Gouden Carolus Indulgence - Cuvée Sauvage
Brouwerij Het Anker

Gouden Carolus Indulgence - Cuvée SauvageGouden Carolus Indulgence - Cuvée Sauvage
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From:
Brouwerij Het Anker
 
Belgium
Style:
Wild Ale
ABV:
9.8%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.97 | pDev: 8.82%
Reviews:
14
Ratings:
33
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 17, 2024
Added:
Oct 11, 2016
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  6
Gouden Carolus Indulgence [Indulgence, noun, \in-'dәl-jәn(t)s\ something that is done or enjoyed as a special pleasure] is a limited series of beers brewed every year with varying content. These ‘Indulgence’ brews are exclusive delights to be savoured at special moments or shared with special people.

Cuvée Sauvage is the 2nd taste to be produced under this label. Gouden Carolus Cuvée van de Keizer Rood was blended with 2- and 3-year-old Lambic (20%) from the Boon Brewery (Lembeek). This union combines the best of two brewing traditions: full-bodied and subtly flavoured, fruity and refreshingly sour.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by samEBC:
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Rated by samEBC from Belgium

3.95/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Jul 01, 2017
More User Ratings:
Photo of StonedTrippin
Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.24/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
really neat stuff, a classic belgian ale blended with old lambic, so sick to find this on tap in the states too, never heard of this blend before, was blown away to see it on a beer list. its lightly hazy blonde, creamy frothy headed and with some density to it, but in a way that it still looks extremely well refined. the nose on this is belgian yeast esters before its lambic funk or tartness, cooked pear, clove, white and black peppercorns both, an almost jasmine thing, tea, candy sugar and lightly nutty malt there with it, some oaken maturity as it warms, a little spiciness and then finally some bretty weirdness too, this changes a lot as it sits and i get more and more of the lambic in the blend as it does. its super well integrated in the flavor, love this belgian yeast leading the way, unique fruitiness and less sweet overall than it smells, with subtle stone fruit and baked breadiness. the lambic adds very little acidity but it does clean up the finish, unique green grape and white wine aspects from it, light iodine, funk as it warms, faint oxidation in the timeless and mature sense. fuller bodied, feels almost wheaty to me, creamed up and palate coating but not aggressive and it hides its alcohol strength awfully well. nice belgian carbonation, complex and pleasing aftertaste, floral then and with more of the lambic. awesome blend, i can appreciate the boon element specifically, and this seems special and unique. loved it!
Feb 17, 2024
Photo of Sludgeman
Rated by Sludgeman from District of Columbia

3.99/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Described as a lambic blend, not your typical lambic blend. Has some tripel characteristics.
Aug 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4.09 by Pro_Magnon from Texas

Jun 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by bigred89 from Maryland

May 07, 2023
Photo of puck1225
Reviewed by puck1225 from Texas

4.31/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This beer won’t be for everyone. Very subtle flavors and a very sneaky high ABV.

Had it on draft at the Meddlesome Moth in Dallas after a Glen Miller concert. Poured into a snifter. Bright clear yellow color with a brief foamy head, light lacing. Smell and taste of sweet apples and pears. Subtle vanilla and floral flavors. A bit of sweet orange. Hardly any alcohol taste. Wonderful to sip with a charcuterie board!
Feb 25, 2023
Photo of emerge077
Reviewed by emerge077 from Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
Brassy gold, huge head with lasting sticky lace, as is the Belgian way. Clarity is good, tone is dark.

Aroma is faded, malt and yeast struggling to make any coherent expression. Doughy, boozy, with a hint of lime zest.

Taste is mildly tart with a messy butterscotch, gin, bread dough thing happening. Vague lime zest top note, maybe from the tiny bit of Boon lambic, but the blend is ultimately very muddled with little if any discernible lambic presence. That lime zest becomes the only thing to cling to, as the boozy butterscotch bread dough takes no prisoners.

Full bodied, some carbonation, booze is still noticeable and messy after a few years now. Not a successful experimental ale/lambic blend (Mengbier) in my opinion. Stick to Cuvee van de Keizer or Boon Oude Geuze, this blend embarrasses both houses.
Dec 19, 2020
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
I may have made it late to this party, but I'm glad I'm here. (I'm the only 2019 review for this 2016 bottling.)
Het Anker is a special place for me; showing more mastery of the diversity in the Belgian tradition that any one brewer. And Cuvee' Sauvage reinforces my instinct. This is a magnificent blend of the BSPA (in the top 5 of my favorite styles) with the lambic (most of whom are in my bottom half of styles.)

Bottom-line: Cuvee' Sauvage is how to make a lambic taste good to me.

Poured into Grand Cru glass from St. Feuillien, it looked very much like the glass in the little booklet attached by a band. And it Looked pretty good for its advancing years (less protein swirling than a BSPA in its prime.) The same is true for its Smells; they held up well giving the traditional fruity yeast and an ever-so-subtle earthy, barnyard of the lambic.

Tastes set Sauvage apart. A blend of their BSPA Rood and 20% lambic (from the best, Boon), the balance is immediate and wonderful. Particularly as I savor the dry finish, I know this Sauvage is how the lambic is to be used on me.

I suppose I should wish I'd had a great meal (and others) to share Sauvage with, but the meal was a veggie burger and the others, quite selfishly, were not present. But, I'm certain there are a wide variety of foods I could try Sauvage with and it would improve whatever I age .... if only I could find it again !!!

Het Anker is on BBB (Belgian Brewer Bucket) List and will be there until I spend I eat at their brasserie. I think it is interesting that they have nine ales with 300+ BA ratings and then the ratings immediately fall by almost 90%. Must be that only nine make it to the U.S.
Oct 05, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by NickThePyro from Washington

Jul 18, 2019
 
Rated: 4.09 by peensteen from Canada (ON)

Oct 30, 2018
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

3.94/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A 750ml corked and caged bottle, released in Summer ’16, with a best before end 2018 date. Poured into a Lost Abbey teku glass.

Appearance: A slightly hazy golden orange colour with a big almost three finger off white head that had pretty good retention and left lots of nice lacing.

Aroma: Sweet champagne-y, sour fruit, peach, pink lemonade, sparkling apple cider, lemon zest, light oak and hints of funk.

Taste: Moderately sweet, champagne, peach, lightly sour, lemonade, lemon zest, apple, pineapple, Belgian yeast and a mix of spices.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, moderate to high carbonation and a dry finish.

Overall: Quite nice overall, but I’m unsure of the necessity to make the ABV so high. With its aroma and flavours, I would have preferred an easy drink rather than one that’s more like a sipper.
Oct 19, 2018
 
Rated: 3.91 by zknight from Korea (South)

Jul 16, 2018
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Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

3.83/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
This looks like a good beer, found it in the discount section due to it being a bit on the older side, but I bet it will still be good, esp during the Celtics v Lebron game

Pours a big effervescent fizzy head that hits a few fingers and fades at a med pace, crystal clear golden blond color

nose brings an awesome Belgian beer aroma, blond honey malts, sweet candi sugar, little bready doughy notes, golden malts, into mild fruity esters, golden raisins, faint apple and pear, touch of perfumey alcohol, nothing sour, little grassy herbal later like saison

Taste brings sweet malts, but a lot more raisin prune like, candi sugar, molasses, dates, little BBQ sauce notes, aged malt, blond malt with a little saison grainy grassy, a bit of tartness but not much, fruity sour beer notes, a touch Flanders red like but not too sour, mild bitterness, little syrupy, some acidity too, tingly alcohol later, with sticky syrupy finish and a bit flemmy.

Mouth is med to heavier bod, syrupy and flemmy, decent fizzy carbonation, little tingly alcohol

Overall started nice, great nose, but taste was completely different, just not there.
May 24, 2018
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

4.63/5  rDev +16.6%
look: 2.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
From Labirratorium. In Tekub glass. Playing Avernum 2. Superb belgian strong pale ale profle with soft, saisonesque notes that makes it feel very refreshing and moreish. Masterpice. Only downside is its aspect, which is too foaming, requiring 3 pours.
May 13, 2018
 
Rated: 3.79 by jaydoc from Kansas

Mar 17, 2018
Photo of Ozzylizard
Reviewed by Ozzylizard from Pennsylvania

2.89/5  rDev -27.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3
$ 21.62 (Including shipping)/750 mL corked and caged botttle ($ 0.851/oz) from Blackwell’s, San Francisco, CA.
Label marked “Released Summer, 16”, stored at 42 degrees and served at 45 degrees in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter.
Appearance – 3.5.
Body – Light yellow, clear, effervescent.
Head – Large (Maximum 5.3 cm, slow, controlled pour), white, low density, average retention, slowly diminishing to an irregular three to ten mm ring fed by effervescence and a complete layer.
Lacing – Fair. Wide rings and partial rings of tiny to small bubbles
Pour – Light yellow, clear.
Aroma – 2 – Initially grainy with marked overtones of corn dimethylsulfide – smells like a skunked AAL. Fortunately, the DMS dissipates, leaving the graininess.
Flavor – 3 – Begins as a very dry, almost champagne-like light-bodied ale. There is no hint of the Curvee van de Keizer Rood, one of my favorite Belgian brews. I’m detecting neither oakiness nor fruitiness. No alcohol (9.8% ABV), no diacetyl, no dimethylsulfide (fortunately).
Palate – 4 - Light, dry, lively carbonation.
Impression and summation – 3 – Extremely disappointing. The ode de mephitis was initially very off-putting, completely obscuring any fruitiness or oakiness claimed by the brewer. The brew itself was very dry and virtually flavorless, having only a hint of apple showing up in the second and third glasses. The oak never put in an appearance. A post-consumption belch or two confirms the presence of DMS. At least it looks good.
Feb 18, 2018
 
Rated: 4.34 by Eziel from Ohio

Feb 10, 2018
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Reviewed by polloenfuego from Canada (NB)

4.29/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a lovely straw gold with a white foamy head that has fairly decent retention and lacing.

Smell is definitely Belgian with yeast, spices and some fruitiness. There is a bit of a funky/tart smell as well likely the contribution from the Lambic.

Taste is quite nice. Those straight up Belgian notes shine through. I get a lot of the typical BSPA, spices, yeast a touch of sweet first. Then it finishes like a lambic. Tart and there is a nice stone fruit presence. Very nice.

Feel is medium in body with a fizzy high carbonation.

What a pleasant and enjoyable surprise. Not that I would expect less from Gouden. A really nice sipper where the blend works very well.
Jan 21, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by mattsander from Canada (AB)

Dec 09, 2017
Photo of ccrida
Reviewed by ccrida from Oregon

3.64/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Enjoying a bottle on the train out of Antwerpen, and Belgium, back to Amsterdam, and finally, home in Oregon. Gold with a frothy bone colored head.

Smell is apple, lemon and wort, pretty even attributed of both beer styles.

Taste is less balanced, and leans more heavily towards the sweetness of the strong blonde. I wanted more Lambic, but there is a at least some aciditity, if not sour funk. The base beer tastes a little hot and heavy.

Mouthfeel is on the drier side but there is some heft on the palate.

Drinakability is ok. I wanted to like this much more than I did. Even with over a year of age, the Lambic has not been able to assert itself much against the strong base. Still a nice beer, but very firmly a BSPA with just a hint of Lambic.
Oct 07, 2017
Gouden Carolus Indulgence - Cuvée Sauvage from Brouwerij Het Anker
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 33 ratings