Cuvée Van De Keizer Blauw (Blue) - Brouwerij Het Anker

BradtheGreat7

Ohio

4.41/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Review taken a week ago from notes(Late January 2013)
*Vintage 2011*

330 ml brown Belgian style bottle with a stunning label design. It screams that whatever is inside is pure class. Poured into a Gouden Carolus abbey style goblet.

A - deep and dark amber with dark orangey brown hues. Maroon/dark purple character to the overall color. A semi cloudy opaque with semi clarity presenting a nice bubble effect. A fluffy tan head sits gracefully on top providing the walls of the glass with stickiness just before settling into a creamy ring of lace.

S - Rich dark fruits of plum, dried raisin, fig, and cherries followed by dark malt and hints of caramel, butterscotch, and bittersweet chocolate. A nice yeast aroma paired with a touch of bread and Belgian spice.

T - Flavor is stunning. Dark fruit, dates, plum, dried raisins, dark cherry, and banana. This flavor is big on sweetness, but the Small notes of bitter dark chocolate and roasted dark malt balance things out brilliantly. Slight hop flavors bring in some spice. Small notes of black pepper, cinnamon, and ginger are faint but noticed. This Belgian yeast flavor is top shelf and adds to the spice with a delicious lingering finish.

M - Big and rich bodied with a number of lively flavors in the mouth. Thickness is spot on for the style as it coats the mouth in a world class manner. Enjoyable and smooth despite the abv.

O - Het Anker and their Gouden Carolus brews are thoroughbred Belgian ales. This is the best of the best and is done in a traditional Belgian style. Its complex yet balanced flavors are truly stunning and it's beautifully colored body claims perfection. Perfection is a word that's boldly used in the craft beer world, but this Belgian gem just may be what perfection is all about. I'll buy this beer everytime I see it. I'm going to seek out the 2013 when it's released to try it fresh, but for now the 2011 that's been sitting awhile is out of this world good.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2013 14:53:08 | More by BradtheGreat7

hannydawg

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

05-23-2013 14:04:02 | More by hannydawg

aflies

Arizona

4/5  rDev -7.2%

05-22-2013 16:53:35 | More by aflies

Noyt

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -13%

05-21-2013 03:28:18 | More by Noyt

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-20-2013 04:56:22 | More by Kmat10

TheBishopco

Tennessee

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-20-2013 03:59:15 | More by TheBishopco

Photekut

Azerbaijan

5/5  rDev +16%

05-18-2013 21:16:09 | More by Photekut

teromous

Virginia

4.58/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 Bottle

A: A dark shade of brown, but still retains some color in the body. The thin creamy head is a light tan color, and quickly fades to a ring in the glass. Minor spots and haphazard lines of lacing are left on the glass.

S: I get a bit of chocolate at first, and then it shoots to the scent of a raisin box, then the smell of banana bread.

T: There's a lot of flavor going on in there. Fig at first, followed by a faint taste of a cracker (like one of those multi-grain crackers), then some of the alcohol flavor floods in and is pushed out of the way by the taste of banana and a sweet cream flavor. After-taste is like a mild coffee, which does not persist on the palate.

M: The mouthfeel is very wonderful. It is an easy drinking beer that is heavy but not thick or syrupy. There is no alcohol burn.

O: Overall I really liked the beer and I would most definitely drink it again. It's a very good example of a Belgian Strong Dark Ale. I did not find it too sweet, malty, or syrupy. I did find that it had a lot of flavor, complexity, and body. It is very easy to drink, but a person should be careful because of the high alcohol content that does not rear its head too much in the flavor or mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2013 21:00:44 | More by teromous

Westuh

Wisconsin

3.75/5  rDev -13%

05-16-2013 18:35:49 | More by Westuh

leftstagebrew

North Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-16-2013 15:37:16 | More by leftstagebrew

jimctin

Ontario (Canada)

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

05-15-2013 17:55:02 | More by jimctin

geocool

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -13%

05-13-2013 10:40:36 | More by geocool

brystmar

New York

3.75/5  rDev -13%

05-13-2013 03:55:58 | More by brystmar

Stugotzo

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-12-2013 15:57:56 | More by Stugotzo

mikeburd1128

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-11-2013 22:44:48 | More by mikeburd1128

MinorThreat

Colorado

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-11-2013 21:10:24 | More by MinorThreat

jjheinrichs

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

05-08-2013 16:21:55 | More by jjheinrichs

littlebeer

California

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

05-08-2013 08:10:59 | More by littlebeer

ObeMaltKinobee

California

3.75/5  rDev -13%

05-08-2013 06:56:19 | More by ObeMaltKinobee

Heavenisbeer

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%

05-08-2013 04:14:36 | More by Heavenisbeer

cadaugherty

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.2%

05-07-2013 23:48:39 | More by cadaugherty

dalepryor

Kentucky

4.75/5  rDev +10.2%

05-07-2013 22:59:08 | More by dalepryor

groovy24

Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%

05-03-2013 02:42:32 | More by groovy24

Axnjxn

North Carolina

4.19/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

330ML bottle poured into a snifter . vintage 2011.

pours a darker brown color with a very light head. smell is very sweet and the taste is even sweeter. strong raisin / fig taste. i wasn't expecting this to be so sweet, but it's a very nice surprise. tastes more like a quad. alcohol is very well hidden, i'd guess this was an 8%er as opposed to the 11% ABV. overall obviously this one is a sipper but one i'd seek out again. i'd like to try different years to experience the difference aging makes.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 01:46:11 | More by Axnjxn

chippo33

Vermont

3/5  rDev -30.4%

04-25-2013 16:02:52 | More by chippo33