Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!