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

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.68/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

For Belgian Independance Day Week.

Body is more brown than black, but its dark for sure. The light produces a few translucent brown hues. Initial white head fades into big bubbles and a ring around the glass.

Booze laden smell. Lots of prunes and sweet dark cherries. Thick booze smell still dominates. Slightly sweet, kind of like sweet cherry syrup.

Not overly complex, but exactly what you want from a Belgian Dark. The booze is all but gone. Yeast comes out straight away, blitzkrieging away. It fades, and you get the underlying sweet dark fruits that are just great. Then comes this insanely smooth sweet monster. It finishes out just so smooth. Just sweet enough to be great, but not overly sweet. Notes of black cherries, plums, and sweet, sweet blackberries. Finishes light and slightly sweet.

Yeast is perfect here. Only enough of it to make a Belgian ale, but adds a nice presence. Low carbonation also helps the drinkability.

Feels light (way too light for 11%). Slick from the dark fruits, but still enough body to make it great.

What a gem and a lucky find on my part. Now I have to try to find a better BSDA (which is going to be tough).

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2012 19:35:53 | More by VncentLIFE

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