey for a Belgian strong pale ale.

Edit: suddenly, BANANAS!

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 06:59:10 | More by ryanonline

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.93/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cuvee van de Kaiser Rood (Red). Jaargang 2011. 10% ALC. Vol. "Special Blond of the Emperor."…I will skip the further descriptions on the label, so as not to influence my thoughts.

30/05/11 reads the bottleneck.

I've had the Blue (Blau) before, and tapped it at the Nile. Incredible stuff. More coveted than this one, but that's because the beer geek's taste typically run to the darker flavors.

Let's untwist the cage, pop the cork, and get down to it.

Clouded, opaque orange-ish coloration, no head at all. Starts, tries, and falters.

Aroma: Slight. Citrus and straw, spice, but quiet, meek, mild. Not showing much of anything. (I've been battling a cold, though, so maybe that interfered with my senses?)

Taste: Big hops up front, bristling bitterness, then Belgian yeast character, and splashes of citrus and spice. Deep and complex, a rising richness, reminiscent of a good triple, but murkier, messier, much more wild and unrefined. Flavors are all over, and the alcohol rises high. Brisk, effervescent, and turning slightly sour. Interesting, complex flavors. A bit quirky. Not normal. The Emperor has a taste for crazy blondes. A lot of nasty yeast action going on. Buzzing carbonation. Bright lemon-y flavors persist, delicate spice plays on the palate.

It's taken me many years to get to this one, compared to how long I've loved this brewery. Typically, I'm not nuts about blondes, but I do like and appreciate them. They're damned tasty, easy to pass down the gullet, and utterly enjoyable. Not as complex and rich as darker Belgian brews, but this one takes a twist. It's vast in it's own way, and terribly tasty. It's easy to fall into the trap of the dark ales, and sink into the viscous chocolate malt, the cocoa, the coffee, the dark fruit, etc. Just let that thickness fall all over, and succumb. With a crazy blonde, you don't know what you're in for. You didn't expect this, you just thought it would be light and pretty. you thought it would be a hayride, a romp, a jump in the sack, but, no. It's starting to pound on your brain, and the complex flavors are a little confusing.

Candied orange, coated with champagne. Coriander and cardamom, still ring true in here, pithy lemon, zesty and delicious. Mmm, mmm, mmm, mmm.

Let's look at that label copy now: " Cuvee van de Kaiser Rood is brewed once a year on the 24th of February on the birthday of Charles the Fifth. It is brewed in a limited quantity by the Anker Brewery of Mechelen, one of the last remaining classic producers in Belgium. This blonde ale of top fermentation illustrates the subtle balance between the different natural ingredients. Bottle fermented."

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 07:05:01 | More by feloniousmonk

ipahunter

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Draft in a tulip glass

Nice golden slightly cloudy color.

Pleasant nose, nothing spectacular.

This is a delicious beer. Crisp and refreshing. Nice belgian flavor with just the right hop. Had with a chile relleno at Beer Kitchen in Kansas City and it paired well with the spiciness.

Serving type: on-tap

04-24-2012 23:20:30 | More by ipahunter

ColdPoncho

Ohio

3.78/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2011 vintage

A - A nice golden yellow body with a large white head that looks quite nice.

S - Banana, clove, caramel, light fruit, tough of spice.

T - A fruity sweetness that doesn't dominate the nose comes through prominently here and is nicely balanced by a spicy finish. A definite presence of alcohol, but working with the flavors.

M - light and smooth, aggressive carbonation

O - This is pretty good, but kind of boozy and perhaps a bit too sweet. Nice beer though, can see this aging well.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2012 23:20:42 | More by ColdPoncho

eduardolinhalis

Switzerland

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle poured in a Duvel tulip glass.

2011 vintage bottle.

A: Beautiful bottle art. Painted bottle with a cork written "Brouwerij Het Anker" on top. Pours an orange color with a huge white bubbled head. Medium retention and tons of lacings left

S: Sweet. Very strong on honey, candy sugar and yeasts. Caramel malts, grassy hops and alcohol

T: Follows the nose. Sweet upfront with strong notes of honey and candy sugar. Belgian yeasts, caramel malts. In overall, a sweet taste and a mild grassy hoppy bitterness in the end

M: Heavy body. Molasses sensations. Medium carbonation

O: Great beer. Belgian to the bone

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2012 11:08:29 | More by eduardolinhalis

chi16brew

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Vintage 2010 bottle.

A - Pours with a huge 3 finger head that lasts for a few minutes. Slight lacing but 1/4 inch of head that remains with small bubbles.

S - Tart fruit and a fragrant with just a hint of alcohol and spice. Nose is very muted though, a bit disappointing.

T - Pear and apple notes and the yeasty quality you expect from a belgian ale. Some sweetness from the malt but balanced by the tart fruit. Not overly spicey. As is warms the pear flavor is hightened and the tart apple subsides.

M - Medium-high carbonation. Really does improve this beer. Smooth with some body.

O - This really is a well balanced beer. It is not the most complex or the best that I have had. Will definately come back to it.

Bought this beer cold and the review is based on a beer at about 40-40 degrees. As this warms to between cellar and room temp it completely changes. Not as balanced, looses all of the tart fruit. Still has some pear but it is not half the brew it is colder. Strange, this is usually not the case with strong belgians.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 22:42:09 | More by chi16brew

smakawhat

Maryland

3.7/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Vintage 2011, small bottle, poured into an official Gouden Carolus chalice.

Off the pour not much head is created, faint off white, but leaves a small puck and collar. Body is a nice opaque I guess unfiltered orange color. Kind of nice but really looks like orange or some sort of fruit juice.

Nose is a real nice fruit of pear, melon, some nice honey notes and floral sense. Really fantastic, there's some alcohol heat but not too bad.

Taste however, does not seem to match the nose. Highly carbonated, a bit fizzy and gaseous tasting. A good sense of banana on this also, but more gassy than anything. Yeast punch comes in with more pours and as the beer warms up.

Overall, It's got a wonderful nose but I am not feeling keen on this one or desiring it ever again. Nice to try it though.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 23:37:31 | More by smakawhat

Infamous7100

Ohio

3.68/5  rDev -8.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

A: pours a hazy light yellow/gold a quick to fade, thin head. No lacing to speak of...nothing special.
S: fruit and spice are dominant. Apples and pears pair up with a sharp earthy spice..pepper? Yeast is a big player as well.
T: fruit and yeast are evident up front, very sweet. Some apples and citrus, maybe a some lemon. Toward the back, a pinch of hops break though and provide some slight bitterness. Spices are present there as well.
M: low to medium carbonation. This brew takes on a slighty creamy body as it sits. A very pleasant, dry, finish.
O: a good beer, this. Highly quaffable and the 10% ABV is barely noticeable. I would like a bit more balance on this. A bit more hops to balance the fruit. Nice brew though.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2012 23:07:09 | More by Infamous7100

unclejazz

New York

3.3/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2009 vintage. I had this in a Belgian Brunch tasting and was my least favorite. This beer looks pretty good, but I wonder if the aging had cause it to go too sweet. I barely notice the 10% ABV on this because it has this overwhelming brown sugar nose and taste. It tasted light a really floral quad. This could be good as a share for dessert, make a fruit crumble or a cheese plate. I wonder if the b lue is as sweet.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 17:43:28 | More by unclejazz

drabmuh

Maryland

4.03/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Beer is served in a tulip, beer is dark yellow / amber with a nice white head, small bubbles, low carbonation, some lacing, decent retention.

Aroma is apple, sweet, yeast, malt.

Beer is light in body and sweet throughout, mildly dry finish but overall a nice beer. The yeast character on the palate is strong and sweet, floral with nice fruity esters. I'd have this again.

Serving type: on-tap

01-04-2012 15:44:12 | More by drabmuh

dgilks

Australia

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I thought this would be a fantastic New Year beer but it appears that it will be the pre-New Year beer and I will be drinking some fantastic Single Malt for New Year.

Anyway, this pours a beautifully clear golden colour with a big, fluffy, white head. Good head retention and nice, chunky lacing.

Sharp, spicy aroma with moderate clove. Lots of fruitiness with the pear notes and stone fruit really coming through. Good balance on the whole.

Medium-light body with moderately-high carbonation. Big, fizzy and like a Tripel should be.

I quite like this. The earthy notes really complement the classic pale strong ale flavours here. Good.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 10:21:45 | More by dgilks