Gouden Carolus Ambrio

Gouden Carolus Ambrio.

8 % ABV, 30 IBU, Brouwerij Het Anker, Mechelen,  Belgium. 

The beers in the Gouden Carolus family, brewed by Het Anker, are among my very favorites. They have appeared here six times: Christmas Ale, Tripel, Van De Kaiser Red & Blue (two different beers), Classic, and Easter. Some of these were bottles consumed at home, and some on tap at the Blue Nile, and there have been no appearances since 2013. Had I had them all? BeerAdvocate.com shows another beer, Hopsinjoor, which I can't believe I never had after starting this blog. It's possible, I guess. (My notes on BA are from 2008, and I know I had it on tap at the Nile after that. There's video evidence.)

So, it seems they went away from our market for a while, and now they have returned and we just got them at the retail store where I currently work. But only one of them, that being the Ambrio, or Amber, which I've never seen before. I'm so glad to finally have a reason to dust off my Gouden Carolus chalice and try out a new (to me), tasty Belgian!

Lightly clouded, amber hued, small ring of beige foam atop. 

In the nose: It's classic, ethereal, utterly unearthly Belgian yeast magic at play, very malty, very bready. Graham cracker meets pumpernickel. Low hops. Caramel-y sweetness. 

In the mouth: From the start, hops kick if off, but remain mellow. Excellent balance in this. Caramel-y, toffee-ish flavors from malt dominate the senses. Slight citric and other fruit notes chime in, as well. Belgian yeast takes it to special places. Absolutely delicious. Well-rounded taste, sparks of the comfortable and unfamiliar make themselves at home on the palate, and one is given over to a general sense of well-being. The higher ABV delivers it's own bewitching touch, sending one into a fantastic, yet familiar atmosphere. Bitterness lays low, letting malt do the magic. 

Simply put: yum a dum dum. 

Gouden Carolus Ambrio is aromatically brewed according to the ancient recipe of the Mechelschen Bruynen. Ambrio is an 'amber' ale brewed with 'brio'. This white beer of high fermentation finds its origin in the traditional beer of the city of Mechelen. As each city had its own typical beer, the Mechelenians drunk their amber beer: "Mechelschen Bruynen" for hundreds of years.

Our brewery is the only brewery that still brews this type of beer. According to the tradition the basic recipe of this beer dates from 1421 and is therefore the oldest beer from the brewery.

The current version is slightly heavier than the original and finer hopped. The balance between the different malts, the fine hops and typical aromas with herbs ensure that this beer combines the whole-hearted nature of brown beers with the freshness of blonde beers.

This flavored and spicy light brown tasting beer should be served fairly fresh. Refermentation in the bottle.