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

output01x

Ohio

4.08/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 330 mL. capped bottle (Dated 12/07/11) into a snifter glass.

A moderate pour yields a 1-finger cream-colored head that dissipates after a couple minutes to a thin, clumpy dusting and thick foam ring. The body is a very dark (yet clear) mahogany brown with crimson when held to light. A very good amount of carbonation bubbles can be seen popping up almost everywhere. Some nice lacing can be seen throughout consumption.

This beer really smells like the produce section of your local grocery store. Notes of sweet dark fruit (plum and raisin mostly), candied apples, green grapes, and asian pear are all detectable. The nose is very complex and will surely be interpreted differently by each person that smells it.

Right off the bat, sweet fruit flavors come out at the beginning of each sip. Notes of banana, fig, plum, red apple, grapes. As the beer is swallowed, a cider alcohol flavor quickly rushes the palate but quickly turns into a generic alcohol warmth as dark fruit flavors sneak back in. Red grapes, apple cider, and raisin linger on the tongue as an aftertaste.

Medium bodied with excellent carbonation, this beer is deceptively drinkable at 11% ABV. The body may seem a bit light but certainly does not hinder the flavors nor become sticky. The carbonation is rather fizzy when the beer is held in the mouth but does not seem to effect the experience much.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 06:37:42 | More by output01x

htomsirveaux

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750 mL bottle tried 22 Oct 2010. Served in the 0.3 L Unibroue snifter. Think this was the 2008, didn't record that data.

Large thick light tan head. Well carbonated. Clear dark reddish color. Smells of banana cake, apples, and ethanol. Starts with lots of green apple. Syrupy. Ethanol is warming but not hot. Dark fruit, raisins, dates. Apple and plum throughout. Medium to heavy body, warming alcohol. Lingering sweet aftertaste with some alcohol warmth.

I don't recall where I got this, but I want some more.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 05:32:48 | More by htomsirveaux

magine

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a chalice.

Pours a dark brown with ruby red shining along the edges. Good bubbly action along the bottom. Nice tight bubbles long the top edges. Good creamy off white lace head. Nice lace remains throughout the drink. Great looking brew here.

Brew smells of dark fruits and some subtle malts. Some booze and sugary yeasts, raisins, dates and even possibly tobacco. Great complex nose.

Brew is creamy smooth initially then spiced and finishes peppery and clean. Very complex stuff here. Sweet dark fruits; raisins, dates, figs. Sweet Belgian estery fruits and yeasts. Creamy malts; almost a bit of tobacco in here towards the end. Full bodied, complex and excellent.

Wow - tremendous stuff here. Sip and enjoy this one. Excellent.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 19:51:28 | More by magine

Grass

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I wasn't sure if I was ready for 11% after a long friday. First of the night at midnight. Well...

A-This guy's a beautiful sight. Dark amber and ruby in the light. Nice foamy head that could probably last for hours. I'll never know.

S-Roasted dark fruits and molasses. Some aged oak in there also. Very inviting.

T-Definitely dark fruits. The alcohol is really not that prominent for 11. A bit of bourbon shows up with a burnt caramel twist that's tasty.

M-Creamy, medium feel. Fits well.

O-I'm a fan but not a big fan of the style,yet. However from where I stand(sit) this sample is quite impressive. My Belgian adventure will continue thanks to this high quality brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 06:34:09 | More by Grass

ujsplace

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a chalice.

This is a deep burgundy colored brew with a nice foamy head that is a yellow-ish white color. Settles to a nice coverlet of chunky lace that sits atop the brew.

Smells of big candied malts, dark fruits - raisins, cherries and plums; there is also bananas, cloves, spices, bready yeast and a sour apple note. Smells delicious.

Tastes as rich and complex as it smells. Big sweet Belgian candied malts, followed by dark fruits, banana, maybe some sour apple as well as some woody notes in the middle. Finishes dry.

Thick and creamy - a luscious brew.

I love this style and this is simply a must try. An amazing brew here.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 02:50:01 | More by ujsplace

mdagnew

United Kingdom (Northern Ireland)

4.53/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle bought online from Beersofeurope.co.uk... 2008 bottle...

Poured a deep burgundy red / brown colour with a slight haze... Creamy tan head poured quite foamy but faded very quickly to thin covering with thick edging... fair amount of carbonation bubbles... light patchy lacing...

Aroma - Dark spicy fruits (raisins, prunes, some blackcurrents), strong toasted toffee maltiness, some molasses notes, light aniseed hints, some light rum traces, vanilla, light oakiness, some nuttiness, peppery hops...

Taste - Sweet and spicy fruits (definite raisins and prunes, spicy apples, some strawberries and blackcurrents), brown sugar / toffee sweetness, toasted bready maltiness, strong Belgian yeastiness, light herbal notes, nice warming alcohol, liquorice hints, spicy hops...

Feel - Quite sharp and dry then some smoothness coming through after.. Medium / full bodied... Pretty drinkable considering the strength...

Overall - An excellent beer... Up with the best of the dark Belgain ales... Highly recommended...

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 14:00:29 | More by mdagnew

smakawhat

Maryland

4.5/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from the bottle into an official Gouden Carlous small chalice. Vintage 2011. About time I've reviewed this it's one of my favorites.

A faint caramel tan colored head that is quite foamy, settles quite quick but seems to keep a thin bubbly puck. Body color is a real nice ruby brown, edges and hues of all colors abound, orange, some yellow along the base. Very nice looking beer, head formation aside, but it laces up like nobodys business after numerous pours from the bottle, just sick looking.

Ripping smelling barley grain on the nose, with chewy raisins and dates and dark fruits. Slight sweetness, but nothing overpowering. Smells great.

Vinous almost texture with a very tight fizz that doesn't upset the palate. The palate rolls with a great chewy dates and sweetness, mixing in with a faint brown sugar. Aftertaste is high on raisins and fig newton qualities. Light sweet maraschino cheries seem to come out later.

Overall, just another winner from Het Anker.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2012 23:53:50 | More by smakawhat

UpToMeBeer

Colorado

3.65/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Had this on tap at Choice City Butcher in Fort Collins.
A: Copper-brownish with a thin sudsy head featuring many many tight bubbles. Lots of lacing.
S: Fig and dark candied fruits.
T: Light and sweet. A bit of booze that's muted by the sweetness. Subtle fruits.
MF: Moderate carbonation. Pleasant and gentle. Underwhelming. Lacked body.
O: Decent. Given the ABV, I was expecting more intensity or something more pronounced in the flavors.

Serving type: on-tap

01-08-2012 23:29:57 | More by UpToMeBeer

Brushkanna

New Jersey

4.95/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I am drinking desert. This is as far away from a traditional beer as I have had. I’m a novice when it comes to Belgian dark strong ales. The Grand Cru of the Emperor pours with a short creamy head, there are great strong flavors of sweet dark raisins, caramel, brown sugar & hints of fine chocolate.

My wife who likes darker sweeter beers said, "this is the best beer ever". Some have said that the high ABV was noticeable and a negative but I did not get that feeling. It has 11% ABV but it fits well, reminds me of a fine desert wine.

We really enjoyed this beer I will be looking for it again as a great holiday treat.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 00:20:33 | More by Brushkanna

ElGrecoVerde

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Deep red and brown...almost wood-like color.

Smells of dark fruits, caramel and clean alcohol. Hints of bread and sugary cake.

The flavor is intense. Raisins, tart cherries, other dark fruits, cake, caramel and grains. The sweets are balanced with molasses, mixed spices breads and hints of citrus peel. Alcohol flavors are well blended and actually aid in the taste.

Rich and creamy mouthfeel compliments the heavy dose of flavors.

I bought this on a whim and I'm glad I did!

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 00:03:03 | More by ElGrecoVerde

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.03/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2010 750ml bottle poured into a chalice.

A finger of off white/faint brown head is produced. The body is brown with an abundance of ruby red hues when held to the light. Dare I say this is a sexy looking beer? I must. Lots of eye candy lacing is left.

On the nose this has a definite alcohol presence which at 11% it gets a little hard to totally hide. There is also some caramel sweetness, dark fruits, and bready notes to balance out that alcohol and make it a pleasant smelling brew.

Mmm...big bready notes, a bit of molasses, caramel, dark fruits like raisins and figs with an alcohol kick.

There is a full body here that is fairly smooth. The carbonation isn't too much and works nicely. Slightly sticky on the lipsss.

This thing is pretty wonderful. I was hoping to keep it around for a little bit before cracking it, but I broke down and I'm glad I did. If the sweetness and alcohol levels were toned down ust a tad this would be a home run. It's still amazing, like a Bengie Molina triple.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 03:25:30 | More by MattSweatshirt

StonedTrippin

Colorado

4.4/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

wow this is really something special. on tap at the bull and bush in denver. 10oz goblet for 7 dollars, reasonable. looks like a holiday beer, with a deep mahogany color and a thick thick white belgian head. smells very fruity with a fresh baked bread sort of aroma as well, mild spice. flavor is dried fruits and a touch of spice. its a little sweet but incredibly well balanced and interesting. alcohol pokes through a little in the finish. mouthfeel is fantastic, smooth and fuller bodied. this is an outstanding beer, one i had never heard of before, but one i will absolutely seek out in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2012 20:24:25 | More by StonedTrippin

fx20736

New York

4.25/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served from a 750ml bottle at cellar temp into a pint glass.

Turbid dark ochre with cream colored head. Nice lacing.

Aroma of caramel, granny smith apples, raisins & alcohol esters.

Mouthfeel: soft medium.

Taste: Like the aroma. Brown sugar, apples, raisins.

Notes: smooth, sweet & warming. I can hardly wait to see what cellaring will do to this tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 03:46:16 | More by fx20736

mariposafan

Wisconsin

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2011 bottle poured into a Duvel tulip.

Pours bright, clear garnet. Not quite as bright as a ruby port but close. The head a little on the short side, both in height and durability.

Super sweet aroma with lots of yeast an plenty of sweet, dark fruit. Some toffee aroma as well.

Sweet flavor, though there's a little sharpness there as well that reminds me, again, a little of port. The alcohol is pretty upfront. Plenty maltiness but I'd like to taste more of the yeast that was so prominent in the aroma. The flavor also doesn't linger at all and a little longer finish would be nice.

The mouthfeel is a little on the light side but otherwise excellent. The carbonation is just right.

Overall I like this but I'm wondering if it would benefit from some aging as it's a little hot and a little one dimensional. I plan to pick up another bottle or two and try it again after some time.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 22:30:03 | More by mariposafan

Mahlik

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

750 ml bottle poured into a red wine glass. 2009 vintage.

A - Pours a murky brown with ruby hues. Pours with a puffy off-white head that dissipates after a few minutes. Nice lacing covers the sides of the glass.

S - Rich, sweet aroma you would expect from a bigger Belgian beer. Aroma consists of plums, rum-soaked raisins, molasses and candied sugar. Some underlying bready malts. Subtle hints of alcohol.

T - Lots of sweet raisins, figs and candi sugar take over the palate. Molasses, toffee and caramel malts break into the middle to help balance out the sweetness. The taste is more sweet than rich and malty. A slight alcohol burn hits the

M - Smooth medium body with light carbonation. The alcohol gives a warmth that fades quickly. There is a slight syrupy feel.

O - Overall, this is pretty good. A little sweet but still has enough going on to make it an enjoyable beer. It's not quite in the same league as some of the other major Belgians dark ales and quads. Would recommend giving it a try.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 06:39:31 | More by Mahlik

ADZA

Australia

4.18/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy burnt copper hue which leaves a one finger head and a rim of lacing,the smell is really strong boozy alcohol and i mean strong with also raisins soaked in brandy and xmas pudding,the mouthfeel is like a liquid pudding its thick and fullfilling with tastes of cherry brandy,raisins,candied figs,brown sugar,port,apple crumble and the finish is like a nice port sweet,warming,dry and very boozy and overall this one bottle is more than enough thank god i didnt get a 6litre but its a great Xmas drop in my eyes and palette cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 03:26:33 | More by ADZA

ales4baldo

California

5/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

P-Nice medival sketch with man on horse.

A-Poured it delicately because i wanted less head and more to drink! Pours a hazy dark wood brown. Head is soft and slowly goes away.

S-Just a rush of alcohol to the nostril. Tons of Belgian candy and yeast and malts. Cinnamon and stints of bourbon like.

T-Pure heaven. At first you get a nice heavy sweetness that slowly subdues behind the alcohol and then the malts and yeast rise in and fill nicely. Low carbonation and more flat but its perfect.

M-Feels really silky and smooth. Full bodied yet soft with beautiful notes of Belgian candy. Finishes clean and nice and makes you urge for another sip.

O-This is my favorite beer of all time and ive had many! Just a beautiful well rounded beer that has so much to offer.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2011 04:30:54 | More by ales4baldo

projectflam86

Ohio

4.3/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml corked and caged bottle. 2011 vintage.

A- Pours a very murky muddy brown color with a decent sized white foam head that fades away rather quickly. Some scattered lace left behind.

S- Belgian candy sugar and caramel malt are most pronounced in the nose. Some light spice is there as well.

T- Now we're talking! Very nice sweetness upfront with a lightly toasted flavor throughout. Complex flavor profile as it warms with some caramel, candy sugar, spice, dark fruit, tobacco, clove, and maybe even some vinous qualities. I'm surprised to see this at 11% because it tastes closer to 9%.

M- Medium/full bodied with great spritzy carbonation.

O- One really nice brew. Easily up there with Abt 12, Rochefort 10, and Chimay Blue yet it doesn't seem to get nearly as much attention. The only real knock I have against it is the murky pour but maybe I hadn't given it enough time to settle after grabbing it from the fridge. Very tasty and one I will pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 23:38:18 | More by projectflam86

StJamesGate

New York

4.28/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Chocolate brown that goes tangerine amber in light with a solid tan carpet that fades to rimming film.
Kola nut, raisin toast, butter (!), port barrel, and rum-soaked plums - all sorts of depth on the nose.
Bananas Foster sauce (melted brown sugar and butter), sultanas, butter cookies, red plums, brown soda bread crust with some winter spice to finish.
Candied ginger comeback and tingling linger. Incredibly silky and round, medium-full, some chew, the slightest hint of burn.

The body is the thing about this one - velvety soft and you'd never guess it goes up to 11. Cream soda sweetness is the main force, with a buttery texture that makes this a big beer which threatens to cloy, but there is the spice to check things in check - just.

Formidable - but it could use some food.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 15:02:05 | More by StJamesGate

SoonerNY

New York

4.85/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

750ml bottle from 2008

This was suggested to me by careful placement on the checkout counter. Like a kid staring at eye level candy I grabbed it and I'm so glad I did.

It pours a purple brown opaque color with excellent lacing and a 2 finger head that hung around for a while.

You definitely smell the spicy alcohol but the fruity plum-raisins shine through.

Although present, the alcohol isn't nearly as pronounced in the taste as it is in the smell. A superb balance makes this brew dangerously drinkable. Sweet and spicy plums are present with delicious Belgian candy and a gentle alcohol warming. I plan to grab a few to cellar for later if I have the patience.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 04:57:19 | More by SoonerNY

ummswimmin

New Jersey

4.28/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This was served at a very nice restaurant nearby, Mohawk House. I commend the owner because he features a beer list in the same vein that most restaurants would list wines.

They presented this beer in a chalice style glass. It is very dark brown with light brown coming out around the edges. There wasn't much foam, but I'm not sure if that wasn't due to the bartender.

The flavor and smell were very rich. You get a lot of dark fruit and caramel. I also got a decent amount of sweetness. This sweetness really contributed to a very nice mouthfeel.

I would really put this beer out there as a good example of luxuriousness in beer.

Serving type: on-tap

12-03-2011 22:45:16 | More by ummswimmin

amphion1065

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

750 mL bottle from 2010, served in a Duvel tulip.

Pours a very dark shade of plum, almost like eggplant. A one-finger light tan head made of medium bubbles lasts for some time. Very nice lacing.

Huge, unmistakable aroma of butterscotch from this beer. It's quite similar to smelling a whole bowl of Werther's Originals. Caramel and vanilla abound. Some familiar dark fruit smells underneath, but they are a comparatively minor aspect of the aroma.

The taste, at first, follows closely on the smell. Big and very pure butterscotch and vanilla notes up front, with plums and figs in the finish. Saccharine sweet, with a lingering taste of brown sugar. However, unlike the aroma, there is a very noticeable alcohol kick - perhaps not one befitting an 11% ABV beer, but it's present. Taken in totality, the flavor approximates that of a scotch ale.

Mouthfeel is a touch too thin for me, though I enjoy the low level of carbonation. I think a wee De Molen-sized bottle of this would be ideal.

A unique take on the style, though not one I'm particularly crazy about. It seems a little over-the-top, a little out of control for me - I would be interested in trying an older bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2011 01:51:16 | More by amphion1065

DavidST

Texas

4.43/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a goblet 2010 edition. Popping the cork I can smell the dark fruit from 3 feet away, I have high expectations. This pours a hazy dirty dark brown with a small off white head which almost instantly dissipates. The smells are strong full of ripe dark fruit along with a little alcohol. Feel is medium with high carbonation. The taste is like it smells, lots of ripe dark fruit, some brown sugar a little alcohol born all around tasty.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 02:41:01 | More by DavidST

cooler4life

Quebec (Canada)

4.65/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

2011 Bottle

A: Poured a one finger head that settles to a thin cap. Color is a deep mahogany brown. Lacing is moderate. Carbonation can be seen racing to the top. I can see some particulate swirling about.

S: Smell is a standout! Raisons, figs, brown sugar, green apples. With deeper breaths I get the alcoholic twinge with some butterscotch.

T: Wow. Figs at first, followed by burnt sugar, roasty malt, dark fruits, rum soaked cherries, and cocao. The first sip almost knocked my socks off.

M: Extremely creamy and smooth. Light-medium mouth presence. Carbonation is delicate...Mellow.

O: For a brew of this ABV with such a multidimensional taste and smell, the drinkability factor is fantastic. Well done!

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 23:20:34 | More by cooler4life

Neffbeer

Pennsylvania

4.22/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle marked 2011
poured into a tulip

A: It pours a deep amber color with burgundy hues. A soft pour yields a solid looking two finger off white head. It is a very firm cap with tight little bubbles that fade away really slowly coating the sides of the glass with lacing.

S: Caramel, brown sugar, and stone fruits emerge first from the glass. Some apples and spices are also present; clove, vanilla and cinnamon. There is a sweet biscuit/bready aroma in the background that leans towards dessert.

T: Up front it is very sweet with caramel, and a sugary sweetness coming through initially. That smoothly transitions into some figs, plums and raisins with a hint of apple. As it moves to the back of my palate the sweetness vanishes and it finishes rather dry with a slight metallic tang.

M: Medium to thick. There is a chewy feel going on that is really viscous, accentuated by the lush carbonation.

O: A very good example of the style. It is a bit young and bold right now, but with another year in the cellar I can see this one becoming something extraordinary.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 00:20:37 | More by Neffbeer