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Blogger:<\/strong> Ian Cowpar Beer:<\/strong> Gouden Carolus Christmas Commercial Description:<\/strong> Why I selected Gouden Carolus Christmas:<\/strong><\/p>\n There’s never any shortage of new winter\/Christmas\/holiday beers popping up every year. My go-to favorite every year is the Sierra Nevada Celebration, but I wanted to do something established that I’d never seen before, nevermind tasted. With that in mind, I sought out something in that vein and came across this Belgian dark ale from Brouwerij Het Anker in Mechelen, Belgium. It has the color of garnet and it’s appearance is indicative of it’s strength. At 10.5%, it is well-served in the 11.2 oz bottle so as not to overindulge. The aroma is filled with dark fruit and spice, along with some licorice. It has a substantial body with flavors of sweet dark cherries and copious waves of alcohol. A fine, fireside sipping Christmas beer that is decidedly old-school and traditional. A lovely find, and sure to warm both your body and senses on a chilly evening.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n About Brewery Het Anker:<\/strong><\/p>\n HISTORY 1471<\/p>\n In 1471, Charles the Bold decided that \u201cthe beguines and officers\u201d shouldn\u2019t pay any excises and taxes on the beer brewed for the hospital.<\/p>\n 1872<\/p>\n In 1872, the family Van Breedam bought the brewery and built a modern brewery with a steam boiler. The love for this profession and the fascination of the family Van Breedam in the heyday of Mechelen during the reign of the Dukes of Burgundy, are the foundations of the return to traditions and the brewing of special beers.<\/p>\n 1990<\/p>\n In 1990, Charles Leclef, fifth generation of the Van Breedam family took over the brewery and modernized the brew equipment.<\/p>\n
\nWebsite:<\/strong> 2 Beer Guys ; 2beerguys.com<\/a>
\nTwitter \/ Facebook \/ Instagram: <\/strong> @craftbeered<\/a> \/ 2BeerGuys Facebook<\/a> \/ @craftbeered<\/a>
\nAbout Ian:<\/strong> I’m a dad, writer, business analyst, and photographer.<\/p>\n
\nBrewery:<\/strong> Brouwerij Het Anker – Mechelen, Belgium
\nWebsite:<\/strong> http:\/\/www.hetanker.be\/en\/brewery<\/a>
\nTwitter:<\/strong> @breweryhetanker<\/a>
\nBeer Details:<\/strong>
\nStyle: Christmas beer (dark special beer)
\nColor: Dark ruby red
\nABV: 10.5% Vol.
\nHops: Exclusively Belgian hops
\n3 weeks lagering
\n22\u00b0 Plato<\/p>\n
\nFor more than 35 years we had to miss the Christmas beer but in 2002 the tradition was restored with Gouden Carolus Christmas. It\u2019s a strong, dark ruby red beer with character and contains an alcohol percentage of 10.5 % alc.vol. Brewed in August, the beer rests a few months to reach an optimal balance. Three kinds of hops and 6 different kinds of herbs and spices define the rich taste of this Christmas beer. Top-class!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"untitled](\"http:\/\/2beerguys.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/untitled-shoot-002.jpg\")
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\nAbout the 2Beerguys.com:<\/strong>
\nFounded in 2006, 2Beerguys.com has been devoted to spreading their passion of the craft beer world. Originating primarily as craft beer reviewers, they have molded their organization into premier craft beer educators and ambassadors for craft beer industry. Their passion has taken them on the wild ride of home brewing and beer education. 2Beerguys.com believes that you deserve a good beer, visit http:\/\/www.2beerguys.com<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n![\"bierlogo_0005_Gouden-Carolus-Christmas\"](\"http:\/\/2beerguys.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/bierlogo_0005_Gouden-Carolus-Christmas.png\")
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\nAt the beginning of the 15th century, the beguinage of Mechelen had a strong presence in the town. The beguinage possessed an important \u201chospital\u201d which is located at the present brewery. Some of the buildings date from the 15th and 16th century, like the old St. Bernardus shelter house of the abbey of Hemiksem.<\/p>\n