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

ritter57

Pennsylvania

2.58/5  rDev -40.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

2009 bottle poured into a tulip glass.
A beautiful looking beer with a tan cottony head. Smells wonderful and sweet. But the pleasure ends there. The taste starts lively and fresh but quickly goes way too sweet for me. Can't taste anything but malt, sugar and alcohol. Thick and syrupy mouthfeel. I would rather have a coke but it may just be a style preference. Sorry.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2010 01:55:14 | More by ritter57

haz77

United Kingdom (England)

2.63/5  rDev -39%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

A - 2005 vintage. Pours a deep, clear chestnut brown, with a couple of fingers of light-tan head. If allowed to settle it falls to a thin ring leaving behind plenty of lacing, but is easily refreshed to a finger in depth.

S - Masses of sweet dried fruit - dates/raisins/fig, molasses, dark rum, cinnamon, orange peel buried in the back. There's more there, but tough to define what it is. Really appealing.

T - Rich, dried fruit comes to the fore immediately. The alcohol is fairly well masked, but only because sweetness dominates. Unfortunately this also stops any other flavours showing prominence. Long, lingering aftertaste of tobacco. Huge letdown.

M - Very coating, syrupy mouthfeel. Cloying. Carbonation is very light, which doesn't help to cleanse the mouth and add some balance. Disappointing, possibly due to its age.

D - I'd held high hopes here and the beer showed initial promise. Let down by its complete imbalance. Might revisit with a fresher bottle, but can't imagine the overpowering sweetness being brought into check.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2010 15:47:09 | More by haz77

jackndan

Illinois

2.68/5  rDev -37.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Gouden Carolus Grand Cru of the Emperor: Kind of a fancy pants name for a beer that I did not think was all that good. Big bomber bottle marked 2000 around the neck ring. Corked bottle. When pouring, I quickly noted substantial chunks of sediment, and this beer poured into somewhat of an unappetizing murky reddish brown color, with not much head. It did taste better than it looked, with predominant tastes of dried fruits, raisons prunes, etc. I did sense a tiny taste of sourness that was not all that unpleasant. All in all, I’d pass.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2003 15:36:43 | More by jackndan

jhu1995

Maryland

2.83/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

Pours a rich brown color with minimal head. Smell is malty and sweet with some mild fruity notes - prune and plums mostly. Taste was sweet with lots of caramel flavors and some mild chocolate. Thought it was close to a dubbel with the high caramel taste. Sticky sweetness on the tongue. Overall, I thought this was tough to drink, but I am not a fan of dubbels and this one reminded me too much of that style. Not a bad beer but not a fan of beers with lots of caramel flavors and taste.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2007 22:58:54 | More by jhu1995

sessycuban

California

2.83/5  rDev -34.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

2006 vintage. Purchased at Whole Foods.

A: The beer pours a dark amber, leaving a thin head that quickly dissolves. Very minimal lacing.

S: The beer is overwhelmingly dominated by the smell of bananas and caramel; also, lots of spices which I can't quite distinguish.

T: I'm experiencing a very strong maple taste that I don't particularly enjoy. The high alcohol content is very evident and the spices are overwhelming any other taste in this beer. I have to admit, this is probably the sweetest beer I've ever had.

M: The beer is medium bodied and coats the mouth well, but because I didn't particularly enjoy the taste, it's not really a beer I plan to sip.

D: I'll probably never try this beer again. In my estimation, the beer is overspiced and way too sweet. Some, however, may enjoy these qualities and would appreciate the beer more than do I.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2007 21:16:30 | More by sessycuban

DaveBlack

Virginia

2.88/5  rDev -33.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

2010 vintage, poured into a Chimay chalice

A: Dark brown with almost a rose color at the edges of the glass. The light tan head is pretty small, maybe 1/2 a finger's width, and does not have much retention, though it leaves some nice lacing and keeps a patchy covering on the surface of the beer.

S: Some sweet malts and a heavy dose of grapes, mixed with some bready yeast. Really interesting and lovely aroma.

T: Wow. I was sold on this beer until I actually tasted it. Up front, the taste is lovely and matches the aroma: some malts, a nice hit of yeast and the grape flavor. Unfortunately, after that flavor there is nothing but sweetness. Overt, cloying unbalanced sweetness. That flavor lingers in the back of the throat for a while, and is actually pretty nice once the majority of the flavor fades. Alcohol gently warms the throat, though it is well hidden in the actual flavor profile. I am pretty sure that there is a good beer here, just hidden behind a disgusting amount of sweetness.

M: Pretty heavy body, lots of carbonation and slightly sticky.

D: Honestly, I do not find this beer drinkable at all. It is way too sweet, and I don't even know if I can finish a single glass, let alone an entire 750 bottle. So unbalanced, and if I wanted something that tasted like this I would buy some grape syrup.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2011 02:00:31 | More by DaveBlack

PeprSprYoFace

California

2.9/5  rDev -32.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I really don't see what all the buzz is about with this beer. Had the 2008 version. It was way too sweet with a super thick mouthfeel. I can't put my finger on it but I think it is the huge amount of Belgian esters combined with a ton of candy sugar and malts. I think it's too much and I drain poured.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2009 06:57:28 | More by PeprSprYoFace

HalfFull

California

3/5  rDev -30.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

I strike this one from the cellar for unknown reasons, or at least logic. It just struck me to break it out, a 2009 version it be. Poured from a corked 750 ml. bottle into a large wine glass. This beer pours a clear deep brown with mahogany highlights. A half inch of foam settles out to a light film and throws off some lacing. Yeast influemce is oddly lacking.

Aroma is malty with deep ruddy caramel notes and a touch of yeast and some fruity vinous notes. Rather bock like on the nose, fruity and potent. Touch of alcohol with some warming. Good but not quite in line with a BSDA initially, though fighting it's way up through the glass. Yeast influemce is oddly lacking.

Flavor is sweet and fruity and perhaps to a fault. Sweetness of the delivery is the weakness of this beer, again being reminiscent of a bock beer. Alcohol does reveal itself with warming. Sweet and vinous yet pleasant in flavor and with a firm booziness.

Malty, caramel and with a bit of chocolate. I'm just not impressed with this beer. But then I'm never been impressed by this brewery either. Bit mucky and one dimensional for my tastes.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 05:51:42 | More by HalfFull

MrMcGibblets

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

07 on-tap at 3Fs pub.
A: served in tulip. deep ruby/chestnut/amber. slight haze. nice light tan head.
S: dark candied fruits mostly. rummy booze. some earthy spice and funk and dark caramel/nutty malts.
T: dark belgian candy sugar, dark dried fruit, roasted nuts. has a cough syrup thing going on. hops very understated.
M: medium bodied, well-carbonated, a bit of a sweet and sour finish. bit of a lingering medicinal cough syrup thing in the aftertaste.
D: definitely a sipper, tough to finish.

Serving type: on-tap

07-10-2010 22:25:35 | More by MrMcGibblets

SolomonGrundy

California

3.05/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Just a quickie today - lots of football to watch! And honestly, what guy doesn't like one every now and then? This is the 2009 version of the ale, btw...

Pours a dark amber, like dark maple syrup, with good carbonation. Two finger rocky head settles into a nice, short creamy head and leaves sheets of lacing. Nice. You can really smell the 11% ABV in here. Some other things apparent in the smell are sweet apple, some tart berry notes, like strawberry, and some minor metallic notes (which I don't like). Surprisingly subtle, actually. Whoa, the flavor is sweet. Like honey. It's slick and syrupy, but only slightly so. This will be cloying to many. The alcohol is very forward in this. Some other items in the flavor = fig, candy corn, and also a hint of blackberry jam. Very expensive at $11.99/750ml bottle. This is a novelty beer by all accounts.

What I like most: The nice looking pour and aspects of the crazy flavor profile.

What I like least: Price and excessive alcohol notes in the nose and flavor.

Verdict: Too expensive to be worth it, many better in the style can be found.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2010 20:27:44 | More by SolomonGrundy

JDV

Texas

3.15/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle shared at a tasting. Pours dark maroon with a thin beige head. Smell is dark fruit, bubble gum and is slightly vinuous in the nose as well. Taste is dark fruit, winelike and semi dry in the finish with some belgian candi-sugar. Medium to thin body and lightly prickly carbonation. A touch boozy, and pretty nice for the style, though.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2008 19:51:50 | More by JDV

ArrogantB

Colorado

3.15/5  rDev -26.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

This was the 2012 vintage that I got a glass of at a tasting. I've seen this on the shelves plenty and never bothered to pick one up, good thing. Dark brown almost black color. Smell is sickly sweet fruits and belgian yeast. Flavor is more of the same, a heavy melange of spices, fruits, sugary sweetness, just overwhelming. This was not bad it was just too much.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2012 01:03:09 | More by ArrogantB

sabrills70

North Carolina

3.23/5  rDev -25.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

750ml corked and caged bottle with 2006 printed on the neck label. Poured a medium slightly hazy brown with a 1 finger head, OK longevity and lace. Aromas of candi sugar, sherry, dried fruits and somewhat yeasty and bready. The alcohol really comes through upon tasting. Its sweeter that I expected. Lots of sherry and dried fruit flavors but not as rich as is needed to tone down the 10% abv. If this beer was about 6 or 7% it would be awesome, but the alcohol is just too potent. It's going to be tough to down this 750 myself.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2007 01:42:48 | More by sabrills70

bskrtz

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -24.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

750 ml bottle poured to open beer challice. Served 'chilled' at approx. 55 degrees

A) Very dark brown, clear with small lacy head.

S) Like a bakery -- sweet bread, pie, cookie dough. A lot going on here. Hint of citrus and spice

T) Very sweet, brandy, sticky thick maple syrup. Malty with mild hops

M) A bit flat. Could use a bit more bottle conditioned fiz.

D) A tad too sweet for me

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 22:37:45 | More by bskrtz

taigor

New York

3.28/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from 2008 vintage bottle into chimay glass.

A - Poured dark brown color with huge head that slowly dissipated leaving lots of lacing around the glass.

S - Very boozy with earthy scents. Lots of sweetness, dark fruits, nuts, and bready aroma.

T - Alcohol just explodes at the start hiding almost everything else in this beer. Sweetness is followed and stays there towards the finish.

M - Full bodied with high carbonation.

D - Definitely a sipping beer with alcohol not masked at all. It dominates everything else. I would avoid this beer in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2010 13:14:26 | More by taigor

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.3/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I had this from a bottle at the Stuffed Sandwich in Los Angeles. It was served in a paper cup (!) as that's how they do it there. If you ever go there bring a glass... They said the bottle was >5 yrs old, and it was kind of small (25cl). The color was brown and it had a sweet sugary aroma.

The flavor was kind of wierd, almost like a sweet cough syrup. Honestly I don't think it was my style of beer. Maybe it tasted different when it was newer.

Maybe I'll try it again someday to see if it's different fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2006 22:37:04 | More by TurdFurgison

SaucyA

Michigan

3.3/5  rDev -23.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

2005.

A - Into da snifta. Pours a hazy, opaque brown with a wispy white head, made of of big bubbles. Kinda ugly. Bits of lacing but nothing standout.

S - Grape brandy, brown sugar, cinnamon, prunes, alcohol, Belgian yeasty goodness.

T - Booze, dark fruits like plums, raisins, cherries all make an appearance. Also a big molassesy, brown sugary sweetness. A wet cardboard staleness jumps in for a moment, and finishes quite sweet. REALLY sweet.

M - Should have more carbonation. My biggest gripe about the entire brew.

D - Cloying, plus lack of carbonation makes this rather unappetizing. Getting through this 750 is proving to be rather tough.

Notes: I had lowered my expectations after trying the Rood, but this didn't even meet those. It smells and even tastes good, but the lack of carbonation threw me off quite a bit.

I may blame this on a bad bottle, but I won't pay the price of admission on this one again.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2008 21:44:29 | More by SaucyA

mikedotnet

Pennsylvania

3.33/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Dark reddish-brown translucent body with very minimal head that quickly dissipates. Not much lacing and the carbonation looks a bit low.

S - Very sweet, fruity aroma; a very faint hint of alcohol. I can smell hints of plums and cherries, but they are very faint (even more so than the alcohol).

T - Not much to write home about, the taste is moderately sweet and has a bit of warmth at the end. There is absolutely no bitterness at all. This one is far from complex.

M - Surprisingly thin body and very little carbonation make this a bit unimpressive for me. It's not bad; just average.

O - This 2010 bottle isn't very impressive. It's not a bad beer, but just rather average. Reading some other reviews, it seems I may be in the minority with my opinion, but when compared to the various Trappist strong dark ales, this one just doesn't stand up.

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2011 02:02:10 | More by mikedotnet

Lupin

Connecticut

3.35/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Pop the cork in a sink to be safe. Mine overflowed, but I had a glass ready and only lost about a half an ounce.

Wow.. I have to agree with anyone who said that the odor of bananas was profound. That's pretty much all I smell. This is going to be a sweet quaff.

Poured into a thin 12 oz pilsner. Head is pretty standard for the style. Minimal lacing. Thick, tiny bubbles. Head settles to about 1/4". Pours a little darker than the brown glass bottle.

First taste, my buds are inundated by the banana odor and I can think of nothing else. Phenols, yeast, sugar. Too sweet. Very thick. Malt and earthy fruits dominate this beer, as they should any belgian ale, but this is almost absurd. If you like that sort of thing, more power to you. The flavors are just a little too intense here, and they cling to the palate for a long time after you swallow a sip. Even swishing with water can't clean things off.

There is no need for me to have 750ml of this beer. Unless you are sharing this with someone else, there is no reason for you to do the same.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2006 00:40:12 | More by Lupin

bashiba

Iowa

3.35/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.25

Poured a murky dirty brown with a thin off white soap ring head.

The smell has some nice belgian yeast notes along with hints of fig, raison, and plum with a touch of banana esters. Very sweet candy like.

The flavor is overly sweet to me, almost just a big blast of brown sugar and dark fruit, not much else going on.

The mouthfeel is very creamy and silky smooth.

Not real high on my list of Belgian Darks.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 00:18:40 | More by bashiba

goatgoat

California

3.38/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

2008 on neck. Served in Chimay goblet.

Pours a clear dark ruby-brown. A finger's worth of tan head falls quickly. About half the glass is covered in sheets of foam that diminish to a fine lace.

Aroma is strong and prominent during the pour. Brown sugar and dark fruits. Doughy bread. Spice with a hint of clove. Heavy handed alcohol.

Flavor starts heavily sweet, syrupy, which is cut by spice. Alcoholic heat and dryness take over the finish. A medium light body but with a syrupy quality. Lively carbonation that is alternatively tamed by the syrup and distractingly prickly.

This is a tricky brew. Light, but sweet, coating, and filling. The alcohol and sweetness make it interesting for a glass, but wearying after that.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2009 00:47:14 | More by goatgoat

marc77

California

3.43/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 2002. Murky chestnut brown hue. Creamy beige head with homogenously sized bubbles. Intricate webs of lace remain. Vinous waft of sherryish fruit upfront in aroma tapers, allowing sugary dark caramel and clove to emerge. Hint of must and butter. Mellow banana esters surface as the beer breathes. Functional, but not overly enticing aromawise. Mild honey like sweetness hits the palate initially, then yields to a bitterish melange of bread crust and powdered baker's chocolate. Sweetness then resumes, this time of a clean, molasses tinged dark caramel nature. Herbal, clove phenol appears late, and detracts from the malt character, which had almost developed into a rich, carob undertone. Lightly bodied and well attenuated, but the paltry hop bitterness leaves overall balance well skewed towards malt sweetness. Finishes with a snap of clove laced sweetness, but otherwise dry and clean. It's certainly a flavorful brew, but residual and caramel malt derived sweetness clashed somewhat with the phenols, thus preventing greatness. This bottle was quite young. Definitely a beer worthy of cellaring.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2003 17:34:18 | More by marc77

texashammer

Texas

3.43/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

very dark but shows red notes in light. extremely thick head. very pretty.
smells of candy sugar and earthy sweetness and alcohol. tastes like molasses. warming alcohol. some floral notes, and caramel, and more molasses.
mouthfeel is somewhat slick, very full and kind of syrupy. not something I'm terribly excited about.

Serving type: bottle

09-25-2005 15:52:46 | More by texashammer

Alieniloquium

Florida

3.43/5  rDev -20.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle poured into an Allagash chalice. 2011 vintage.

Appearance - Pours a deep mahogany with a nice khaki head. Decent retention and some lacing. Looks quite nice.

Smell - Bananas, cherries, strawberries, and just a hint of caramel. Excessively fruity, but it's nice. Looking for a bit more depth from it.

Taste - Wow, it's sweet and extremely fruity. Tons of banana and cherry. Again, not much depth to the caramel, but it's got a tremendous amount of sugar in it. Sweet and boozy in the finish.

Mouthfeel - Creamy and thick. Boozy with medium-low carbonation. The sweetness makes it quite sluggish.

Overall - It's got good flavors but so much sweetness and booze that it's not quite a good beer. Above average at best. I'm surprised by the reviews. Perhaps this needs time to mellow.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 02:36:16 | More by Alieniloquium

ojiikun

Washington

3.45/5  rDev -20%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2006 vintage. Shop also had the 2001, but it was twice the price.

Poured from a 750ml bottle into my Gulden Draak tulip glass. Body is a deep reddish-brown, and suprisingly clear with a bit of suspended particulate matter. No fogging whatsoever. Head was off-white and dissipated slowly but steadily.

Smell has lots of up-front booze and an incredible amount of old brandy oak. There is a bit of a bacterial lambic-ish fruity smell as well. Minor notes are of caramel and raisins.

Taste is at first sour then immediately sweet, then with another bit of sour at the end. Initial brandy notes continue, along with good dark german bread. The sour notes of the smell develop into cherry and currant as the sweetness comes into play. What hops are there are all herbal, no bitter or floral notes of which to speak. Belgian funk goes without saying for the style. I suspect a bit of spontanious fermentation in this vintage, that lactic smell is just signature.

Mouthfeel is aggressive thanks to good, strong carbonation and high ABV. The constant balance between sweet and tart is a bit much at times, but the best parts of the flavour that hide inside each sip are enough to keep you going.

I realized about halfway thru the first glass that I am drinking this beer MUCH too early. 9 months wasn't long enough for this beer to really finish conditioning. The flavours are all there and are brilliant, but they haven't yet come together in a way that only age can bring.

I will have to grab another 2006 while they're cheap and put it away for two years, and update accordingly. I think this could be an incredible icon of the grand cru world, given it's time.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2007 07:13:40 | More by ojiikun