Het Anker
Het Anker is a family brewery in the Groot Begijnhof (Great Beguinage) of Mechelen and has been brewing there since 1471, which makes it one of the oldest breweries in Belgium. It is known for Gouden Carolus, a range of strong Belgian beers, and for its own whisky distillery, part of which ends up in the beers.
- LocationMechelen, Vlaams Gewest
- Founded1471
- TypeRegional brewery
- Untappd 3.73 · 1.3M ratings
- At Hoptimaal5 in stock · 7 in total
In stock now 5
Previously at Hoptimaal 2
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A brewery in the Groot Begijnhof of Mechelen
Het Anker began in 1471 in the Groot Begijnhof of Mechelen. Charles the Bold exempted the beguines from tax on the beer they brewed for their hospital, in exchange for caring for the sick. The brewery was one of the few European breweries with religious ties that survived the Napoleonic secularisation. In 1872 Louis Van Breedam bought it, and in 1904 it was given the name Het Anker. Since then it has stayed in the family.
In the 1990s Charles Leclef, the fifth generation of the family, renovated the buildings and modernised the cooling, fermentation and lagering. Of the twelve breweries Mechelen once had, only Het Anker is left. The three copper kettles in the brewhouse date from after the Second World War.
Gouden Carolus and the in-house whisky
After the war, Het Anker brewed a lot of pils. In 1963 the brewery returned to traditional Belgian styles, with a forerunner of today's Gouden Carolus. That range of strong beers is named after Emperor Charles V. In 2012 the Gouden Carolus Classic won gold at the World Beer Awards, for the third time. The jury noted molasses, toffee and pear drops, with power, a smooth structure and a long, warm finish.
One tasting note describes the Tripel (9%) with pear, chamomile, coriander and a touch of cumin, and the Ambrio (8%) as an amber that leans towards a dubbel. Het Anker also distils its own whisky. Part of it goes back into Gouden Carolus beers, such as the Cuvée van de Keizer with whisky, which reaches 11.7%.
Het Anker at Hoptimaal
At Hoptimaal you will find Het Anker in tripel, dubbel, blond and witbier, mostly in 33 cl bottles and also in a 75 cl bottle. The strength ranges from 5.4 to 11.7%. On Untappd, the Gouden Carolus Whisky Infused, the Whisky Infused Blond, the Tripel and the Classic are rated highly.
Drink the blond and the tripel well chilled from a tulip glass, so the spicy and fruity character stays fresh. The dubbel and the whisky-infused beers are heavier. Give them some time, let them warm up a little and take small sips. That way the caramel, dried fruit and the touch of whisky come across better.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Het Anker come from?
Het Anker comes from Mechelen in Flanders, Belgium. The brewery is in the Groot Begijnhof and began there in 1471.
What kind of beer does Het Anker make?
Het Anker brews the Gouden Carolus range: strong Belgian beers such as tripel, ambrio, classic and versions with whisky. At Hoptimaal you will find tripel, dubbel, blond and witbier.
Can you visit the Het Anker brewery?
Yes, there are tours with two tastings, also in English. The route has about 100 steps and is not wheelchair accessible. It is wise to book.
