This brewery has a pretty interesting story, dating back to 1999. Like many in Belgium, the brewery is a family affair. But the quirk is that the founding brewer is the father to four daughters.
While father Vincent continues to design recipes, Ann-Catherine has assumed the role of brewer; adding to the increasing number of female brewers on the Belgium beer scene.
Vicaris Winter, as the name suggests, is the winter seasonal offering. Available only from November to March each year, it is a beer that many people look forward to as the cold European days creep in.
It is very dark brown, almost black, with a truly warning aroma of spices, licorice, coffee and roasted dark malt.
There are lots of flavours to enjoy in the rich body – dark stones fruits, sweet dark malts, molasses, hints of chocolate, licorice, anise and some coffee. Save this bottle for a cold night, and allow the beer to warm letting the aroma and flavour fully develop.
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
A lovely Belgian strong dark ale, balancing sweetness and bitterness so well
by Brasserie de l'Abbaye des Rocs
A strong dark ale full of dark fruits, caramel malts and a gentle hop and yeast spiciness
by Brouwerij der Trappistenabdij de Achelse Kluis
A classic strong dark ale from one of Belgium's renowned Trappist Monastery breweries.
A Belgian Strong Dark Ale aged in both sherry and whiskey barrels
A strong dark winter beer which uses old whiskey barrels to impart an added dimension and depth of flavour
An intriguing dark ale, brewed with spices (ginger, coriander & cardamom)
A Belgian strong dark ale brewed with star anise and orange peel
The most well-known of the Golden Carolus beers is the 'Classic' - a beautifully balanced Belgian strong dark ale of 8.5% ABV
Gouden Carolus' Cuvee Van De Keizer Imperial Dark Ale infused with Het Anker's single malt whisky
A flavoursome strong dark ale, at the top of the abbey beer hierarchy
by Brouwerij Hoegaarden (AB-InBev)
The 'Forbidden Fruit' is a delicious balance of ripe fruits, sweet malts, earthy hops and gentle spicing
A tasty beer somewhere between a Belgian Dubbel style and a Belgian Strong Dark Ale
A Belgian Strong Dark Ale with the addition of caramel sugar and orange peel
A dark winter beer that has torrefied barley and a pinch of cinnamon amount the ingredients
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
The lesser-known dark beer from Brasserie Achouffe
by Brasserie d'Achouffe (Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat)
The winter seasonal offering from the Chouffe brewery
The best features of a traditional strong ale, and the added earthiness of noble hops used in abundance
A solid malty backbone balanced by a good level of hop bitterness
The famous Old Fisherman's Ale from Struise is a spiced strong dark ale
The 2019 version of Pannepot aged in bourbon barrels
Struise's spiced strong dark ale Pannepot, matured in Bordeaux barriques for a full 4 years
Struise's famous spiced strong dark ale aged three years in wine and port barrels
A Belgian strong dark ale with smoked malt and grilled cherries
A strong dark Belgian ale created from 6 different malts, slightly spiced and with a little honey
An uncomplicated but delicious tripel using only two hops and one malt
