Gouden Carolus Noël / Christmas - Brouwerij Het Anker

psuKinger

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Bottle given to me by my buddy Griff, because we didn't quite get to it during our blind Belgian Christmas Beer tasting. Poured into one of my New Belgium snifters.

A: Pours a deep deep dark brown, trending towards almost-black, with a thick frothy off-white head on top, with large pancake-batter like bubbles towards the middle.

S: Lots and lots of candied sugars and sweetness, a touch of bready yeast notes, and maybe a hint of dark licorice.

T: The dark licorice notes are more clearly expressed in the taste. In fact, I think it might be the most prominant of flavors. Candied sugars and a touch of raisins are underneath. The finish is dry with just a touch of bitterness.

I genuinely enjoy the black licorice notes here, but I feel as if it may be a touch unbalanced and overpronounced.

M: Light and creamy, with decent carbonation and plenty of dry sweetness left behind on the finish.

D/O: This is a prime example of why I disagree with people who write reviews based on a 2-ounce pour. 2 ounces into this glass, and I was really digging the strong licorice notes. Half way through? I'd grown weary of it, it's imbalances became more noticable, and notes of banana started to show through as it warmed, which I really didn't think worked with this brew. Drinkability is not "high" here. I suppose I would be willing to revisit at some point, but this is far from a "must have" Christmas beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 00:47:45 | More by psuKinger

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

05-16-2013 22:13:59 | More by Slatetank

Stugotzo

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.5%

05-12-2013 16:22:05 | More by Stugotzo

WillCarrera

Illinois

3.21/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3

750 ml bottle, bottled on 09/08/11, poured into a tulip glass.

A- Pours a slightly weird shade of murky, dark brown, topped with a nice, thick off-white head that leaves good lacing.

S- Interesting aroma, lots of sweet dark malts, fruit, and a lot of christmas-ey spices (clove, nutmeg, allspice).

T- Lots of sweet dark malts, fruit, and some light spiciness, but from the middle through to the finish the flavor is dominated by a huge combination of vinous, anise and boozy flavors. It's simultaneously too sweet and too vinous. Weird. Bad.

M- Medium-bodied, smooth feel, the booziness isn't quite as noticeable here and is only a bit warm.

O- This was pretty bad. The anise, sweetness and vinous flavors are all in the wrong proportions, and produce a beer that doesn't fit together and isn't fun to drink. Pass.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 05:26:47 | More by WillCarrera

Sparky44

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-26-2013 03:57:27 | More by Sparky44

KTCamm

New Jersey

4.13/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Poured from champagne bottle into perfect pint glass.

Pours very dark brown, some maroon hints and a layer of foam. Chocolate cherry nose, and other assorted fruits. Cola too. Sweet belgian candi sugar taste but balanced well. Earthy hop close - not in a bitter sense, but in a flavored one. A bit boozy. Rich.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 12:24:24 | More by KTCamm

Sunnanek

Sweden

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-19-2013 17:53:47 | More by Sunnanek

Murrhey

Montana

3.7/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 330-ml bottle into a tulip glass in high elevation Libby, Mont. Reviewed live. Expectations are relatively high. Either bottled date or best-by date is Jan. 8, 2012. I really hope it is the former and not the latter. Although with the high ABV, I imagine it wouldn't be ruined by a year anyway. I could be wrong.

A- Three-finger thick, attractive light brown color. Amazingly long retention for the ABV. Thick fluffy core with fairly large bubbles. Lasts about three minutes. Clingy spotty lacing. Murky walnut colored brew with very little clarity.

S- Deep alcohol notes and spicy. Very fragrant and boozy. Nice notes.

T- Boozy and nice even-handled flavors. Spices and yeasts are very present here.

M- Vinous and wet. Sticky remainder on the feel.

O- Booze-bomb and it tastes like it.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 02:50:16 | More by Murrhey

beerthirtysa

Texas

4.44/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

a: nice ruby-red color, but almost brunette unless held directly in the light. weak, off-white head with decent, but not thick, lacing.

s: alcohol predominates along with malt overtones. some gentle hops and plenty of dark cheery and blueberry.

t: smooth as silk. sweet, chewy malt with hints of molasses. alcohol noticeable. slightly hoppy finish.

m: a bit oily in consistency but very inoffensive. lusciously rich texture. carbonation effervesces only slightly on the way to the back of the throat.

o: a very pleasant ale that, though high in alcohol content, is extremely drinkable brew. one to enjoy with friends on a cold winter evening.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2013 18:55:48 | More by beerthirtysa

Bromine

Florida

2.75/5  rDev -30.9%

04-11-2013 11:31:54 | More by Bromine

newton99

Belgium

4.55/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Pouring a very dark brown, black almost, with reddish brown highlights, this beer is capped with a dense, light brown head with excellent retention and very nice lacing. The nose is a spice bomb. A blend of mace, nutmeg and anise, with some eucalyptus, cola, mildly burnt sugar, this is a little too spiced for my liking. The cola notes here bring to mind discount sodas. Alcohol is reasonably well hidden. In addition, there's quite a bit of dark fruit present, with prunes and figs.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2013 09:45:55 | More by newton99

Elbrownbag

Netherlands

4/5  rDev +0.5%

04-02-2013 20:27:32 | More by Elbrownbag

Lare453

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.5%

03-22-2013 15:27:06 | More by Lare453

BGsWo22

New York

2/5  rDev -49.7%

03-21-2013 00:02:36 | More by BGsWo22

zenithberwyn

California

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%

02-20-2013 06:54:58 | More by zenithberwyn

deac83

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

02-17-2013 05:06:01 | More by deac83

AMCPhD

Florida

4/5  rDev +0.5%

02-11-2013 21:23:57 | More by AMCPhD

KingSlayer

Mexico

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

02-06-2013 06:35:25 | More by KingSlayer

Rockfarmer

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

02-05-2013 02:09:26 | More by Rockfarmer

eulerthegrape

California

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%

02-03-2013 20:52:53 | More by eulerthegrape

Satyr179

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%

02-03-2013 17:11:33 | More by Satyr179

DmanGTR

New York

4/5  rDev +0.5%

02-02-2013 23:12:23 | More by DmanGTR

kohlsm

Texas

3/5  rDev -24.6%

02-01-2013 22:59:09 | More by kohlsm

FremontBar

Arizona

4/5  rDev +0.5%

02-01-2013 02:43:36 | More by FremontBar

Mantooth

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +6.8%

01-27-2013 20:34:32 | More by Mantooth