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

manleyphoto

Virginia

4.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I tend to be pretty conservative with my money, I prefer to call it frugal but most of my friends call it cheap. As a result, when I see a beer listed as $7.00 for 12 ounces, I need to do some serious weighing of the cost benefit ratio.
One taste, however, and you know where your money went. This beer is cram-packed with flavor. The wispy sweet aroma of cloves and raisins preview the crazy complex taste of the beer. The flavor is filled with dark fruit, and a hint of caramel apple with a pleasant warming alcohol that really makes this a cool weather treat.
Don't let the fancy name throw you. Carolus D'or Cuvee Van de Keizer is simply the Belgian way of saying, good beer of the emperor. More specifically it's a birthday beer commemorating one of Belgium's greatest sons, Holy Roman Emperor Charles V's birthday on February 24th 1500 A.D. in Ghent, Belgium. The beer is brewed once a year in limited quantities and intended for aging.
Admittedly, this beer is not cheap but in this case the kingly price tag does reflect the quality of the product inside. Almost always listed as one of the best beers in the world, I have to imagine that the Grand Cru of the Emperor would please the palette of Charles V and meet his holy roman hopes.

Serving type: on-tap

02-14-2008 18:03:08 | More by manleyphoto

Halcyondays

California

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On-tap at the Beachwood BBQ, in Seal Beach, CA,

A: Pours a dark red/brown umber with a full white/tan head with good retention and good lacing.

S: Was actually not getting much until the beer warmed up, nice fruit and molasses, sugary malt.

T: Very tasty, I've only had this beer once before, but it is a great tasting BSDA. Great taste of dark fruit, raisin and prune, molasses and rum/brandy, very fruity and sweet, but not cloying at all, just a delicious, full beverage.

M: Smooth, full-bodied, good carbonation, though I would have liked a little richer mouthfeel.

D: This is one of the standards for this style, I think Charles V would be proud, a really good ale.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2008 02:46:02 | More by Halcyondays

willjschmidt

California

4.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Served on-tap at The Trappist in Oakland in the proper Gouden Carolus glass.

A: Pours a murky brown with a thick white head. Lots of lacing and outstanding head retention.

S: Some brown sugar in the nose along with some ripe dark fruits. The alcohol is also rather apparent.

T: Lots of sweet overly ripe dark fruits such as raisins and figs. There is also some caramel, toffee, and maybe a little bit of molasses. It's very complex and a joy to sip. It is also very alcoholic. The alcohol nips at the end and slightly burns the back of the throat. It seems to mellow a bit as it warms.

M: Outstanding creamy mouthfeel with excellent carbonation.

D: A dinged it a bit on drinkability due to the alcohol. The delicious flavors make it an outstanding beer. A great brew for my 100th review.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2007 03:58:27 | More by willjschmidt

bodegajohn

Wisconsin

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

On tap at the Bodega in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Pours a dark amber with a short, creamy head. Nose is slightly spicy, notes of cinnamon and a faintly cloves. Decent mouth feel, thought not the same velvety smoothness of the bottled version. Good body. Nice clean finish. While this is better than 90% of the beers out there, the bottled version blows this away. That being said, still a great beer.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2007 17:27:18 | More by bodegajohn

GbVDave

Illinois

4/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Gouden Carolus goblet at Hopleaf 9/9/07. Thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

A: Cloudy brown-like melted milk chocolate. Small skimmy head.

S: Rich malty sweetness with hints of chocolate, prunes, figs, and molassas.

T: See directly above with the addition of a mild alcohol heat.

M: Smooth, creamy, and very rich.

D: Very drinkable, to say the least. The 11% is incredibly well hidden.

Serving type: on-tap

09-15-2007 20:54:52 | More by GbVDave

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

rallison

California

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

Gouden Carolus 2003 on tap at Lucky Baldwin's, served into a mini Chimay goblet.

This is a beer to enjoy after dinner. Extremely well balanced, nice caramel and toffee sweetness balanced by coriander sort of spicing and some dark fruits with a nice rich, creamy mouthfeel. Absolutely delicious, and the drinkability is extremely high considering the alcohol. I'm sure the 3 years of aging didn't hurt.

One of the best beers I've had during the wonderful Lucky Baldwin's Belgian Beer Festival. I really cannot fault the beer in any way. It's just a delicious beer. Try it if you get the chance!

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2007 09:22:24 | More by rallison

BeerIsland

Pennsylvania

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

I'm not a huge fan of the Belgians but this beer was enough to almost turn my head around. Had it on tap at Max's this week and I'm glad I did. It came out in a goblet without any head to speak of but had a deep, rich mahogany color that hinted of complex flavors yet to come. This is probably the best smelling beer I’ve ever had, lush and malty with toffee, plumy notes. It just wafted out of the glass. The taste was great, all kinds of malt, not sweet at all, jammy, pruney flavors and no real alcohol bite. It’s a sipper but why hurry? The mouth feel was extremely smooth and drinkability was right up there. Wow! I like these pleasant surprises. Truly a great beer and a once in a long while on tap availability.

Serving type: on-tap

10-06-2006 18:07:13 | More by BeerIsland

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

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

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

What an exceptional beer. I have had it a few times in bottles over the past few years but having it on tap a few weeks back at Monk's was the best tasting so far.

This beer pours a very deep, clowdy brown color with a sweet brownish head to it. The smell is nice and sweet but don't let that food you, it is 11% of pure Belgian beauty.

It had a nice sweet/chocolately taste but not overpowering or too syrupy. What a rich and complex beeer. I think they get better each year they release it and the older bottles get better with age as well.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2005 03:46:34 | More by ggaughan

AlexJ

North Carolina

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

On tap in Bruno's basement, does this guy hook it up or what!
Dark mahogany brown body with a chill haze (a bit too cold) and a thin but creamy oatmeal hued head that settles into a lasting veil, adorning my goblet with thick sheets of lace.

Aroma is an intoxication blend of sweet raisins, figs, vanilla-spice, banana, tropical fruit, green apple, toffee, and floral hops. Very powerful nose here, i can smell it from several feet away!

Flavor begins with a mouthfull of rum soaked raisins and figs, dark candi sugar, honey, molasses, mango, tart green apple, sour cherry, candied nuts, vanilla, and subtle yeat spice notes. Complex and very rich.

Body is just huge, with a creamy thick texture that glides down your throat like warm butter. Delicious and perfect for dessert.

Serving type: on-tap

12-12-2005 19:50:13 | More by AlexJ

battlekow

Wisconsin

4.47/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this on-tap at Roman's Pub. Poured a very dark brown with a small off-white head. Smells like ripe, almost overripe fruit, cherries, and kind of like licorice. Also smells faintly spicy, and with a deep breath you can smell the 11% alcohol. Tastes intensely of Twizzlers licorice. The alcohol becomes more apparent as it warms. Very thick, coating mouthfeel. One of the most interesting beers I've ever had, and one of the best.

Serving type: on-tap

07-13-2005 20:22:58 | More by battlekow

Boilermaker88

California

4.78/5  rDev +10.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

One of three Brouwerij Het Anker ales offered on-tap at Lucky Baldwins this holiday season. This was labeled "Gouden Carolus Cuvee d' le Empereuer 2003". I consulted with TheLongBeachBum, the SoCal Belgian beer guru, to make sure I was reviewing the right beer and not some previous unheard arrival. He assured me they are one and the same.
Served up in the large Grottenbier chalice I handed to the waitress, the Empereuer arrived looking very majestic. Dark, opaque burgandy coloring, a monstrous, densely creamy vanilla head and clots of spidery lace made for a wonderful brew to eye.
I think I spent five minutes inhaling the delicious aromas of this Grand Cru. Staggeringly sweet, with notes of caramel-dipped fruits, candy sugars, pears, dates, and some modest cognac fumes. What an incredible blend of scents!
As I took a sip, I simply leaned back in my chair and reveled in the complexity of this beer. The flavors of raisins, pears, dates, and brandy-soaked cherries washed across the tongue, blending seamlessly with a dusting of chocolate, toasty, rum cookie-ish malts, and hints of orange liquer. The variety of fruits that kept popping up was simply amazing. With the addition of the confectioner sugar sweetness and, as it warmed, an increasingly boozy alcohol warmth, this brew became more and more like a liquid fruitcake. Not like the one that ends up as a doorstop, though. The feel was full, rich and almost chewy but never syrupy.
Damn, what an outstanding beer! The flavors effortlessly meld togther for a singularly wonderful drinking experience. This Grand Cru is just about prefect. You have to be in the mood for sweet but I can't think of many nicer liquid desserts than this. Very highly recommended!

Serving type: on-tap

12-20-2004 05:57:56 | More by Boilermaker88

shapudding

Pennsylvania

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

Dark rootbeery with lots of carbination seen coming to the top where it rested at as a nice creamy, khaki milkshakey head that covered nicely made a thick ring at the edges. Scent of sherry and sasafrass, cola, slightly vineous-more merlot-like....
Intensely smooth... Sweet and honeylike. Bing cherries, red delicious apples. Medium carbination in the taste which is surprising since you can see so much rising in the tulip glass...
The sweetness is not cloying, just nice. Alcohol makes it's presence know, but is not overpowering and does not keep this from being decently drinkable. This is damn good stuff!

Serving type: on-tap

09-11-2004 16:02:19 | More by shapudding

crookedhalo

Pennsylvania

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

Pours a deep ruby highlighted brown with a very minimal beige head in an authentic little Gouden Carolus "Cuvee of the Emperor" 5.5 oz. chalice. Pruney like fruit smells; medicinal and dark roasted malt and candi sugar aromas, too. The taste is equally pruney and medicinal, how I'd like my Geritol to be when and if I get to that stage in life :). Light chocolate reminiscence as it warms. Slight sweet/sour finish. Lower carbonation level is perfect for a "nightcap" type of beer that this is. Mouthfeel is nice, slick on the tongue. I'm glad this beer was only served 5.5 oz. at a time, because 12 oz. would have taken me too long to drink.

Serving type: on-tap

09-05-2004 04:06:16 | More by crookedhalo

Ricelikesbeer

Colorado

4.29/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

An old seasonal classic, I really need to set some of these beauties aside for aging and side by sides.

A: murky brown, slightly purple or ruby in certain lights or lack thereof; slight head and not overly carbonated

S: burnt malts, cherries, plums, malt malt malt, candy syrup, prunes, some slight melanoidins, estery dark fruit, and raspberries.

T: more dark fruit, and slightly tart (especially when paired with food.) Some heavy caramel sweetness, but not in a cloying way. the dark fruit melds well with the sweetness, and the flavor is dry enough to not overwhelm despite the large nature of the beer. Complex and you can find nuances as the beer warms or ages.

M: thick but not chewy, It remains deceptively light despite the residual sugar and the lower carbonation.

O: I'm amazed that such a monster can be so well balanced, and the obvious lack of hops presence (whatsoever) can still lend to a dry, balanced beer. The beer is tilted toward the malt, caramel, and dark fruit flavors of a classic quad/strong dark ale, but this one remains a classic in my eyes, and the expected gummy/ sugary flavors of the Corolus yeast are tamed by the candy sugars and residual sugar of the malt monster. I will continue to buy these each year for the rest of my life.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2013 02:24:11 | More by Ricelikesbeer

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

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.21/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Appearance. Pours a clear, deep amber-brown with a finger of off-white, maybe light khaki head.

Smell. Spicy belgian yeast, demerara sugar and tobacco, caramel, and some raisins and candied cherries.

Taste. Raisins and brown sugar, belgian yeast, tobacco, cloves, and caramel. Very nice.

Mouthfeel. Fuller body, medium carbonation, just a bit sticky.

Overall. Much better than I expected it to be. Good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

06-06-2013 02:48:41 | More by Rutager

themind

New Jersey

3.64/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Ok this is a well crafted beer. Has a slight kinda sour aspect to it and had a broad flavor profile. I really cant narrow it down, almost slightly sweet. Has very good carbonation and the taste is good. It's very different, then again I just drank an Everett which was Legendary. All in all this is a good beer and worth drinking.

Bottom Line: Well made beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2013 00:26:53 | More by themind

Blindpigbiz

California

4.69/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

VAN DE KEIZER BLEAUW '09; consumed in 2011

PLEASE AGE THIS BEER FOR A TWO YEAR MINIMUM

Smell: neutral

Taste: barley-wine, dark-ripened plums, cognac, black licorice, maraschino cherries, candied sugar and warm scotch

Pair this beer with smoked goose, a rare filet minion, a truffle wagyu burger with blue cheese, or a funnel cake with Madagascar vanilla bean ice cream with a dark-fruit syrup

This beer is fantastic! Normally for beer, or any kind of liquor, one has to search for flavor and have an immensely discerning palette in order to extract all of the flavors; not this time. This beer aged is probably the BEST DARK BEER EVER MADE, or at least that I've tried. This beer brazenly smacks you in the face and tells you what it tastes like; it's like hunting in a forest with no trees and large game animals at a stand still; the flavors are immensely dominant.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 09:55:32 | More by Blindpigbiz

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

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

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

CrazyDavros

Australia

4.61/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Pours dark brown with a quickly fading head.
Nose shows chocolate fudge, rum and raisin, dried prunes, spicy phenols, golden syrup. Lovely.
Equally rich and decadent flavours. Brown sugar, rum and raisin, dried dark fruit, soft booze, gingerbread. Stunning.
Carbonation could be just a bit higher.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 01:32:25 | More by CrazyDavros

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.38/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from bottle into a chalice glass

Appearance – The beer pours a chestnut-mahogany color with some red highlights shining through. Upon pouring there is a small tannish colored head that forms on the surface of the brew. The head fades very slowly over time, leaving a great level of lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma is sweet of dark fruits, with a big dose of prune and raisin as well as a small amount of cherry. Mixed with the sweet fruit is a caramel and candied sugar aroma as well. While heaviest in the sweeter aromas there are other nice aromas present as well. An oaky and woody aroma as well as a nutty aroma meld well with the fruit sweet aromas. When all are mixed with a nice boozy rum like smell, a very pleasingly sweet and warming smell is put forth.

Taste – The taste begins with the big dark fruit aromas detected in the nose. Raisin, prune, cherry and fig all show up big at the start and are mixed with a bit of a roasted malt and vanilla. Some light yeasty notes bring with them a light banana and spice flavor more toward the middle of the taste. Along with the yeasty tastes so too comes a light caramel sweetness as well as a little bit of a woody taste. More toward the end a light booziness, much lighter then what would be expected from the nose, is sensed by the tongue. Overall a nice sweet and robust lightly warming flavor is left to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the average to slightly thinner side for a Belgian strong dark of 11% abv with a carbonation level that is on the average side. Both are nice for the sweeter dark fruit flavors of the brew and make this one a little too easy to drink even though it is at 11 % abv.

Overall – A rather nice Belgian strong dark with a big sweet dark fruit flavor and a nice lighter boozy and yeasty spiced flavor that rounds out the sweet well when mixed with a lighter malty taste. It is overall quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 01:22:04 | More by Darkmagus82