Gouden Carolus Tripel
Brouwerij Het Anker
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- From:
- Brouwerij Het Anker
- Belgium
- Style:
- Tripel
Ranked #18 - ABV:
- 9%
- Score:
- 92
Ranked #4,943 - Avg:
- 4.13 | pDev: 10.41%
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Mar 16, 2022
- Added:
- Aug 12, 2002
- Wants:
- 102
- Gots:
- 209
SCORE
92
Outstanding
92
Outstanding
Notes:
Full graceful tenderness, with a clean and neat taste, this ale will enchant you: matured in the bottle, exclusively obtained from pale malt, highly fermented and 100% natural. With a full-bodied flavor that still works thirst quenching, thanks to a balanced hoping. This pleasant golden ale is preferred by all who love heavier, somewhat seasoned and refreshing ale.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by MissouriMule:
4.8/5 rDev +16.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by MissouriMule from Missouri
This nails the genre. Judging by the fact I picked up four for a fiver, it had been on the rack a while, so YMMV. It pours cloudy with a tall and persistent head. There is grass and spice in the nose, corresponding to hay, spice, and floral notes in the taste. The mouthfeel is full and round, with the sharp carbonation acting as an excellent countervailing force. The only detracting element is the aftertaste, which can make for a slightly astringent and vaguely stale bitterness, albeit short-lived. Again, though, my samples may be long in the tooth.
Feb 05, 2020
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
by MissouriMule from Missouri
This nails the genre. Judging by the fact I picked up four for a fiver, it had been on the rack a while, so YMMV. It pours cloudy with a tall and persistent head. There is grass and spice in the nose, corresponding to hay, spice, and floral notes in the taste. The mouthfeel is full and round, with the sharp carbonation acting as an excellent countervailing force. The only detracting element is the aftertaste, which can make for a slightly astringent and vaguely stale bitterness, albeit short-lived. Again, though, my samples may be long in the tooth.
Feb 05, 2020
More User Ratings:
3.09/5 rDev -25.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
by Raoul
Not my cup of tea. Nice color and a nice foam. You can smell the hops and fruitiness. But you can also smell and tast grain gins. For me is this beer to strong to taste the real flavors. Thats too bad.
Mar 16, 2022
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
by Raoul
Not my cup of tea. Nice color and a nice foam. You can smell the hops and fruitiness. But you can also smell and tast grain gins. For me is this beer to strong to taste the real flavors. Thats too bad.
Mar 16, 2022
4.21 by irishevans from California on Mar 07, 2022
3.98 by Sphagnicola from Belgium on Mar 06, 2022
4.13/5 rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by snaotheus from Washington
2021-11-22
750ml capped bottle served in a tulip. Date info: 20/01/2024 121616 11:41. Brought home from Spain for me by @mr-jj. Served probably a bit cold, I'll try to warm it up with my hands while I review.
Pours a somewhat hazy straw yellow with a giant fluffy head that collapses into a large, crunchy-looking mountain of head, right in the center, with some gorgeously webby lacing along the sides. Smell is hay, a little funk, a little spice, definite yeast aroma, surprisingly not getting much of a banana or clove, though the spice might be leaning in the clove direction.
Taste is very slightly banana-fruity, very mildly spicy. As it warms up, I get a bit more banana and more of an earthy flavor. There's a bit of bitterness to it, which I have a hard time pinning down -- more nutty than green, but not quite nutty. Maybe it'll come to me (closest I can get is almost a bark flavor?). Clove is definitely getting clearer.
Mouthfeel is surprisingly light and dry and clean. Overall, this is a very nice tripel.
Nov 23, 2021
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by snaotheus from Washington
2021-11-22
750ml capped bottle served in a tulip. Date info: 20/01/2024 121616 11:41. Brought home from Spain for me by @mr-jj. Served probably a bit cold, I'll try to warm it up with my hands while I review.
Pours a somewhat hazy straw yellow with a giant fluffy head that collapses into a large, crunchy-looking mountain of head, right in the center, with some gorgeously webby lacing along the sides. Smell is hay, a little funk, a little spice, definite yeast aroma, surprisingly not getting much of a banana or clove, though the spice might be leaning in the clove direction.
Taste is very slightly banana-fruity, very mildly spicy. As it warms up, I get a bit more banana and more of an earthy flavor. There's a bit of bitterness to it, which I have a hard time pinning down -- more nutty than green, but not quite nutty. Maybe it'll come to me (closest I can get is almost a bark flavor?). Clove is definitely getting clearer.
Mouthfeel is surprisingly light and dry and clean. Overall, this is a very nice tripel.
Nov 23, 2021
4.35/5 rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
750ml bottle. Label is stamped for production date of '07/13/21'.
Clear, straw colored body. Big show of uprising bubbles. Voluminous head, which takes a few small pours to fill the glass. Leaves clumps of lacing.
Aroma of banana esters, with a touch of cloves. Sweet honey and peach fruit. Also apricot.
Taste is even more expressive than the smell. Big bready malts, banana esters, and pear, peach, and apricot fruit. This is both sweet and slightly bitter. Dry in the aftertaste, with the yeast, malts, and fruit.
Dry and slightly tart mouth feel. Each sip is quick and to the point. High level of carbonation, with beautiful billowing heads.
So nuanced and very expressive at the same time. High mark for the style. Higher ABV% is well hidden, but results in a warming experience. The chore to drinking this beer is the waiting for the head of each pour to subside.
Nov 13, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
750ml bottle. Label is stamped for production date of '07/13/21'.
Clear, straw colored body. Big show of uprising bubbles. Voluminous head, which takes a few small pours to fill the glass. Leaves clumps of lacing.
Aroma of banana esters, with a touch of cloves. Sweet honey and peach fruit. Also apricot.
Taste is even more expressive than the smell. Big bready malts, banana esters, and pear, peach, and apricot fruit. This is both sweet and slightly bitter. Dry in the aftertaste, with the yeast, malts, and fruit.
Dry and slightly tart mouth feel. Each sip is quick and to the point. High level of carbonation, with beautiful billowing heads.
So nuanced and very expressive at the same time. High mark for the style. Higher ABV% is well hidden, but results in a warming experience. The chore to drinking this beer is the waiting for the head of each pour to subside.
Nov 13, 2021
4 by altrio on Oct 04, 2021
5 by Le0Pont from Mexico on Sep 25, 2021
4.49/5 rDev +8.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by GreesyFizeek from New York
On tap at The Sovereign in Washington DC.
This one pours a hazy golden yellow color, with a small fluffy head, and lots of lacing.
This smells like pear, honey, stone fruit, banana esters, and clove.
I'm really beginning to like tripels more with time. This is an excellent version, one of the best that I've had. There's a nice doughy sweetness, with some clovey and grassy bitterness. There's a lot of dried fruit character - banana, pear, peach, etc.
This is medium bodied, pretty creamy, with a very well hidden alcohol character. It's quite drinkable,
This is as good as it gets for this style. This is tremendous.
Sep 07, 2021
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
by GreesyFizeek from New York
On tap at The Sovereign in Washington DC.
This one pours a hazy golden yellow color, with a small fluffy head, and lots of lacing.
This smells like pear, honey, stone fruit, banana esters, and clove.
I'm really beginning to like tripels more with time. This is an excellent version, one of the best that I've had. There's a nice doughy sweetness, with some clovey and grassy bitterness. There's a lot of dried fruit character - banana, pear, peach, etc.
This is medium bodied, pretty creamy, with a very well hidden alcohol character. It's quite drinkable,
This is as good as it gets for this style. This is tremendous.
Sep 07, 2021
3.98 by ptarmigan98 from Alaska on Jun 12, 2021
3.5/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Sigmund from Norway
750 ml corked and wired bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 9.0%. Very pale yellow colour, huge white head. Strong fruity, yeasty and spicy (cloves a.o.) aroma. The flavour is spicy with some fruit and white kandij sugar, but the sweetness is nearly too much. Still a good beer, but if it is worth the high price in Norway is debatable.
Mar 20, 2021
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
by Sigmund from Norway
750 ml corked and wired bottle, from Vinmonopolet. ABV is 9.0%. Very pale yellow colour, huge white head. Strong fruity, yeasty and spicy (cloves a.o.) aroma. The flavour is spicy with some fruit and white kandij sugar, but the sweetness is nearly too much. Still a good beer, but if it is worth the high price in Norway is debatable.
Mar 20, 2021
4.33 by Insomniac from Canada (ON) on Mar 03, 2021
4.17 by Jarrod_LC from Louisiana on Mar 03, 2021
4.2/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by BGDrock from Canada (ON)
Gold body, hazy and unfiltered, with a marshmallow white head, thick and with excellent retention.
Aromas of banana bread, floral yeast spice, crisp sweet apple,
The taste brings to mind a dry vermouth, dry white wine, sourdough bread. Beautifully blended, it's difficult to recognize distinct flavours. Getting some white grape, floral notes, fresh bread, a dash of pear, a dust of mustiness. Fantastic feel, dry with a fine, medium-light effervescence, and warming alcohol heat providing additional balance. Flavour is clean and pure, like spring water. Well balanced, the hop bitterness is doing it's thing, hard to detect.
Feb 13, 2021
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by BGDrock from Canada (ON)
Gold body, hazy and unfiltered, with a marshmallow white head, thick and with excellent retention.
Aromas of banana bread, floral yeast spice, crisp sweet apple,
The taste brings to mind a dry vermouth, dry white wine, sourdough bread. Beautifully blended, it's difficult to recognize distinct flavours. Getting some white grape, floral notes, fresh bread, a dash of pear, a dust of mustiness. Fantastic feel, dry with a fine, medium-light effervescence, and warming alcohol heat providing additional balance. Flavour is clean and pure, like spring water. Well balanced, the hop bitterness is doing it's thing, hard to detect.
Feb 13, 2021
4.25 by eawolff99 from Minnesota on Jan 25, 2021
4.18 by dbauer from California on Dec 26, 2020
4.33/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by octortus from Canada (ON)
330 mL Bottle. ABV 9%.
Appearance: Pale orange/gold, Quite clear, One and a half fingers of frothy off-white head, Moderate-High carbonation, Phenomenal retention.
Aroma: Belgian esters, Banana, Stone fruit (apricot, slight peach), Soapy, Spice, Citrus (Lemon, Orange zest), Floral, Slight caramel pale malt.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, Moderate carbonation, Feels like heavy silk, Very well hidden alcohol.
Flavour: Citrus (Lemon, Orange zest), Soapy, Floral, Slight apricot, Slight caramel pale malt, Bitter finish (citrusy, earthy hops).
Overall:
Review: 246
Dec 08, 2020
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by octortus from Canada (ON)
330 mL Bottle. ABV 9%.
Appearance: Pale orange/gold, Quite clear, One and a half fingers of frothy off-white head, Moderate-High carbonation, Phenomenal retention.
Aroma: Belgian esters, Banana, Stone fruit (apricot, slight peach), Soapy, Spice, Citrus (Lemon, Orange zest), Floral, Slight caramel pale malt.
Mouthfeel: Medium body, Moderate carbonation, Feels like heavy silk, Very well hidden alcohol.
Flavour: Citrus (Lemon, Orange zest), Soapy, Floral, Slight apricot, Slight caramel pale malt, Bitter finish (citrusy, earthy hops).
Overall:
Review: 246
Dec 08, 2020
4.05 by SayBoom from Ukraine on Oct 31, 2020
4.49 by XeroD from Germany on Sep 13, 2020
4.09 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee on Sep 04, 2020
4.1/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by BelgianHops from Belgium
Good triple. Not as good as others, but above average. Smooth and balanced beer with fresh yeast, citrus, mandarine and hints of black pepper. Medium body with medium carbonation. Gets worse once developed from temperature.
Aug 13, 2020
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
by BelgianHops from Belgium
Good triple. Not as good as others, but above average. Smooth and balanced beer with fresh yeast, citrus, mandarine and hints of black pepper. Medium body with medium carbonation. Gets worse once developed from temperature.
Aug 13, 2020
3.97/5 rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
by JudgeRoughneck from Louisiana
Aroma- subtle, delicate, lightly sweet
Flavor - firm pils malt sweetness, medium intensity flowery noble hops on the mid-palalte, dry spicy finish, pear notes, warm vanilla tone, very little bitterness
MF- medium bodied and velvety, really wonderful and very balanced without any heat, bitterness, or excessive dryness
Jul 12, 2020
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75
by JudgeRoughneck from Louisiana
Aroma- subtle, delicate, lightly sweet
Flavor - firm pils malt sweetness, medium intensity flowery noble hops on the mid-palalte, dry spicy finish, pear notes, warm vanilla tone, very little bitterness
MF- medium bodied and velvety, really wonderful and very balanced without any heat, bitterness, or excessive dryness
Jul 12, 2020
4.82/5 rDev +16.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by MichaelDaMac from Tennessee
Looks golden with a large two finger head, smells sweet and spicy, made me excited to taste it... Strong alcohol taste but sweet and a full mouth feel, tingles the sides of tongue because of a lot of carbonation. I would give it 4.8 out of 5! Great beer, nice to sip on the Cancun beach!
Jul 07, 2020
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
by MichaelDaMac from Tennessee
Looks golden with a large two finger head, smells sweet and spicy, made me excited to taste it... Strong alcohol taste but sweet and a full mouth feel, tingles the sides of tongue because of a lot of carbonation. I would give it 4.8 out of 5! Great beer, nice to sip on the Cancun beach!
Jul 07, 2020
4.15 by Maarten_W from Netherlands on Jul 06, 2020
3.99 by Eltrandos from France on Jun 14, 2020
4.23 by bird_soul from Netherlands on May 14, 2020
4 by eldoctorador from Chile on Mar 20, 2020
4 by jaxon53 from Connecticut on Mar 01, 2020
4.48 by jmbeerdude91 from Arizona on Jan 27, 2020
4.41/5 rDev +6.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by flyingpig from Scotland
330ml bottle from Beerhawk.com (£3.39):
Bright golden & clear with a 3cm white head that's thick & foamy looking, leaving some lacing on the sides. Fresh & spicy with yeast & a little sweetness on the nose, banana, grassy hops & pepper follow. It's more fruity tasting with peach & apricot, a touch of spice & the grassy hops from the nose too. It's well-carbonated throughout & effervescent with a light body & a dry, spicy finish that rounds things off nicely.
Jan 18, 2020
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
by flyingpig from Scotland
330ml bottle from Beerhawk.com (£3.39):
Bright golden & clear with a 3cm white head that's thick & foamy looking, leaving some lacing on the sides. Fresh & spicy with yeast & a little sweetness on the nose, banana, grassy hops & pepper follow. It's more fruity tasting with peach & apricot, a touch of spice & the grassy hops from the nose too. It's well-carbonated throughout & effervescent with a light body & a dry, spicy finish that rounds things off nicely.
Jan 18, 2020
4.07/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by JonnoWillsteed from England
L- Pale amber, almost clear (minor sediment left in bottle), pours with 1Cm off-white head. (ps. holds well/forms lacing).
S- Woody and leathery.
T- Woody, almost like conifers, into dry but pungent brightness on the palate. Once my palate has adjusted to that I begin to notice the gentle spicing which becomes more prominent as the beer warms a touch.
F- The dry/bright aspects do a thorough job part-masking the 9% ABV. Usually I'd expect a 9% Tripel to be rich/robust/punchy, this seems more subtle. It has major presence just the hefty 9% is discreet.
O- Superb, nothing 'wrong/out of balance' to note. In my view it's on the dryer side of the spectrum of Tripels.
Bought from Beerhawk/UK. 330ml bottle (lable now mostly cream with gold lettering). BB: 28/05/2022
Dec 08, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
by JonnoWillsteed from England
L- Pale amber, almost clear (minor sediment left in bottle), pours with 1Cm off-white head. (ps. holds well/forms lacing).
S- Woody and leathery.
T- Woody, almost like conifers, into dry but pungent brightness on the palate. Once my palate has adjusted to that I begin to notice the gentle spicing which becomes more prominent as the beer warms a touch.
F- The dry/bright aspects do a thorough job part-masking the 9% ABV. Usually I'd expect a 9% Tripel to be rich/robust/punchy, this seems more subtle. It has major presence just the hefty 9% is discreet.
O- Superb, nothing 'wrong/out of balance' to note. In my view it's on the dryer side of the spectrum of Tripels.
Bought from Beerhawk/UK. 330ml bottle (lable now mostly cream with gold lettering). BB: 28/05/2022
Dec 08, 2019
3.75/5 rDev -9.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by rex_4539 from Greece
L: Quite clear golden color, one finger white head, messy lacing, no carbonation.
S: Hops, yeast, sweet.
T: Hops, yeast, LOTS of alcohol, malts.
F: Medium to full bodied, lots of yeast flavor. Unfortunately, alcohol covers all the rest.
O: Decent beer to have on a cold winter day I guess but nothing I will look for again.
Dec 02, 2019
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
by rex_4539 from Greece
L: Quite clear golden color, one finger white head, messy lacing, no carbonation.
S: Hops, yeast, sweet.
T: Hops, yeast, LOTS of alcohol, malts.
F: Medium to full bodied, lots of yeast flavor. Unfortunately, alcohol covers all the rest.
O: Decent beer to have on a cold winter day I guess but nothing I will look for again.
Dec 02, 2019
3.85/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by stevoj from Idaho
Draft at Bittercreek. Somehow missed this during my time in Europe. Light milky yellow body with a big whiff of Belgian yeast. Taste is yeast, butter, herbal hops. Medium weight and a bit of a bitter finish. Classic
Nov 05, 2019
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
by stevoj from Idaho
Draft at Bittercreek. Somehow missed this during my time in Europe. Light milky yellow body with a big whiff of Belgian yeast. Taste is yeast, butter, herbal hops. Medium weight and a bit of a bitter finish. Classic
Nov 05, 2019
4.07 by Lanas from Greece on Oct 14, 2019
4.03 by generallee from Virginia on Sep 15, 2019
4.18/5 rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by keithmurray from Connecticut
I believe this was bottled in 2017
Appearance - cloudy orange color with white head
Smell - malt, ginger, coriander, clove,orange
Taste - Malt, Orange, ginger, clove, tangerine, coriander
Mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium plus carbonation, citrus upfront, yeasty ester on the finish
Overall - this was a tripel that I enjoyed, they orange flavor really came through while being in harmony with the other flavors. Recommended for lovers of the style
Price Point - $4.99/11.2 oz single
Aug 16, 2019
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
by keithmurray from Connecticut
I believe this was bottled in 2017
Appearance - cloudy orange color with white head
Smell - malt, ginger, coriander, clove,orange
Taste - Malt, Orange, ginger, clove, tangerine, coriander
Mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium plus carbonation, citrus upfront, yeasty ester on the finish
Overall - this was a tripel that I enjoyed, they orange flavor really came through while being in harmony with the other flavors. Recommended for lovers of the style
Price Point - $4.99/11.2 oz single
Aug 16, 2019
4.63 by Myara from Brazil on Jul 16, 2019
4.39 by Smurfman584 from Texas on Jun 24, 2019
4 by fredmugs from Indiana on Apr 26, 2019
5 by pjh36 from District of Columbia on Apr 21, 2019
Gouden Carolus Tripel from Brouwerij Het Anker
Beer rating:
92 out of
100 with
1036 ratings