Cuvée Van De Keizer Rood (Red) | Brouwerij Het Anker

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2015 vintage 750ml corked bottle from the cellar, so 3 years old.

pours a hazy yellow color, thick white head, that fades after a bit. big aroma of Belgian yeast esters - earthy spice, a touch of banana. similar flavor, starts a bit sweet but finishes drier. medium bodied, very smooth

 289 characters

3.68/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Draft at BitterCreek. Pale golden with soft wispy head, streaky lacing. Straight forward malty aroma, taste turns sweet, butter, toffee, butterscotch. Slick and smooth. No sign of the 10% ABV

 191 characters

4.21/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750 ml bottle into a tulip snifter. Bottled 1/14/15, had 2/23/18.

Pours a mostly clear orange, with a one inch head and some soapy lacing. Aromas of Belgian yeast, malt, coriander, cloves, light banana, other spices. Smells wheaty. The taste is similar- Belgian yeast, malt, coriander, wheat, other spices, a hint of vanilla. Smooth, a good body but a touch lighter than expected, well carbonated.

Mostly straightforward, but a really well done and classic BSPA. The yeast and malt are great. Well worth a purchase.

 526 characters

4.16/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

750 ml cork and cage bottle purchased from the LCBO for about$10 CDN. 2017 Vintage. Served cold into a Gouden Carolus chalice.

Appearance - Hazy rich golden color with loads of effervescence. Small thin half finger of fluffy white with good staying power. Some

Smell - Fruity and light, peach and plum with powdery yeast. Very delicate aroma and with the fruitiness reminds me of a tripel. Yeast is present too. Doesn't smell like a big 10% ABV beer. Bubblegum is in there too and possibly hints of banana.

Taste - Light and fruity again with peach and other stone fruits and subtle elements of banana and bubblegum. Booze is really hard to notice. Malt and sugar play a big role too. Maybe a touch too sweet for my preference, but still very yummy.

Mouthfeel - Light bodied, expressive carbonation and a slight drying finish. Way too easy to drink and certainly easy to get yourself into trouble with this brew.

Overall - So while I don't like this quite as much as the blue, this is another notch in the Belgian's battle axe, with a delicious easy to drink strong ale that is wonderfully crafted.

 1,104 characters

4.49/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2010 vintage drinking exquisitely well right now. cant believe how well this has aged. a stark contast stylistically from the blue, this is more like a classic tripel. its pale in color with a rapidly rising white fizzy head and a ton of carbonation in it, looks lighter than its listed strength and very much alive despite its age. the aroma is gorgeous, not dissimilar to a number of other belgian beers in this vein, just better than almost any i have known before, its fully yeast driven here, with notes of green pear and green apple, white grape, clove and anise and pink peppercorn, elderflower, honeysuckle, champagne, and a sort of stone fruit sweetness to it, its intense but also sort or relaxed from the age, absolutely brilliant, perfectly attractive. i dive into similar complexity and fruitiness in the taste, pear and apple still the most forward to me, but now i get notes of medicinal peppermint, chardonnay, lemongrass, and sugar dusted pink bubblegum, the esters in here are just insane, i love it! this is not the typical yeast strain fermented hot by some gung ho american hack, this is an incredible yeast strain thats been slowly working up this layered complexity for a long long time now, and it seems to be dying to get out of this bottle and into my mouth. light grain character for its strength, crackery and simple, and the whole thing is pushed on rapidly by explosive carbonation, and while there is some sweetness here, its no more than is needed to extend these amazing yeast flavors through the finish. i thought this was epic, world class, as good as the style gets. i love old belgian beer, i have a soft spot for it, and this is exactly why. one of the beers of the year for me this year!

 1,726 characters

4.21/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Cloudy gold color,heavy carbonation but it isn't overpowering and the overall feel is excellent making it a fairly smooth beer. Aroma is fresh fruit,yeast,malt,and sugar. Taste is identical but just a touch of booziness. I personally thought the alcohol was fairly well hidden giving this just a. Slight boozy taste that worked well. Perhaps not my favorite but I would definitely have it again

 395 characters

4.07/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

L:
-pours a cloudy golden with a big ,foamy,white head
-medium to high carbonation
S:
-honey,clove,white bread,doughy,pineapple,lime,coriander
T:
-lemon,honey,coriander,spicy,grassy,peach
F:
-high carbonation
-medium nody
-alcohol noticeable
O:
There is nothing too special about this as far as Belgian Blondes/Tripels go, but it is solid as is.
The Alcohol comes through a bit too much

 386 characters

4.14/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

2016 vintage. A great flavor that gets reduced eventually by a somewhat over-bearing alcohol.

Looks are fine at first, particularly the abundant foam and then lace over a nice orange tinge.
Smells I detect are mostly malt and yeast and enough brewer's sugar; all complexing to give full fruity aromas.
Tastes are similar, but spicing becomes more noticeable; yet never interferes with balance.
Feel has decent carbonation, but still allows a creamy feel. All this is spoiled by too much unconcealed alcohol.

OA: I personally think that Het Anker should be able to conceal Red's alcohol; having figured that out so well in their other potent ales that I've had. So, my OA rating is based on that expectation.

 709 characters

4.34/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Pours a hazed gold with 2+ fingers of ivory head. Good head retention & lacing

S: Pears, grassyness, & golden delicous apples

T: Pears, golden delicious apples, figs, plus woody hops up front. Dryness, pears, woody hops, a touch of booze warmth as this warms, some green melon, white grapes & a touch of grassyness too. Finishes with much orchard fruit, some green melon , dryness & a little grassy hoppyness, plus warming booze

This is lovely take on the style, this has a great combination of drinkability, complexity & booze kick to do the job!

MF: Medium body, slight carbonation

 595 characters

4.29/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Ah Christmas, and this fine ale is a tradition I look forward to each year.
From the 750 ml bottle in a snifter. This Belgian pours a lightly murky
deep amber with a fantastic head of white foam that settles to a thick
fine beaded ring and layer with nice sudsy lacing. Nose of apples, grapes,
light sweet bread, subtle yeast notes, pear, and sweet candy sugars. Flavors
hit the right notes and beyond with apples and grapes hitting on the sides, sweet
breaded malts on the middle and rear, and a nice candy sugar note lightly cut
by herbal hops and prickly alcohol. Excellent mouth feel smooth, creamy,
warming, sweet, lightly prickly carbonation, and subtly dry on the finish.

Overall a fantastic brew that signal a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Cheers

 770 characters

4.24/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from 0.75 l bottle into Gouden Carolus glass.
L: Light amber with a lush white foam head.
S: Citrus, green apple.
T: Pear, sweet apple, light fruits. Complex flavour.
F: Great balanced. Medium body and carbonation.
O: Great ale! nothing to say!

 252 characters

3.96/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75

A generous head that forms on top of a hazy deep straw gold. Decent lacing and a light covering. Nose has apples, pears, and grapes. A heavy honey sweetness. Vanilla and pepper. Alcohol is quite present. Taste is very sweet and bready. Vanilla and sugar wafers. A big boozy alcohol that is well integrated until the temperature increases. When cold this is quite drinkable and sneaky smooth. As it warms it becomes quite edgy with alcohol. Hops are low and a such the balance is on the sweet side. Feel is lovely. Medium body with a tingly, creamy carbonation. A solid strong brew, just s little rough around the edges.

 619 characters

4.37/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Hazy amber golden with excellent white haed, long retention.
Smell - fresh, complex, floral, lemony, spicy, honey, cracker.
Taste - spicy, apricots, citrus, some alcohol, forest berries.
Full body, high carbonation, tad slick, charming spiciness.
Crisp & noble.

 261 characters

4.4/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottled January 14, 2015 and poured into an oversized wine glass. I chilled this one longer than recommended so it becomes a most lovely beer after slowly sipping and waiting. I expected goodness from this brewery and got it with this BSPA.

 241 characters

1.76/5  rDev -57.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1.5

Jaargang 2013. Purchased at Binnies in Chicago. 750ml corked and caged bottle. Per the website, brewed with 3 different spices, OG=22° Plato, 17 EBU, 9.5 EBC (kinda like SRM). 10.0% ABV.
Pours out to a cloudy peach golden, forming a tall poofy off yellow head with very good retention and lacing, owing to it's brisk carbonation, ~3.5 carbs or so. The nose is of honey, candi sugar, a little dusty basement. The mouthfeel is effervescent, somewhat cloying, a bit boozy. Taste of melon, honey, candi sugar, then lots of booze. Hot peppery booze, followed by terrible notes of oxidation...wet newspaper and cardboard. Bitterness is metallic and tastes artificial, like poor quality hop extract. Aftertaste of damp cardboard, metallic twang. I had to literally choke this down and got about 4 oz into the bottle before I gave up.

A pretty awful beer full of flaws. This is a drain pour. Quite disappointed. One of the worst Belgian golden strongs I've ever had, and I've had quite a few.
Terrible.

 1,011 characters

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

750ML Bottle bottled on 8.29.2013

Appearance - hazy golden body with white head

Smell - ginger, coriander, pear, apricot, apple

Taste - apple, pear, ginger, coriander

Mouthfeel - Medium plus body, full carbonation, citrus sweetness upfront, ginger/coriander spice in the middle, dry and slightly tart finish

Overall - very good example of Belgian Strong Pale Ale. Somewhat difficult to find, but lovers of this style should give it a try.

Price Point - $11.99/750 ML Bottle

 481 characters

4.36/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

2011 vintage

Poured a hazy straw color with a stark white head. Stone fruits, pear, apple, age and cracker malts fill the nose. The taste follows the nose well with a substantial sweetness even after 5 years. Delicious.

 220 characters

4.25/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

From elcervecero. In Teku glass. Shared with Carlos. With cheese & pizza. Amazing in nose and delicious taste, very smooth and tasty, with a very pleasant sweetness. Alcohol well hidden. Avg 4.8

20 May 2018. 2015 edition. From tercertiempocervezas. In La Trappe chalice. Playing Avernum 2. Very well executed belgian pale strong ale, with pleasant sugary and spicy notes typically belgian and a smooth sip.

 407 characters

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Just grabbed the last of two bottles at a local vendor of the 2013 vintage. I wrote a review of the Blauw (blue) variety of this limited edition vintage production a few years ago, and it remains the finest beer I have ever consumed. The Rood pours a slightly hazy 10 k gold with a massive fluffy meringue-like head.
The mouthfeel is simply liquid velvet; moderately bitter and slightly tart, the ample sugars balance this farmhouse style perfectly. The nose is balanced though somewhat understated, as soft tones of coriander and beet sugars gently rise from the glass.
Interestingly, I noticed some debris floating around the edge of the glass at the surface. Thinking it was some cork particles that had broken off, I pulled them out with my Finger. Turned out to be some barley hulls that were never fined or filtered. After reading a report on plastic particles found in 24 sampled varieties of German beer, I don't feel all that unfortunate.
A lighter and less bold Van De Keizer than the incomparable Blauw brown ale, we could consider this variant as the little sister; she rocks nonetheless.

 1,101 characters

3.83/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Nice looking golden, good carbonation, a bit soapy head though.
Smell of grain. Something hints towards sweet fruit.
Taste is strong bittersweet malt.
Quite boozy, more than I expected. Flavour doesn't totally cover the alcohol, which is a pitty.
Overall, this beer is powerfull and not easy. A bit rough, but very decent.

 322 characters

4.26/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Cuvee Van De Keizer Rood pours a hazy straw color with a very high puffy white head of foam. As this 2015 review is for a 2009 bottle, I was surprised at how much carbonation was still present in the beverage. The aroma is malty, containing apple, grape, and maple syrup elements as well. Flavor-wise, I got more yeast than the aroma suggests, with plum and grape esters. The finish was so malty, it was not unlike eating 'whoppers' malted milk balls. Also, it had one of the most 'bready' mouth feels I have ever experienced. Not a bad thing. Overall, a fairly unique Strong Pale Ale that has aged very well.

 609 characters

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

2008 vintage at 52 degrees into tulip
Aroma of fruit
Head small (<2 cm, aggressive pour), white, fizzy, rapidly diminishing to 2 mm ring
Lacing – none
Body golden, clear
Flavor sweet, raisins and grapes, short lived; no hops, no alcohol, no diacetyl
Palate medium to full, creamy, soft carbonation

Appearance 3.5, Aroma 3.5, Flavor 4.5, Palate 4, Overall 4

 359 characters

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a Duvel tulip. 2011 vintage.

A- Pours a hazy medium amber color with a 1/2 inch off-white head that retains well before becoming a thick ring around the edge of the glass and a half sheet of surface foam. Semi-resilient lacing leaves a broken ring behind.

S- Rich, herbal, yeasty aroma that's a bit effervescent. Maybe some Belgian candi sugar plus some white wine-like notes.

T- Breaks onto the palate with some fruity yeast and a solid alcohol punch. Zesty, slightly sweet. A tad bit of oxidation is present but provides some balance to the intense flavors. Mild breadiness from the malt. Yeasty aftertaste.

M- Tangy and bright with medium carbonation and a body leaning toward the lighter side.

O- A nice score of a pre-aged bottle I found on the shelf. Not as incredible as the Blue but still mighty tasty.

 835 characters

4.12/5  rDev +0.2%

2008 vintage.

Notes of metal and tar are unexpected in aroma. There's an estery profile of banana, clove, pear skin, and apple accompanying a fairly sweet dark fruit and caramel malt backbone. Notes of figs and dates become more pronounced as it warms. Flavor is exceedingly sweet initially, with caramel malt and treacle dominance. Luckily, esters of tart green apple and pear, along with sherry oxidation, counter and add complexity. Still fairly hot, with alcohol warmth lingering in the finish.figs and dates add depth as it warms. Fairly complex beer, which will probably continue to age well.

 599 characters

4.88/5  rDev +18.7%

2011 bottle
Golden haze color. Very sweet grain smell, but also a lot of spices as well. Cloves and peppery smell.

Flavor is very nice. Very sweet up front. Pepper comes through as well as the cloves and some cinnamon. The alcohol content is noticeable, but not overpowering at all. Spicy, dry finish. Excellent mouthfeel. Overall a very good beer.

 361 characters