Rare Beer Club 4-Bottle Selections - October 2026
Scaldis Noël
Brasserie Dubuisson - Pipaix, Hainaut, Belgium
[Strong Dark Belgian Holiday Ale - 12%]
Brasserie Dubuisson traces its history to 1769, when Joseph Leroy founded the brewery in Pipaix, Belgium. More than 250 years later, it remains on the same site and has passed through nine generations of the same family without ceasing brewing operations. In 1933, Alfred Dubuisson created the beer that became Bush—marketed as Scaldis in the United States—establishing one of the brewery’s defining brands. Scaldis Noël, originally Bush de Noël, joined the portfolio in 1991 as a special holiday release and remains part of Dubuisson’s tradition of powerful Belgian ales.
Rich, warming, and complex, Scaldis Noël is a 12% strong Belgian holiday ale built for leisurely winter sipping. Deep amber in the glass, it offers inviting aromas and flavors of caramel, ripe fruit, banana, and pineapple, with additional impressions of praline adding richness. Gentle bitterness helps balance the beer’s substantial malt character and strength, while the finish is long, smooth, and pleasantly warming. Its combination of fruit, caramel, and richness makes it an excellent companion for roasted meats, hearty stews, aged cheeses, or chocolate-based desserts.
Gouden Carolus Imperial Blond
Brouwerij Het Anker - Mechelen, Antwerp, Belgium
[Imperial Blond – 10%]
Brouwerij Het Anker occupies a historic brewing site in Mechelen’s Groot Begijnhof, where records show beer was already being produced in the 15th century. The Van Breedam family acquired the brewery in 1872 and developed it into a producer focused increasingly on Belgian specialty beers. Gouden Carolus eventually became Het Anker’s flagship family of beers, earning recognition well beyond Belgium. In 2025, Het Anker entered a new chapter when it was acquired by Brouwerij Huyghe, while maintaining its historic Mechelen identity, brewery site, and emphasis on traditional specialty brewing.
Introduced in 2008 to commemorate ten years of Gouden Carolus Cuvée van de Keizer Imperial Dark, Imperial Blond is a powerful golden specialty beer brewed with multiple malts and three spices. At 10% ABV, it is full-bodied yet refreshing, displaying rich fruity and herbal character with impressions of orange, cumin, chamomile, and coriander. East Kent Golding hops provide balancing bitterness, while the finish remains warming, fruity, and gently spicy. Het Anker recommends serving it around 45–46°F and pairing it with game, flavorful cheeses, or even dessert.