Anchor Our Special Ale (2003)

Dark reddish brown color with a medium sized tan head. Sweet malt aroma with lots of cinnamon, nutmeg and pine. Flavor was pretty much the same as the aroma except it wasn’t nearly as sweet as I expected.

Tasted 12/2004
Aroma: maybe some wax, burnt malts, soy sauce
Appearance: little lighter, same otherwise as 2002
Flavor: slight sweet grape flavor, some mossiness, really not a whole lot though
Palate: very smooth, slight malt aftertaste, lots of body

Dark reddish colour with small beige head. Aroma is sweet and malty with some cinnamon. Flavor is sweet with a strong touch of christmas. Lots of spices in the finish.

Dark dark brown, almost black! Good head that faded fast and good lacing, Aroma is like a smoke house! Flavor of smoke, spice, cinnamon...campfire. Medium body with a thick mouth feel. This is good stuff! I need to back to the store and get the rest of it!!

magnum bottle 1.1.05: the the pour is a nice dark chocolate brown with with reddish mahogany hues. the aroma is very spicy. cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, anise, raisin, pine/spruce, caramel, with a hint of coffee. the flavor is well balanced. a nice malty sweetness balanced by a niceroasty biterness. pine/spruce, chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, carmel. a v ery nice winter wamer.

Just found some notes for this one from Aaron and Kathy’s Holiday Gathering 2003. Crystal clear, deep crimson ale. Malty, spicy aroma with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and pine. The flavor inlcudes hints of chocolate, vanilla, raisins and juniper. Medium-bodied with a creamy mouthfeel and medium carbonation. Mid-length, crisp, spicy finish. Happy holidays!

Very solid Anchor beer. Great cloudy brown body with a ruby tint. Medium, long lasting creamy light tan head. Yeasty, sweet fruity, caramel, earthy aroma. Also good spice. Good mildly spicy flavor. Roasted malts. Very smooth. Enjoyable Holiday beer.

better than the 04. Dark and very rich. Hard to beat. Flying Suacer in San Antonio has the 02, 03 and 04 on tap. They keep 3 or so kegs and store them..so i will get this next year also.