Gouden Carolus Tripel - Brouwerij Het Anker, Mechelen

So for the longest time I honestly thought the name of beer was "Golden Carolus" ...I can't tell you why, it's just one of those things. I've seen bottles of Gouden Carolus on the shelves next to other big Belgian names and I've largely glanced over them in favor of something a bit more rare or interesting. A couple of weeks ago I started the process of moving into my first house, knowing that I'd be insanely busy for the next few weeks, I stocked up on beer so I could try and squeeze in a few reviews whenever I had time. I decided to pick up some "familiar" beers that would make this new house feel like "home" ...and it's hard to have a bad time while drinking a Belgian Tripel.

This bottle of Gouden Carolus Tripel was opened on what felt like our first real day in the new house. After finally getting more than half the rooms furnished, appliances hooked up and my home office sorted out; we've finally got a house we can really live in. Feeling at home, I decided to open a new beer and get back into the swing of things by writing a review. I've got to say that I'm surprised by the Gouden Carolus, both in a good and bad way.

Being a bona fide Belgian Tripel, I expect certain things from this beer. Most of my expectations were meet, there is plenty of sweetness and yeast but I found it lacking in a one big way. My main complain with the Gouden Carolus is that it tries to straddle the fence between being a Tripel and being a Blonde Ale. This beer tastes a little too pale for me to consider it a true Tripel. A softer, sweeter malt flavor would have been much appreciated.

Even if this beer doesn't exactly match my expectations for what a Tripel should taste like, it's still a fantastic beer. There are hints of honey and green apple in this beer, something that I've never been able to pick out so strongly before in other beers. There is plenty to like about the Gouden Carolus and I'm glad I finally got around to drinking one on such a memorable evening.