Anchor Our Special Ale (2002)

Formerly brewed at Anchor Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
San Francisco, California USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

Bottle vintages 2000-2006 shared at Paul’s Dec 3rd tasting. The 2000 and 2001 were by far the best - very interesting how this beer has aged especially considering the low alcohol to begin with. Aroma of prune, fig, raisins, bitter coffee and molasses. Mouthfeel is thin, but not too watery with notes of dark fruits, brown sugar, molasses and some spices.

Bottle courtesy of Andy at Paul’s tasting. Pours a clear ruby tinged brown with a thin white head. Soft old spices with a bit of nutmeg coming through over old plum and prune notes. Medium bodied, sweet malt, toast. Roast and toast, a bit of bitter roast. Spices on the finish and coffee bitterness.

(12oz bottle thanks to bu11zeye) very dark brown, cloudy pour, ruby hints and a ring of dark tan bubbles. Nose of a bit of olive, soy, chocolate, spices, and mild oxidation. Taste of chocolate, vanilla, heavily spiced, a bit bitter, some soy. Has aged quite nicely.

12oz bottle thanks to bu11zeye. Dark reddish brown brew with a good amount of tan head. Aroma has less spices than the 2003 with some spruce and roast. Flavors of roasted malt, spruce/pine, and some cardboard (oxidation rears it’s ugly head).

(12oz bottle, 2002 vintage, courtesy of Lumpy) Pours a dark mahogany body with a spare tan head. Aroma of soy, cola, caramel, cocoa, and light roastiness. Flavor of soy, roasted malt, pine, raisins, chocolate, and grass.

Bottle courtesy bu11zeye. Pours a slightly dark brownish red to orange highlights in the light. Small bubbly head. Aroma is quite spicy. Lots of sharp nutmeg and dry notes. Flavor is a mix of spice and cardboard. Dry bitter flavor that has some cooking herbs near the finish. Probably oxidized.

Magnum; thanks Tom!! Side by side with a bottle of 1999; pours clear dark brown with foamy dark tan head; spruce, raw spice, dry hops and brown sugar; full bodied and much more complex and full compared to the 1999 bottle; creamy mouthfeel with chocolate, spruce and yummy mix of dry spices and chocolate; delicious

2002 bottle. Poured clear, rich brown with amber accents.. spotty cap of dark tan head. The aroma picked up molasses, treacle, and dark honey sweetness with cinnamon and nutmeg accents.. slick, dry, almost vinous impression on the back. The flavor found honey and molasses primarily at the core, with intermittent graham cracker notes.. dry cinnamon, nutmeg, and lesser clove around.. sharper degraded malt, oak, and dried spices on the finish. Light-medium bodied with a slick feel on the palate and low carbonation.. a bit sharp at times, but a decent feel beyond that.

Anchor Brewing Company Our Special Ale--2002 12 oz. Bottle. 5.35% ABV. (4.5 / 5.0) Winter Ale--Clear dark bronze black red color. Mild lacy tan head. Nutmeg malt spice toasted floral hop front. Sweet burnt piney spicy rich dry cherry caramel body. Cloying sweet spicy roasted nutmeg mild hop end. Sampled 1/12/2003.

From the cellar, enjoyed 02.07.2010. Mahogany color/ light brown head. Awesome nutty sweet vanilla bean aroma, with mint leaf, fresh baked gingerbread cookies. Light/ medium body with soft carbonation. Roasty brown malt flavor with vanilla extract, black licorice, ginger, other sweet spices. very fucking good