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

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

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

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

OtherShoe2

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours honeyed orange with a big foamy white head. A skim and a ring now, no lace.

Some light grain and straw in the nose, some fruit and alcohol. Too cold?

Nice. You don't notice the 10% at all. A creamy note, with some pear juice and light bitterness mixed with a little booze. Some light grain. This is the 2008 and it has mellowed nicely. Nice juicy notes as the palate clears with fruit and light bitter notes. A hint of vanilla and wood at the very end.

Medium body, not a ton of carbonation. Very smooth.

Loved this. Nose is a bit weak, but the rest of this just shines. The age on the bottle probably helped. This is not overly boozy or hot. Fruit, grain, and alcohol. Grab a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 23:40:21 | More by OtherShoe2

mjyoung

California

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Split w/ bbb099. Drank 11/30/11. 2009 vintage.

What a way to bring in the Finals season.

A: Thick frothy vanilla cream head that sticks around on top of a slightly hazy off goldenrod.

S: Mmm golden fruit and spice, with a hint of something I can't quite put my finger on. Definitely a hint of lemon now that it's mentioned, but I was hard pressed to find it without the suggestion. Good, but not very robust.

T: I'm glad we sat on this bottle for so long. Not a hint of booze, and the beer is smooth and well rounded. Nice Belgian with light fruit (pear?)

M: Nice medium body with good carb and good balance. Creamy and delicious. Not much more to say there.

O:Delicious. I approve wholeheartedly. In reading other reviews, many people complain of a bit of heat and off flavors. All I can say is that this one is fantastic and well worth sitting on.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 06:14:53 | More by mjyoung

bbb099

California

4.35/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2009 bottle reviewed on 12-01-2011

A - Cloudy but bubbly golden orange color with egg white colored head. Head was foamy and plentiful.

S - Lemon citrus and belgian yeast. Simple, yet great aroma.

T - Crisp and dry grain flavors. Somewhat bready, and hints of the yeasty taste. Not too complex, but who cares, it tastes awesome.

M - Medium carbonation, bubbly. Full bodied, nice consistency.

O - Great flavors and mouthfeel. One of the best belgian strong pale ales I have had.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2011 06:05:36 | More by bbb099

AgentMunky

Alabama

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

Poured from a 750mL bottle into a St Bernardus goblet. Vintage 2011. Brewed 24 February 2011.

A: Regally white head about a finger high. Hazy straw-yellow that grows marginally more lustrous when backlit.

S: Sweet and fruity. Banana and other tropical scents. Yeast is omnipresent and lightly spicy. Quite muscly and impossible to ignore.

T: Yum! Quite tasty, but nothing life-changing. Lightly tart (a nice sort of surprise), the tropicality noted in the smell is present here as well. Guava? Mango? The endtaste is quite sweet, candy-sugarly so, and fades only with time in the aftertaste. Some yeast throughout, but not as spicy as I'd hoped.

M: The mouthfeel elevates this to an A-level beer. Smooth, clean, spritely, and ever-so-drinkable.

O: A light, sweet beer whose flavour belies its strength. Elegant. Noticeably Belgian. Quite recommended, but it doesn't find the same favour with me as have some other Brouwerij Het Anker beers. Still, a good buy. Would have again.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2011 01:49:29 | More by AgentMunky

eric5bellies

Australia

3.95/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Drank from my Duvel Tulip.

A -Pours a hazy Golden straw colour with a two fingered head that retains well and laces.

S - Lemon zest and spicy yeast.

T - Lots of peppery spice up front followed by some sour lemon. Candied sugar is present as a balanacing flavour.

M - Light to medium body with medium carbonation.

O - Nice balaced beer with subtleties that really make this and enjoyable BSPA. Would benefit with a couple of years ageing. The alcohol is very well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2011 15:37:20 | More by eric5bellies

ianjsullivan

Maryland

4.05/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

ST: 750 ml poured into a chalice. 2008 vintage.

A: Cloudy orange-gold with a very thin head that lacking retention. After only a few seconds only a patch of light foams is left in the middle. It does leave some lacing.

S: Funky yeast, lemon zest, candied Belgian sugar, fruity esters. It also has an aroma similar to rum or tequila (I even thought sour whiskey at first).

T: Lots of spice, candied sugar, lemon, orange, lots of floral notes and slight sour.

M: On the lighter side of medium and on the dryer side.

O: This is the first beer I both aged and reviewed. It certainly became more subdued due to its age. The flavors were more restrained and the body lighter. It is very easy and pleasant to drink, and it is more elegant due to its age.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 16:56:44 | More by ianjsullivan

weller1js

West Virginia

4/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

appearance: pours a cloudy golden-brownish yellow, with a decent foamy white head, and carbonation that dissipates quickly (I suppose aging for three years in a bottle will do that), a swirl of foam an yeast lingers on the glass.

smell: yeast is velvety and sweet, with lemon-citrus notes that are reminiscent of a refined tequila, complex yet pleasant.

taste: begins watery and subdued, velvety but light; hops are light yet floral, finishing crisp yet tangy.

overall: very enjoyable overall, I wasn't sure what to expect as a result of the aging process, but my expectations were not in line with my actual experience, but that is not a bad thing, lighter character was indicative of age, but I was expecting more complexity from the scent than what I got in the taste.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 01:32:04 | More by weller1js

JordanEllwanger

Michigan

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

Blonde as straw and a dense white head. Very tiny bubbles rise in lines racing to the fast gone head of this semi-transparent 'Special Blond of the Emperor'. Smells of apple and champagne sweet like an asti. Taste is very similar to the smell almost like a wine but bordering on that tartness of a wine. There is a thicker feel to this than a champagne and lots of undertones of sugars like those in a belgian triple, which seem to come out more with warmth. A very good beer and worthy of praise.

Cheers!!

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 04:40:15 | More by JordanEllwanger

flagmantho

Washington

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

Poured from 750mL bottle into a tulip. This is a 2008 vintage bottle.

Appearance: light gold hue with plenty of haze and a finger of frothy white foam. Plenty of apparent effervescence in this one.

Smell: bready, yeasty malt aroma with a little bit of fruity complexity. I'm getting some apples and pears along with the somewhat dank mustiness of it all. I like it.

Taste: the bready, yeasty, peary flavor follows the aroma quite faithfully. I personally like the musty bread quality of this beer. Good stuff.

Mouthfeel: medium-thick body with a great carbonation and concomitant creaminess. This is what a beer should feel like.

Overall: I really like this beer. It does lack some of the complexity you might expect from a 10% ABV brew from the Low Countries, but I really like the base flavors here. I'll look forward to having this beer again.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2011 03:06:43 | More by flagmantho

draheim

Washington

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL 2008 bottle into a tulip.

Golden straw color w/ a monstrous white head, vigorous carbonation. A few yeasty floaties.

Aroma is spicy, slightly citrusy, lots of fruit, flowers, pepper, and subtle yeast.

Taste is sweet, caramel, spice, and dried apricots. Sweetness from candi sugar? Hints of rum, brown sugar, and raisins. Almost syrupy, but just almost. Slight alcohol burn, which is actually working here. Taste has an almost dessert wine quality.

Nice crisp mouthfeel. Carbonation is really great on the refill, sustains a creamy 1-finger head.

The sweetness dictates that this beer be sipped slowly and savored. Not one I'd drink every day but this beer is unique and one I'll come back to again.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2011 05:29:26 | More by draheim

zaphodchak

Virginia

4.33/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Vintage 2009, consumed 5/11/11

Huge fluffy white head over a clear golden blonde body, laces nicely.

Smells great; Belgian yeast, traces of alcohol, a bit of banana ester; quite mellow, but for a trace of black pepper.

Taste is nice as well; very Belgian (would have a hard time distinguishing this from some tripels). Tastes like blonde, slightly hoppier Gouden Carolus. Tart and yeasty, with a clean finish; well-balanced.

Mouthfeel is nice and light, if a bit fizzy and coarse in terms of carbonation.

Overall quite nice, though (and I know it's apples and oranges), I definitely prefer the Keizer Blauw, though it's almost undrinkably rich, whereas this is pleasant and could be had all night, were it not for the price and ABV. This could go well with steak or chicken.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 02:00:13 | More by zaphodchak

BMoney575

Michigan

3.6/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on 5-7-11
2008 Vintage

Pours a very cloudy and very cool pale orange color, with a huge, foamy white head that sits in a thick layer. Lacing covers the entire glass, and slowly slides down.

Smell is sweet, slightly aged, with lots of light and fruity hop character. The Belgian-ness is there, adding a nice complexity right at the end. There's a little sourness there too, if you look for it.

Taste is tart hops and alcohol, with the sweet malt helping to even things out. Very acidic, I'm having a hard time placing any specific flavors. The finish is very dry and decently bitter, leaving a mineral-y aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is on the thin side, which does nothing to help the slightly astringent flavors. Carbonation is high, and foams in your mouth.

Drinkability would be decent, but the mouthfeel kills any redeeming qualities.

Overall, I expected the age to have mellowed this beer more, but it didn't seem to help tame the hops and alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2011 20:55:49 | More by BMoney575

Rizalini

Nevada

3.78/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bomber into my Deschutes tulip...

A - Pours a hazy golden yellowish, orange color, with a very foamy 3 finger white head. Leaves great lacing behind as it slowly fades.

S - Good begian smell to it. Fruity notes are present, as well as some yeasty aromas, almost bready. Slightly citrus as well.

T - Has a mildly sweet, bright fruit taste, with a slight alcohol burn. Leaves a little citrus aftertaste as well, mainly orange.

M - Light, semi-syrupy mouthfeel. A little over carbonated.

O - A good belgian strong ale. Strong, but drinkable. Slightly syrupy, but not tongue-coating. I will probably buy another, and let it age in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2011 03:02:23 | More by Rizalini

Brabander

Netherlands

3.7/5  rDev -8.2%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this beer in a trade with Apophis666 a week ago. Drank it with a buddy yesterday, together with the bleu one.

Poured this beer in my Struise glass and at fist look the fluid looked a bit cloudy but examining the glass more detailled we saw a lot of sediment floating around in the glass. That is strange because i always open my bottles carefully. That is why the apearance is not as it should be.

Smell is good, bready with some fuits behind it. Good taste, fresh and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 10:00:35 | More by Brabander

aasher

Indiana

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

2008 vintage poured into my snifter. This beer pours a cloudy honey gold in color with a one finger, spongy white head. The foam just sit atop the brew for a couple minutes without going down at all. The nose isn't prominent at all. All I can pick up is some muted honey cream and some pale malt sweetness with perhaps some clove. The flavor is light and sweet. It tastes of honey, clove, pale malts, with a light trace of alcohol. I'm surprised at how subdued the alcohol is for the content. Despite the short list of adjectives I used to describe the flavors, it's actually very, very good for the style. I'm pretty impressed by it. It drinks exceptionally smooth, being at just over three years old. This is a very good Belgian Strong Pale and worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2011 02:38:23 | More by aasher