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

MmmIPA

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

uncorked at 12:02 am and poured into my St. Berbardus goblet.

ruby red body with a reddish head that looked nice and stayed for a few seconds.Nice lacing on the glass and the lacing sparkled.that was nice to look at.

cherrys and booze come to mind when i smell this stuff.I smell the candi sugar in this fine brew.

sweet candi and plum and dark fruit taste.

Im supprised how smooth this stuff goes down.It really has a great taste to it.easy on the carbonation.

Im gonna buy another bottle and age me one of these for a year or so.This is one mighty fine brew, I love it alot.This is a great style for everyone to try and to explore.Im glad I bought this stuff.

My first beer of 2007

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2007 15:01:23 | More by MmmIPA

Haybeerman

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Slightly murkey caramel/chestnut color. Poured a 1 finger beige head that dissipated to a skim; thick on the edges. Lacing washed down the glass.

S: Sweet and fruity; figs, raisins, cherries. Toasted malts and candi sugar. Alcohol. Very complex nose.

T: Figs, raisins and cherries up front. Toffe, candi sugar and butter. Lots of flavors linger in a mild bitter that ends with warming alcohol.

M: Medium body. Moderate carbonation. Hearty, dry and warming with genrous alcohol bite.

D: Big beer. Complex. Definitely a sipper.

Serving type: bottle

07-31-2010 05:52:55 | More by Haybeerman

EPICAC

Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I split a 750 mL bottle with a friend at Bierhuis Kulminator in Antwerp.

Appearance: Pours a hazy brown with a reddish tint. A thick off-white head fades to a sudsy quarter-inch layer, leaving patchy lace.

Smell: Sweet and very fruity smelling. Lots of bananas and peppery alcohol. Swirling brings out notes of cherry and raisins.

Taste: Very sweet with nice fruitiness: bananas, raisins and light tartness. There's a very mild alcoholic spice in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Thick and full-bodied with low carbonation.

Drinkability: Smooth and sweet. Neither the alcohol nor sweetness is overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2006 03:57:48 | More by EPICAC

dsa7783

New Jersey

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

750 ML bottle purchased caged and corked from Gary's in Madison...
"2007" year on the neck...
The beer pours a deep, dark, mahogany-brown hue with a tremendous frothy head that exhibited impressie staying power...
Strong, sweet, alcohol-tinged smell, bursting with plums, figs, and candied sugars...
Equally powerful, dominating taste, spicy and pepperish on the tongue, with noticeable sweet, candied sugars... Flavor replete with dark caramel, toffee, rich malts, and a hint of vanilla... Overall, the malt profile is huge on this one...
Equally thick, spicy mouthfeel, with the hefty ABV certainly noticeable at first, and than gradually dissappearing...
Drinkability took a hit due to the ultra-rich and super-sweet flavor along with the hefty alcohol percentage which is not well-masked...
Otherwise, really good stuff...
Worth a try...

Serving type: bottle

03-02-2008 18:16:53 | More by dsa7783

GratefulBeerGuy

New Hampshire

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2007 vintage 750 ML cage & cork > Chimay Goblet

The color is of a really dark, purple-hued red wine with deep ruby hues in direct light. This brew is REALLY fizzy, it's not overlly warm, but it's popping fizzy and crazy. a smoooth, soft crown develops over a bubbly, scattered head that is eaten alive by the carboantion insanity. It's totally gone within a few seconds. After the dust settles and carboantion mellows, it looks rather flat although totoally clear.

The nose is an intensely sweet malt with fermented red fruits, caramel covered apples, sugar covered dates and an impressive heat tingle.

THe flavor, much like the aroma is really sweet, with dense and sweet caramel malts, maple syrup, ripe red fruits, fermented red grapes and sugar crusted dates. The balance from this barage of sweetness is the yeast and hops which provides, black pepper herbalness and bitter finish. The alcohol throws the balance out of whack though, feeling like a really hot grain alcohol adding even more bitterness to the end. The hops finish with an earthy grainy feel.

The feel is soft and smooth to begin with, zippy in the middle as it evaporates on the palate. As time goes by, the malt is slick and cloying, sticky at the end.

The flavor's are not in perfect harmony, you will not find the balance of something like a Westy 12, but the flavor's are intense and unique. Age this puppy!!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2008 22:17:52 | More by GratefulBeerGuy

geokills

California

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A 2008 large bottle pouring chestnut brown with an intense frothy head and a mild fruity nose. Sweet on the tongue, a hint of cherries in the backround with a forward alcohol flavor (which at 11% abv, I suppose is not all that surprising!). Best served with dessert -- some kind of pie and fresh raspberries, dare I suggest a scoop of vanilla to cut the thick molasses of it all? This one is rich!

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2008 01:53:02 | More by geokills

MrHungryMonkey

Texas

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nose is aggressively malty and sweet-smelling. Mild sour funky tones slowly come into focus. Some dark grape-like fruit. Hints of vinegar. Smells good.

Pours a deep brown (almost red or purple) with limited-to-no clarity. Mild head with quick dissipation. Small piece of cork surfaced when the head disappeared. I'd guess the corker had too much gusto. Other than that, it looks pretty good.

A surprisingly flat body hits the tongue with less sweetness than I expected and an array of odd flavors. Some caramel, ripe dark fruit (raisin, prune, etc...), soft medicine, and a beef-like notion that reminds me of a very rare steak. Some mild vinegar, earth, and smoke. Flavor eventually settles upon sweet malt with funky yeast and more of that steak with a side of vinaigrette. Tastes good. Feels pretty good. Pretty good drinkability.

An odd Belgian. Tasty, but different.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2009 01:46:30 | More by MrHungryMonkey

ImperialStoat

United Kingdom (England)

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2001 Bottle.

I'll admit I was excited to try this bottle more because of its age than the sum of its contents, having previously enjoyed beer no more than 4-5 years old (Cantillon). On these terms I feel somewhat let down and I don't think its time spent "resting" accomplished much other than adding a faint corky must and possibly denigrating some of the stronger dark-fruit components.

That said, it was still a tasty brew and the nose in particular, with notes of dried pineapple and butterscotch, really held up well.

The mouth-feel was thin and effervescent; the taste was alcohol, spice, liquorice, faint plums and figs, and the aforementioned cork.

I say drink Cuvee Van De Keizer fresh. It's really not worth your patience waiting for it to age.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 12:45:09 | More by ImperialStoat

HeckYeah

Colorado

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A 2007 edition of the beer that is only brewed once a year.

A: after carefully removing the wire cage I slowly worked the cork...which proceeded to eject out of the bottle and ricochet off the ceiling. The bottle then immediately erupted with more force than any bottled beer or champagne that i have ever seen. My entire room is covered in this beer so I hope it ages well.

After it calmed down i only had about 2/3 of a pint left, but it looked interesting still. The enormous foamy head dissipated into a thin line. The beer itself is a dark copper with lots of floating sediment that appears to stay suspended in the fluid no matter how long it sits.

S: the sweet smell of buttery toffee comes through immediately, but this smell isn't overpowering or lingering.

T: Very sweet up front with a creamy caramel/toffee flavor with a raisin-y backdrop and ends with a sweet and only slightly more bitter boozy tingle.

M: Soft and velvety with more creamy viscosity than a normal amber-colored beer.

D: With an excellent mouthfeel and the mellow alcohol taste, this beer is all too drinkable. The only thing preventing me from drinking another one back-to-back is the somewhat cloying taste that just seems too much to repeat right away.

I'll likely buy another one of these bombers (and open it in the shower) to see if my opinion changes after attempting to avoid an eruption. I will update this post When I do. Despite the overflow, this beer is intriguing, but too sweet to drink repeatedly.

Serving type: bottle

06-09-2010 01:00:46 | More by HeckYeah

schwaeh

Ohio

3.83/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle from 2010.

A: Pours a murky dark brown color, some specks of yeast and such. Minimal cream head and light carbonation.

S: Big alcohol in the smell. Lots of the usual dark fruits, figs, plums, raisins, cloves, and belgian yeast.

T: A very sugary sweet beer with lots of alcohol just as the nose hinted, or screamed. The predominant flavor characteristic is rum soaked raisins with some plum in the background. Has some spiciness with the light clove and belgian yeast. Complex and simple at the same time.

M: Heavy side of medium mouthfeel. Not much carbonation to speak of, kind of syrupy.

O: I like this beer for what it is; Its very solid for the style. I think I expected more from this from it's place on the top 100 and mentions of it all the time. It fell slightly short of my expectations but is still a solid BSDA. I'm positive I would enjoy this beer with a lot more time on it though, it is a very hot %11, it makes no efforts at hiding it. I want to grab another bottle and hide it to enjoy years from now.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2011 23:14:27 | More by schwaeh

deadliest

Texas

3.85/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

From 2010 vintage.

A - Dark brown with red edges against the light. Fair head with light lacing from modest retention.
S - Mild alcohol hides behind dark fruit and Belgian spiciness and a little caramel.
T - Raisins > Brown sugar > Caramel > Alcohol > Belgian spiciness.
M - Medium+ body, fairly dry.
D - This is good, but considering it's ranking and style, I expected to love it. Maybe this needs some age on it before I try another one.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2011 21:18:04 | More by deadliest

kojevergas

California

3.85/5  rDev -10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

2007 vintage! 1 pint 9.4 fl oz brown glass bottle with hood and wire cap over a cork served into a Uinta brewing pilsner glass (it was all that was available) in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are very high given the brewery and style. I'm hoping it beats Chimay Blue.

Served after a rest period from the refrigerator. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 1.5 finger khaki colour head of nice cream, good thickness, and excellent retention for the high ABV. Colour is a very dark yet vibrant and evocative brown. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. Nontransparent. Opaque.

Sm: Magnificent dark malts, biscuit malt, clean malts, dark malts, biscuity yeast, fantastic caramelization, cream, plum, and heavy wine notes (mostly red, with even a tannin-like character). Surprisingly acidic. A delightfully fruity, rather subtle aroma. Really quite remarkable. I can't wait to try it.

T: Great cream throughout, with plum, wine grape, and other indistinct fruit notes. The gentle malt backbone lends it body but doesn't intrude on the flavour. Hops are floral if present; no bitterness comes through at all. Nor does any alcohol, which is quite a feat at this ABV. Some nectar on the back end. It's nicely yeasty, which I think helps complement those fruit notes. Some raisin here and there. It's not as winey as suggested by the aroma but still maintains that distinct character, especially on the climax. Tinges of caramelization help keep it interesting. It's full of surprises, and boasts an impressive depth of flavour as well as an interesting complexity. Quite subtle. It's brought off quite well; I adore it. A touch too acidic.

Mf: Just enough cream. Smooth and wet, aiding the drinkability. Supports the flavours without intruding upon them. Good (though fairly high) thickness. It can feel a bit viscous at times, but overall it's quite alright. It could use a touch more coarseness, but I'm nitpicking. Carbonation is near perfect; it drinks well now - even after five years.

Dr: I think the age likely did it well. Maybe one more year and it'd peak. Very drinkable for its incredibly well concealed ABV. I'd definitely get this again. Worth picking up some bottles for the cellar as well. A fantastic beer in the style, giving even Chimay Blue a run for its money in my book. Indeed, I think I prefer this one. And it isn't even priced all that highly for its quality. This is something of an overlooked treasure. I'd definitely recommend it to friends. One thing that does bother me is the proliferation of grapey notes, which can tip the balance of the flavour off at times.

B+

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 06:18:17 | More by kojevergas

frank4sail

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Dark ruby color light biege outer ring of a head. Sweet candi sugar and malt sweetness in the nose. Taste of sweet port, raisens, plum, and corriander, and a finish that has a dry touch of white pepper. Lively mouth upfront mellows to a coating thinner but smooth mouth. A nice sippin beer and one to drink with a good steak.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2004 00:58:57 | More by frank4sail

clvand0

Kentucky

3.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured a dark brown color with a large tan head that died off quickly and left very little lacing on the glass. The aroma was fruity, with orange being the most upfront and there was a yeasty spice as well. The flavor had a nice Belgian spice character and an orange citrus flavor. Caramel and other malts give it a nice body and flavor. Seems just a tad thin, but very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2004 15:07:47 | More by clvand0

bwyker

New York

3.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

On tap, poured into a pint glass, around cellaring temperature.

Appearance: Very dark mahogany. Nearly opaque from the dark hue of the body; however, when put up to light, it appears to be a clear, haze-free deep-red brew. A very thin ochre tinted head dangles in the middle and sticks to the sides of the glass. Lacing completely coats the side of the glass forming a slightly discolored screen.

Smell: Immediately notice toffee and molasses, with an alcohol backbone.

Taste: Similar to the nose. Smokey, roasted malts with hints of cherry at the start, followed by a slight maple syrup flavor and a splash of alcohol in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Although this one is heavy in the malts, the mouthfeel is surprisingly smooth, with only a slight stickyness in the finish. The first few sips are a bit dry from the alcohol, but this soon fades to a nice silkiness once your palate adjusts.

Drinkability: This is a big one that will demand some slow sipping. It gets easier with each sip, but I can’t imagine having more than one or two of these in a sitting. Overall, a well-crafted beer that was very much enjoyed.

Serving type: on-tap

09-01-2006 13:19:27 | More by bwyker

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - A very hazy tea colored large head. Tons of lacing.

S - Slightly fruity with caramel malt and faint toffee, dates, dried figs. Some alcohol.

T - Sweet dark fruits with a very sweet caramel that evolves to a slightly boozy presence with a complex sweetness. Aftertaste is a slightly boozy, lingering caramel sweetness with a mild bitterness.

M - High carbonation, thick, pretty refreshing.

D - Delicious worth having, I'll definitely have this again (if I ever come across another oppurtunity to have it). A little too sweet perhaps.

Serving type: on-tap

06-25-2007 23:28:49 | More by mrasskicktastic

BMoney575

Michigan

3.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sampled on 1-25-08
Bottled on 2-24-06

Pours a foamy translucent brown, with glass-covering off white lacing. Little bubbles rise from the bottom to the surface.

Smell is very sweet, caramel, lots of chocolate and a little cinnamon, with dark fruit buried beneath. No real alcohol smell, and surprisingly non-Belgian.

Taste is very tart and fruity. Not like the smell, much more subtle, and a bit more boring. A pleasant floral flavor comes in next, leaving a hoppy balance near the end.

Mouthfeel is good for the style, not too thick.

Drinkability is very good, considering the abv.

Overall, a standard strong dark ale. Good, but I've had much better.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2008 02:20:08 | More by BMoney575

ricke

Sweden

3.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle. 2009 vintage.

The pour is dark reddish brown with a big off-white head that leaves nice lacings.

The smell is big an spot on. Lots of malty aromas of caramel, brown sugar and toffee. Pleasant heavy fruit aromas, yeast and alcohol.

The flavor is really sweet. From start to finish this one is all about sweetness - toasty malts, caramel, brown sugar, toffee. Notes of vinous fruits, wood, yeast and grass. The finish has some bitterness to it, more sweetness and notes of alcohol, hops and spices.

It has a full body and quite a lot of carbonation, which is welcome here since it lightens the heavy character, if only just a bit.

All in all, a complex, balanced and tasty beer. Due to the sweetness, it gets quite demanding after a while.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2009 21:35:00 | More by ricke

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.88/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1.5 Litre bottle: 2011 version. Shared at home with the wife, daughter and son-in-law during a random tasting night on 23 Nov 2012.

Every had Dandelion and Burdock? This reminded me of that old staple from my youth: more body and less fizz than the old pop bottles but still very simular in smell, taste and look.

Demerara sugar and raisins also came to mind in this fairly sweet yet very drinkable brew. The alcohol is detectable but it adds to the enjoyment rather than hindering as some weaker/watery beers often suffer with because their flavours are not strong enough: these flavours certainly are hefty enough to take the alcohol and help it to enhance the brew.

I had the lions share of the bottle and knew I'd had enough when I stopped drinking and started making my notes: just about readable!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 16:04:23 | More by BlackHaddock

Osiris9588

Ohio

3.9/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured this out of a brown 11.2 oz bottle, ABV 8%. This ale has a great color, a dark copper accented with a cranberry glow. A rather weak, though lacey, head disspated quickly in a large tulip glass. The pleasing bouquet was filled with notes of chocolate, plum, and rich malt. The taste offered malt and various spices on the front palate, moving to a candy coated and stong alcohol finish. Mouthfeel was lively and full, yet the candy-alcohol finish was overpowering and almost deadened my tongue for future sips. However, I grew used to the finish and it compared nicely with other ales of its ilk.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2006 03:53:27 | More by Osiris9588

kirkmichel

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 1PT9.4FL.OZ. bottle purchased at Green's, Atlanta, GA
2006 vintage
Used a pint glass - no chalice, which I would have liked

appearance - Opaque, rust-brown, lacy lasting foam

Poured a somewhat dark, semi-opaque, rusty brown with decent caramel-tinted dense foam head.
The foam stayed for a long time, which was nice, and clung to the periphery of the glass. Foam lacing actually stuck to the glass even when the liquid was gone. The miracles of beer science.

smell - Kind of subtle and malty and yeast-y.

When I could get I smelled spice, prunes/fgs and maybe some brown sugar and molasses, though I can't be sure that the color of it didn't influence me on this last bit.

taste - Sweet on the front, strong alchol on the way down.

The tase was a sweet malt with dried fruits like golden and brown raisins and that sugary finish. Super raisiny. the taste lasts and seems fairly complex, making this a nice sipping beer.

mouthfeel - Medium body, but smooth.
The mouthfeel was medium bodied. Not too much carbonation, despite the thick head.

drinkability - This beer is nice as what I like to call "an appetizer". Can't drink a bunch, and really who would want to? It would spoil the treat of having just one.
Considering that strong, dark ales are not my "thing" and I actually really like this, I think that those who love this style would be missing out if they didn't give it a try. Plus, I suppose because of the ABV, it stores well - mine was labelled 1996 and here I am drinking it in 2008 and it is outstanding! If you see it, pick it up...

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2008 21:41:42 | More by kirkmichel

GilGarp

Colorado

3.9/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2007 vintage. Dated good though November 2017 but I just couldn't wait.

Pops softly but soon starts gushing out of the bottle. Luckily, I have a glass in hand and pour it in carefully. Color is a dark redish brown with lots of sediment in suspension despite careful handing. The head settles quickly to a thin layer on top.

Aroma is rich, malty, and full of fruity esters. There also seems to be a hint of sherry or bourbon but that may just be the alcohol.

The taste is surprisingly sweet with cherries, plum, apricot, and fig. The Belgian yeast is very pleasant adding dark bread, nuts, and spice. Although there is a wide variety of flavors at work here, it's the sweet dark fruits that really dominate.

Mouthfeel is good, nice level of carbonation and good body. All appropriate for the style.

Drinkability is alright for the style but it's intense, sweet, and strong so a little goes a long way.

All in all a good BSD but the lumpy appearance and overly sweet flavor hinder this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2009 00:09:43 | More by GilGarp

Chelsea1905

Washington

3.9/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008. Probably one of the best Belgians I have ever had, except for that one girl on a damp summers night in....hold on, back to the beer!

Anyway, pours a nice ruby red, dark brown hue with a lively head that disapates after some time, but leaves great markings after each swallow.

Smells of vanilla and pear, which is really quite light and floral for a beer as dark as this pours.

tastes, for me all belgians do this, initially of gas and alcohol, but after that subsdes there is a candy-like sweetness from whatever malt was used. Not as over poweringly wheat or yeast tasting as other belgians I have had.

Very smooth after the inital rush of bubbles.

At 11% I dount youd be knocking many of these back, but the mouthfeel is quite light for something that appears so dark!

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2009 04:20:57 | More by Chelsea1905

Brabander

Netherlands

3.9/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I got this beer in a trade with Apophis666 a week ago, together with the blond version. I drank them both yesterday with a buddy.

Let's start with this one although we drank it after the blond. Poured in the Struise glass the beer looks good, darkdarkred to brown fluid with a very nice two finger head, bubbly and creamy. The hed disappears after a while and a small ring of foam sticks to the glass.

Sweet smell. The taste is good, not complex, rather simple but good. Dark candysugar and some spices but the spices they added could have been a bit more to give the beer a complexer taste.

Mouthfeel is good, simple and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 09:55:55 | More by Brabander

HuskyinPDX

Washington

3.91/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle opened on 6.4.13
2012 Vintage

A - Pours a very dark ruby-black with a foamy dark tan head with good retention.

S - Spices, Belgium yeast, cola-like.

T - Tart, spicy, earthy. Belgian - plum colas.

D - Good carbonation with a mediumb body.

O - A touch of tartness adds a twist to the Belgian spices and earthiness.

Serving type: bottle

06-10-2013 05:14:59 | More by HuskyinPDX