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Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later) - Spice/Herb/Vegetable

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 Percentile 
91
overall
Brewed by Anchor Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable

San Francisco, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  Seasonal  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
10243.56/5.03.56/5.0Winter5.5%95Lager glass, Tumbler
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Commercial Description:
This is our special ale from the brewers at Anchor. It is sold only from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons appears born anew. <br /><br /> Editor’s Note: due to the significant similarity in style and strength from year to year (despite potential differences in the exact spice blend), this beer is no longer separated by vintage.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 JohnQPublic (387), Brooklyn, New York, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/58/104/517/20
Dec 26, 2008  
Pours a clear deep brown, with a thin creamy light tan head on top. Nose is spicy, some brown sugar, with a bit of very light roastiness in there also. Hard to get a handle on. Taste starts off with very clean, light brown sugar and a hint of roasty malt. Dry, light, and clean. Spiciness emerges about 3/4 of the way through - at different points, you get evergreen needles, nutmeg, clove. Maybe a bit of cinnamon. Finish is long, dry, and somehow fluffy and light, with a bit of lingering roastiness that comes out more in the finish than in the actual flavor. Mouthfeel is spot on, light and fluffy. Really a superb beer.


 GJF (480), Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/103/514/20
Dec 26, 2008  
I liked this better when it changed more dramatically with vintages, although I think it is generally a better beer now. Some of the early ones pushed the boundaries a bit, but were too thick to really drink. This pours a nice ruby-brown, tan head. Lots of spruce in the nose. Spruce and spice flavors up front, a bit of bitterness in the finish. An interesting beer but the flavors in the end get a bit muddy; a one-a-year beer for me.


 Borresteijn (1351), Amsterdam, Netherlands
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/103/516/20
Dec 26, 2008    Updated: Apr 8, 2009
Bottle from De Bierkoning, 2007 vintage. Deep dark brown to black colour, rich beige head. Aroma of spices, liquorice, roasted malts and some dark fruits. Flavour is very porter-like, but with a good body, some spice and liquorice. Very good considering its ABV.


 stangger (155), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Dec 26, 2008  
12oz bottle. Mildly spiced, but hoppy. The spices arent unbearable as they tend to be in this style and the hoppiness is a nice touch.


sundevil27 (45), , New Jersey, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/103/515/20
Dec 25, 2008  
2008 vintage. Poured much darker than expected with about an inch of head. Tasted spices with a balanced flavor. Didnt quite hit the nail on the head for me, but an overall nice Christmas Ale.


 SHIG (2012), Aviano, Italy
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/58/104/516/20
Dec 25, 2008  
2008 Bottle: Poured a dark black brown with a lacing light brown head. Aroma is spice almost ginger bread like along with some berry. Taste is fruity with suttle spice off set, there also a coffee bean/ porter like hint. Finish is more of that spice.


 matt7215 (943), Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/514/20
Dec 24, 2008  
12 oz bottle from a trade with hogtownharry. 2007 vintage. pours deep brown with a mid sized tan head. spice aroma with some caramel malts underneath. overly spicy nose. the spice is integrated into the flavour profile much better. very nice porter styled malt with the addition of the winter spice mix. a nice brew but it lacks a little in body to make it a stand out winter warmer. thanks for the bottle harry!


 cellar (484), Dublin, Ireland
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Dec 24, 2008  
unclear dark brown w nice head. Strong malty aroma w spices, dark fruit, dark flowers and some wood develops in mouth.Flavour is sweet w bitterness in finish. Gotta get some more of this!



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