Het Anker is a traditional brewery in Mechelen, Belgium, that has a hand-picked selection of drinkable classics in its range.
The Belgian brewery Het Anker goes back to a very special association: the building used to house a beguinage. The so-called beguines were women who lived according to the rules of a monastic order without having previously taken vows. So they were not ordained nuns, but maintained a middle path between a monastery and secular life. The Beguines lived in absolute poverty; all the work they did was for the greater good and the continued existence of their association. Beguines often took on jobs such as caring for the sick and elderly, carried out manual tasks or taught in schools. The beguinage in Mechelen, Belgium, took on a variety of activities in the city and ran a kind of hospital. Today's Het Anker brewery is located in the former halls of this hospital, but brewing has been going on there since the Middle Ages. Today Charles Leclef is at the helm of the company. His ancestors bought the brewery in 1872 and subjected it to a thorough renovation. Equipped with the most modern technology of their time, the Van Breedam family began their journey into the future.
The brewery is currently very well positioned with a stable range of Belgian classics and some seasonal specialties. In addition to their beer, the brewery produces sake and whiskey. The brewery's own distillery also turns the company's expert beer experts into real schnapps professionals. The team distills intense whiskeys from the wonderful beer specialties. We don't carry any of the spirited drinks, but the beers also bring a few twists to your glass: The Gouden Carolus Christmas Ale follows the Belgian tradition of strong beers and has an incredible 10.5% alcohol content. The highlight of this beer, however, is not the percentages, but the complex taste, which is made up of powerful fruit and caramel notes. A handful of warm spices skilfully round off the aromatics and make the festive beer a real delicacy for the cold season. The range of different versions of Gouden Carolus has brought the brewery international attention and recognition. Year after year, the brewers win prestigious awards with their powerful creations.
The Gouden Carolus Christmas Ale is a fine winter beer that we also enjoy in summer thanks to its dark fruitiness. You simply can't go wrong with caramel, spices and fruit, regardless of whether the sun is shining from the sky or gentle flakes are covering the earth. Get your bottle right here with us!
