Name: Gouden Carolus Noël
Style: Belgium Strong Dark Ale
Brewery: Brouwerij Het Anker website
Country: Belgium
Region: Mechelen
ABV: 10.00%
How served: 750ml caged and corked bottle poured into a Gouden Carolus D’Or chalice.
My Overall Opinion: Very Good 
I paired this beer with: Shake n’ bake chicken, asparagus & corn.
Tasted on: Monday December 14, 2009.
Note: This is another very smooth and blended beer which is quite drinkable at 10%ABV. While on our Belgium Barge Beercation in October 2010 we will be staying in Mechelen for 2 nights and will surely be visiting this brewery and their brasserie. www.bonbeervoyage.com
From their website: “The beer Gouden Carolus of brewery in Mechelen Het Anker grew into an international laurelled beer. The brewery thanks that success in large degree to its authenticity. The old recipes still form the basis of the brewing process, chemicals are never used and a variety of hops and herbs such as coriander, caraway and liquorice brings the beers on taste.
The brewery itself, which as one of the oldest in Belgium (1369), can count on a rich history, reminds of former times. The courtyard lies strewn with excellent cobblestones; on a tympan shines in grey stone the year 1625, and the three copper kettles in the brewing hall dates of just after the second world war.
The brewery, which as the years pass by had fallen into decline, got in the nineties a considerable overhaul. Charles Leclef, the fifth generation of the family which had bought the brewery in 1873, started with the restoration of the old buildings and modernised the refrigeration, fermentation and lagerings installations.”
“In 2002, after 38 years, a tradition of making a Gouden Carolus Christmas beer was restored. And the response was astonishing from the beginning of the release.
Gouden Carolus Christmas is a strong dark ruby-red beer with character and a alcohol percentage of 10,5% Vol. It is brewed at the end of August. Then it rests for several months to obtain a optimal balance in taste and flavours. Specific herbs are added in the different stages of the brewing process. Three different kinds of hops, and 6 different kind of herbs and spices make this Christmas beer a ‘special class’.
Gouden Carolus Christmas is a top world beer.
In 2004 Gouden Carolus Christmas won the Silver Award in the World Beer Cup, San Diego, USA in the “Dark Strong Ale” category. “
| Technical sheet | |
| Type of beer: | Special dark beer |
| Colour: | Dark ruby red |
| Alcohol: | 10,5 % VOL |
| Kind of hops: | Only Belgian hops |
| Wort extract: | 22 °Pl |
| Fermentation: | High fermentation Refermentation in the bottle |
| Lagering: | 2 weeks |
| Conditioning: | Bottle: 33 cl, 75 cl and 11/2l Keg: 20 and 30 l |
| Tenability: | At least 3 years |
This is the 19th of my daily Christmas beer, on my quest for a Christmas beer a day from Thanksgiving to Christmas. There are now only 10 more beers until Christmas!
