Gouden Carolus Tripel | Brouwerij Het Anker | Mechelen, Belgium (28/30) | BeerAdvocate
Ratings: 728 | Reviews: 414 | Display Reviews Only: 4.38/5 rDev +6.3%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5*Place beer was reviewed: In t Ankercafé, Grote Markt 28, B-2800 Mechelen
Ut vivat, crescat, floreat!Bierschenker, Feb 24, 20054.83/5 rDev +17.2%look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5Presented in a brown, corked 750.
Needless to say, quite drinkable.nortmand, Feb 14, 20053.75/5 rDev -9%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5Golden with a full off-white head and very active slow bubbled carbonation. Strong Belgian spicy malt aroma with alcohol very noticeable. Strong spicy malt flavors with traces of coriander and cardamom. Medium-full bodied with a strong alcohol finish.
(11.2 oz / 330 ml)RBorsato, Feb 09, 20054.33/5 rDev +5.1%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5Pours a two-finger white head that vanishes without a trace lace. Cloudy amber color. Light-medium carbonation and light-medium bodied. Nose is distinctly raisins, starts sweet and finishes sweet and sour but mellow. No hint of alcohol!! Another excellent triple. 330ml bottle for $3.49 from Hoosick St. Discount Bev, Troy, NY.jdhilt, Feb 03, 20054.33/5 rDev +5.1%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4Gouden Carolus Triple pours in with a huge head that stays and leaves nice laces at the glas. Smell is very fruity, orange, koreander and also some hops. Smelling this nice palate you can't wait for the first sip. Its Alcoholic, yeastspicy and freshness of koreander again. The all over dry taste ends nice and bitter. Mouthfeel is good but could be a litle fuller. Finished this botle that was best till 2-4-07 within 15 minutes so must be good too!paterlodie, Jan 29, 20054.18/5 rDev +1.5%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5From a 33cl bottle.
Taste is much like the smell, spicy and sweet. Light hint of cinnamon apples. Sour and peppery as it finishes. Really smooth and oddly creamy (for a tripel) Really one of the nicest textures I've had in a tripel. This one does not reveal it's strength in the body, though very flavorful. Watch out, it'll sneak up on you.ViveLaChouffe, Nov 26, 20044.13/5 rDev +0.2%look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4Deep golden in color with a creamy off-white head. Swirling carbonation from the bottom of the glass. The aroma is yeasty and peppery, with a light touch of fruits. It has a really soft aroma overall. The flavor is spicy, peppery and yeasty. It is also somewhat earthy as well. It is light in body for its strength and very drying in the finish. A very smooth, easy drinking Triple.BeerBuilder, Nov 18, 20044/5 rDev -2.9%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4The beer pours a golde color with a thick frothy white head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a nice pale malt scent that is slightly dry with a fruity yeast finish. It is rich and warm. The taste is good as well. It has a dry, warm, pale malt flavor that is rich and full of alcohol. It goes down slow and finishes slightly fruity and warm. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a damn good tripel. It is a bit warmer than I would prefer, but it is full of flavor; a good drinker.WesWes, Oct 30, 20043.9/5 rDev -5.3%look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4You can smell the alcohol coming off this beer. I did a easy pour and ended up with no cloudiness. Nice white head that stuck around for a little while, didnt get much lacing. Alcohol warmed the tongue upon drinking. Good beer. Not fantastic. But then again Tripels aren't my favorite style. Interesting, but I don't think I would buy it again. There are just too many others out there that I like better.Hex92, Oct 30, 20044/5 rDev -2.9%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4The beer poured into the chalice a hazy and chunky pale goledn with a white head that stood tall and fell slowly to lace the glass. The bottle had fallen over in the fridge so the haze and chunks were probably from that experience.
The aroma was low with some slight belgian yeast spiciness of clove. Some higher alcohols assist the fruity esters in the aroma to show themselves.
The flavor was light as well with a crisp bite of hop bitterness and a hop presence as well. The alcohol was present in the warming sensation after the beer is consumed. The flavor was also fruity, but muted. Spices resided after the hops fade and the background till the beer warmed and then spices, bitterness and alcohol rule the day.
The finish was dry with a lasting hop bittering that grew long into the aftertaste. The body was medium.
11.2 ounce bottle. Nice to drink, but not very complex. I hate to be odd man out, but this one just doesn't have the attributes of a great tripel.GCBrewingCo, Oct 24, 20044.22/5 rDev +2.4%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.511.2 ouncer. No freshness dating exhibited. Pours a cloudy, hazy muddy shade of light brown, moderate white head and not leaving much lacing. Nose is fruity, musty, nutty, also alcohol present. First sip was kindoff sharp and biting, 9% clearly showing its fangs, as it warmed and mellowed, the flavors started to come out and shine. This flavorful brew, showed notes of nuts,fruits, yeasy phenolics. A Slight astrigent note also came foward. This is a Complex and interesting triple, certainly worth a try and worth trying over and over for lovers of the style.Billolick, Oct 23, 20044.25/5 rDev +3.2%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5Golden Carolus Triple was served from a small bottle into a tulip glass, where it sat as a muddied, orangish golden-yellow nectar that was topped with a fine, blanketing white head that left sheet lacing. The nose offered orange-tinged malts that held interesting earthy-mushroomy notes and well-developed spices...zesty bitter orange peel and coriander. The taste reflected the nose, with tasty orange zest-tinged malts and subtler melded spices such as coriander and anise. The orange then takes on a mandarin flavor in the somehow refreshing, spicy-hop bittered finish with lingering spicy anise and coriander. The alcohol blends in very well with the hoppiness The body was excellently composed. This was one of the most drinkable triples I have ever experienced...skillfully balanced, not too huge, but still satisfying. Recommended for an introduction to the style, or even to Belgian beers as a whole.HiroProtagonist, Oct 19, 20044.1/5 rDev -0.5%look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.575 cl. bottle pours a light amber fluid with a decent two finger white head. Smells peppery, lemongrass.Medium bodied with a bubbley, lively mouthfeel. Superb lemongrass, black pepper, leather, and woody oak wine barrel taste. Finishes with a slight hop - alcohol tang. Another great Belgium triple.beerceller99, Oct 01, 20043.55/5 rDev -13.8%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3Appearance: deep gold, voluminous layer of dense off-white foam (even on a gentle pour), good clarity, lacey
Other comments: Definitely a well-made Tripel, but I wouldn't consider it one of the best. Not a lot of complexity, though it is well balanced and the 9% abv is well hidden. May too well hidden!GreenCard, Aug 23, 20044.1/5 rDev -0.5%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4I have had the triple from Het Anker, which I personally consider to be a world class brewery many times before, but this is the first review.
A simply intoxicating aroma, lovely at times, not as others. Notes of cinnamon, deep malt, peaches, pears, icing and orange peels. It's better fresh but this is still great. Tropical fruitiness (lemon, pear, pineapple) throughout along with a mild hop bite on the finish. Just a great triple.Crosling, Aug 09, 20043.83/5 rDev -7%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5The head is big and bubbly. The smell is sweet, fruity, and fresh. The taste wasn’t what I expected from the smell. The taste is very spicy, not fruity. With a strong burnt hops finish. Alcohol is detectable. Overall if you are looking for a tripple that is light on the fruit and strong on the hops, this is the one for you. Hop heads must try.danadeny, Jul 21, 20043.93/5 rDev -4.6%look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4The beer as it sets in the Triple glass is a ambiguous golden orange color, the head is portly in size, the color and off white, and the texture spumous, as the head decays, it leaves behind a fine covering of lace to seal off the glass. The nose is loaded with malt aromas, slightly plummish, crisp and fresh; the start is malt laden and lightly sweet. The top is middling in feel, the acidity biting, and the hops purposeful in their spicy bite, also vinous, tart and the aftertaste quite dry and long lasting.Gusler, Jul 18, 20044.72/5 rDev +14.6%look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5Bottle: Poured a golden hazy beer with a huge head with perfect retention. Aroma is quite complex with a mix of yeast, hops, malts and something sweet like some orange. Taste is just incredible with a perfect mix between sweetness (this beer gotta have some candi sugar in it) and the hops. Alcohol is not noticeable at all, which is great when you have a 9% ABV beer. Overall, this is just wonderful, probably one the best discovery from my recent trip to Belgium.Phyl21ca, Jun 28, 20043.95/5 rDev -4.1%look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4240606 on the bottle from beermania...
Hazy peach color (murky) with lots of bubbles in the goblet. Bid fluffy airy white head. Slightly sweet lemon rind nose. Juicy fruit flavors of peach and pine apple upfront then smooth onto a corrander and white pepper finish. Nicely balenced between the sweet fruit malt and spicy hop finish. Dry tongued herbal/grassy mouth after you swallow. Before you swallow you have a fuller smooth silky mouth. Avery nice brew... a complex rollercoaster.frank4sail, Jun 21, 20044.1/5 rDev -0.5%look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4the gouden carolus, which I looked for insistingly in paris, came to appear on the outskirts (st.-germain-en-laye) as I watched Netherlands-Germany. The pour was pretty translucid, orangey with a slight but creamy clearly white head. The smell was abundant in spices and the alcohol was clearly felt as well as the malt.
The taste, although showing off considerably the presence of its alcohol, manages to be quite complex ranging through fruityness and the malt down to a slightly bitter finale. The taste was quite similar, as well imo, to a strengthened pale ale such as 'sierra nevada' which made it quite pleasant.Andreji, Jun 16, 20044.4/5 rDev +6.8%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5750 ml bottle corked and caged. No freshness date is listed, but it's a beautiful presentation with a black, gold and white label and a black and gold cage atop the cork. It pours a hazy golden orange with a full head of densely creamy white froth that holds exceptionally well and leaves some thick splashes of lace about the goblet. The lacing could be better, but given the 9% alcohol by volume not much more can be expected. The nose is candy sweet with a malty side to it that's nice; and some fruit (orange, apple, lemon) and peppery spice. It's even woody in a way. It's not real bold as tripels go; but it's clean, fresh, and inviting. The body is medium-light; and across the tongue it's lightly zesty with it's effervescent carbonation lending a tickle that's backed up by some light alcohol "sting". The flavor is as the nose suggests, but bolder with much more candy sugar and more apple flavor. It's light on the palate but satisfying, lending to a great deal of drinkability. Only it's alcohol content stands in the way of its being a highly drinkable beer; but that's only due to its intoxicating effect as the alcohol itself never really intrudes in the flavor. It's always present, but never becomes dominant. Quite well done; and certainly not one to be missed by fans of the tripel style.NeroFiddled, Jun 13, 20044.33/5 rDev +5.1%look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5Regal gold appearance. Hazed slightly. Thick crop of white foam. Retention is outstanding. And lacing is quite full. Aroma is delicate, but complex. It's earthy, herbal, spicy, hoppy, yeasty and bready. The taste follows suit quite nicely. There's a nice "farmyard" presence about this beer. A little peppery addition on the palate. And great yeastiness. Mouthfeel is appropriately carbonated. And the body is light-medium. Kind of an airy mouthfeel. This is one nice Tripel.Bighuge, May 24, 20044.58/5 rDev +11.2%look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5Tasted at R.F.D. on 5/13/04 from tap.
Drinkability: 9.0% be damned! Full speed ahead!Hefe, May 14, 20044.53/5 rDev +10%look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4Small 11.2 oz bottle...
Light brown, tea-like murkiness. Pale head, diminishes quickly, very little lace, some small patches. Aroma is good, tropical fruit, esters, some faint vanilla. Low carbonation, medium body. Flavor is interesting, almost coconut-like fluffiness and style with accents of lime and breadfruit. Husky and perhaps a little yeasty. Some alcohol sense at the close, but well-integrated and slowly building. This is a fairly fascinating beer, some components are unlike any I've ever encountered. Distinct, slightly heavier than some, without a Tripel's dryness. But it is a stand out.ADR, Apr 22, 20044.4/5 rDev +6.8%look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5Holy Guacamole! This corked little devil came out with NO effort--BOOM!
Elaborate? I shall. A garden of fruit is here, apricots, peaches, oranges, banana, mix it with cream, soften it with sugar, throw some honey in it, whipped cream on top now, gently sprinkle with spices...tastiness abounds! Lightly, judiciously hopped, ample malt, incessant flavor. Body is about medium, finish is nigh-unto-eternal, light, sugary, and just about damned delicious, balance is near perfect too, nothing is overly forward, everything meets just-so, and it's drinkability gets a boost from that. My first try with this one, and now it's a new favorite, that I'll return to again and again...deeelicious!feloniousmonk, Apr 07, 2004