Gouden Carolus - Noël

Our second to last Christmas ale is Gouden Carolus Noël purchased at Vintage Estates.

This Belgian beer is refermented in the bottle, and ours was specifically bottled on 09/23/09. "Gouden Carolus Noël was brewed exceptionally for Christmas by the Anker brewery, established in Mechelen since 1369, and is one of the classic Belgian breweries. This very specific Belgian ale is brewed using traditional methods and a recipe with top fermentation. It's high gravity gives this ale its warmth and body. It improves with age and will charm you with its warm, coppery colour and its rich bouquet." It is 10.5% ABV.

Overall average rating: 9.0/10

It is a cloudy copper reddish brown color with aromas of Belgian yeast, cherry, mint, and honey. The taste is a refreshing mint flavor.

Shawn- The mint give sit almost a medicinal finish that kills it a bit for me. They should have extracted the leaves earlier, although it is still well-balanaced with a great body, 9/10.
Angela- There are different flavors in this beer than what I'm used to in Christmas ales; the mint is unique. This is not something I personally could drink a lot of, 8.5/10.
Chris- This beer does so much from beginning to middle to end. The mint is unexpected but well-received, 9.5/10.