The Anchor in a Sea of Beer

The Het Anker brewery, located in the beautiful city of Mechelen, has been producing some of Belgium’s finest beers – under the name Gouden Carolus - since 1872. The brewery was founded by Louis Van Breedam, and it is still run by his family to this day. Charles Leclef is the current owner and managing director of the brewery, and he is the fifth generation of his family to run the business.

Emperor Charles V and His Gouden Carolus Coin

The name Gouden Carolus refers to a gold coin commissioned by Emperor Charles V in 1521. Until fairly recently, the brewery’s premier dark and blond strong ales were named Cuvee van de Keizer (the Emperor’s Blend), and they are truly fit for a king. Those beers are now called Imperial Dark Ale and Imperial Blond Ale and are brewed only once a year to commemorate the birthday of Emperor Charles V.

History

Het Anker’s history spans more than 150 years. It began in 1369 when a hospital was built in Mechelen, which was known as "Het Anker" (The Anchor). The hospital was later transformed into a brewery in 1872 by Louis Van Breedam, who had acquired the building. The brewery initially produced a wide range of beers, including lambic, stout, and pale ale. In the 1920s, though, Het Anker began to focus on producing only strong ales and by the 1950s, they had gained a reputation for brewing some of the best beers in the country. In the 1980s, the brewery expanded its operations and began exporting its beers to other countries. Today, the brewery’s capacity exceeds 10 Million liters a year and it is exported to more than 40 countries worldwide.

Beers

Het Anker brewery produces a range of beers, each with its own unique flavor and character. The most famous of their beers is the Gouden Carolus Classic, a dark, strong ale that has won numerous awards over the years. The Gouden Carolus is brewed using traditional methods, with a blend of several types of malts and hops. It has a complex flavor that is both sweet and bitter, with notes of chocolate, coffee, and caramel. Other beers in the Gouden Carolus lineup include:

Gouden Carolus Tripel – a 9.0% alcohol blond ale.

Gouden Carolus Ambrio – an 8.0% strong amber ale.

Gouden Carolus Hopsinjoor – an 8.0% hoppy ale made with five hop varieties.

Gouden Carolus Indulgence – strong experimental beers that feature a different recipe each year.

Gouden Carolus Christmas – a 10.5% spiced ale brewed once a year for the holidays.

Gouden Carolus Whiskey Infused – an 11.7% gem that is infused with Het Anker’s award-winning Gouden Carolus Single Malt Whiskey.

The Spirits of Het Anker

Het Anker is one of the two distilleries (along with Belgian Owl) making spirits in the form of malt whiskey. The base for the distillation is the Gouden Carolus Tripel, which is fermented with their Belgian yeast strain. The distilled spirits are then aged in first-use Bourbon barrels initially and then finished in “Het Anker” barrels - wine barrels that have been scraped, charred and prepped to Het Anker’s specifications. The resulting whiskey is deep golden with a lightness and sweetness along with notes of grapefruit, bitter orange peel, leather, anise and funky yeast. In addition to the flagship Gouden Carolus Single Malt Whiskey, there are three other variations on the original. The Stokerij de Molenberg Rabelo 7th Anniversary Edition is a special-release aged version. The Sherry Oak Single Malt is finished in sherry casks. The Blaasveld Broek Peated single Malt is made with smoked malt from Scotland.

Hospitality and Sustainability

In addition to producing beer and spirits, Het Anker also operates a hotel and restaurant on its premises. Het Anker is committed to sustainability and has implemented a range of measures to reduce its environmental impact. They have installed solar panels on their roof to generate renewable energy and use a wastewater treatment plant to reduce their water usage.

Het Anker brewery is a true Belgian gem, known for its exceptional beers and commitment to traditional brewing techniques.

Mechelen, Belgium