Gouden Carolus Cuvée Van De Keizer Imperial Blond
Brouwerij Het Anker

JonnoWillsteed from England

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

L- Mid amber, clear, pours with 3Cm pillowy white head
S- Can't smell much this morning, just some brightness.
T- Boof! Certainly bold. Pear-drops and apple. Estery, some spices.
F- Full-flavoured and deep. Glad I served cold I can sense it's warming towards a bit rich...
O- Big bold, leaves an impression of the palate
750ml bottle £8.95 BB: 31/12/2022. Bought from BeautifulBeers/BurySt.Edmunds as part of a large pick-your own consignment to London.

Feb 07, 2021

donzilake from Ohio

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

h 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.

Jan 25, 2021

Eddieeight from Ohio

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Picked up for about $10 in a large bomber with a cool cork. Bright golden color with a haze to it, thick and tall white foam head - lots of effervescence. Smells very malty, with a good deal of citrus lemon and orange and even white grapes. Before I can even taste it I’ve got to work my way through the thick foam. Taste is Very understated. Not very strong flavors of anything in particular other than the citrus. Very dry as well. This drink reminds me of a sparkling white grape juice. Alcohol is not strong or noticeable for the ABV. Mouthfeel is extraordinarily effervescent and sparkly, fairly light and easily drinkable. The label says to drink with respect because it’s so powerful yet I can easily drink this as if it was bud light. Overall very drinkable and I would certainly buy this again however I am interested in what the sister beer that’s an imperial dark would taste like as it has higher and nearly perfect ratings.

Oct 05, 2020

REVZEB from Illinois

4.46/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Cloudy goldenrod with a thick two fingers of white foam. Aromas of apple and white grape Astors, robust pale blonde malts, bright breadiness and honey, finished by mild leafy hops and booze kiss. This fall is the nose: add in some caramel to the honey, grass, white pepper, cracker malt and pear to the general taste. Heavier for style, full, warm, yet springy and crisp. A wonderful Belgian ale

Aug 15, 2020

octortus from Canada (ON)

4.27/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

750 mL Bottle. ABV 10%.
Appearance: Sunrise orange, Under one finger of off-white head, Low-Moderate carbonation, Yeast in suspension on final pour, Good retention, Broken cap remains.
Aroma: Banana, Stone fruit, Spice, Very inviting malt presence, Citrus, Classic Belgian yeast, Slight bubblegum, Grape, Quite complex, Refreshing, Simply magnificent.
Mouthfeel: Slightly above medium body, Fairly boozy, Mostly smooth, Somewhat sharp carbonation, Off-dry.
Flavour: Malt, White grape, Belgian yeast, Spice (Coriander), Stone fruit (apricot), Herbal, Floral, Slight Apple, Slight banana, Slight bubblegum.
Overall: Fantastic aroma, wow! That was a treat. I felt like the rest of the beer, while still outstanding, did not quite meet that mark.

Review: 156

Mar 24, 2020

thehyperduck from Canada (ON)

4.27/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

750 mL corked & caged bottle bought at the LCBO well over a year ago; 'Jaargang 2017' according to the neck label. Best before Apr 2020 and served barely chilled.

Pours a clear medium golden hue, topped with half a centimetre of frothy white foam that settles off within the next two minutes or so. A soapy collar encircles a filmy, bubbly layer upon the surface; no lace at first, but bands are generated over time as I sip away at the glass. The aroma is inviting and a little fruity - I'm getting yellow plum, honeycrisp apple and maybe a touch of pear and apricot. Bready pale malts, oily citrus peel and some floral, grassy aspects also come through, though the 10% is notably absent.

Unbelievably smooth, particularly in light of the aforementioned 10% abv. Bready pale malt sweetness, sultana raisin and golden syrup sweetness dominate the forefront, with flavours of bruised apple, stone fruit, lemon and pear developing by mid-sip. Grassy hay, bubblegum and herbal hop notes briefly crop up towards the finish, but the orchard fruit leitmotif repeats itself into the aftertaste, which I'd describe as just a little warming with some candi sugar sweetness. Full-bodied and silky-smooth, with low carbonation levels that limply nudge against the surface of the palate. Dangerously easy drinking.

Final Grade: 4.27, an impressive A-. Like anything of great strength, Cuvee van de Keizer Rood must be handled with respect and diligence... unless, of course, you have the day off tomorrow. Complex and well-balanced, this is a textbook strong Belgian pale ale that is well worth the price anywhere you can find it. The next bottle I pick up will definitely be consumed right away - I've found that although BSPAs do hold up well for at least a couple of years (in fact, I still have a 2018 Rood in the cellar), I usually like them better when fresh, so this review may receive an update within the near future if/when the 2019 batch rolls out to these parts.

Oct 09, 2019

jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
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

Nov 25, 2018

stevoj from Idaho

3.68/5  rDev -10.7%
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

Apr 11, 2018

stortore from Illinois

4.21/5  rDev +2.2%
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.

Apr 10, 2018

taxandbeerguy from Canada (ON)

4.16/5  rDev +1%
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.

Dec 29, 2017

StonedTrippin from Colorado

4.49/5  rDev +9%
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!

Dec 07, 2017

HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

4.21/5  rDev +2.2%
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

Oct 29, 2017

drmeto from Germany

4.07/5  rDev -1.2%
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

Oct 26, 2017

Beginner2 from Illinois

4.17/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | 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.

2/24/20 Had again, guessing a 2017 Vintage as it was not on the label. Nor a Best By date. However if I am correct about 2017, then Het Anker figured out how make the alcohol less obvious. This vintage was more syrupy, indicating to me that it three years is a better age than two.

Aug 13, 2017

russpowell from Arkansas

4.34/5  rDev +5.3%
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

Jul 06, 2017

Brutaltruth from Ohio

4.29/5  rDev +4.1%
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

Dec 26, 2016

Dzu from Russian Federation

4.24/5  rDev +2.9%
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!

Dec 15, 2016

scootny from New York

3.96/5  rDev -3.9%
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.

Dec 08, 2016

Dentist666 from Russian Federation

4.37/5  rDev +6.1%
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.

Oct 05, 2016

bowzer4birdie from Illinois

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
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.

Aug 11, 2016

Mitchster from Michigan

1.76/5  rDev -57.3%
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.

Jul 03, 2016

keithmurray from Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
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

Jun 18, 2016

ClavisAurea from New York

4.36/5  rDev +5.8%
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.

Jun 04, 2016

josanguapo from Spain

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
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.

Apr 14, 2016

barknee from New York

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
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.

Feb 04, 2016