Judge’s Review: 89 Rating – Gouden Carolus Cuvée Van De Keizer Rood (2024) by Brouwerij Het Anker

Belgian Pale Ale | Year-Round | Belgium

By Nelson Crowle

Judges Rating: 89
Aroma: 22
Appearance: 4
Flavor: 37
Mouthfeel: 9
Overall Impression: 17

Gouden Carolus Cuvée Van De Keizer Rood by Brouwerij Het Anker was evaluated as style 25A (Belgian Blond) per the 2021 BJCP Style guidelines. 
The beer pours a slightly hazy light gold with a large fluffy ivory head that is persistent and leaves Belgian lace as the beer is consumed. There is a medium bready and grainy malt aroma that supports a medium black pepper note and moderate fruity notes of apricot alongside a slight Mandarin orange note. The flavor has a fairly high alcohol note that is mostly clean but quite prominent. Fairly grainy malt notes with moderately high spicy black pepper flavors lead to a quite fruity ripe peach and orange expression. Medium floral and herbal hop notes with moderate hop bittering are quite smooth throughout. This is a fairly full-bodied beer. With fairly high grainy bready notes, try this beer with pumpernickel bread sandwiches or a Pastrami or corned beef Reuben sandwich. A bison Reuben is the perfect match.