4.5 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 9/10 PALATE 5/5 OVERALL 18/20
Beer pours dark brown with a gourgeous, creamy, dark tan, totally retained head. Aroma is sweet malty goodness, with spices, and some kind of tree aroma I am not able to identigy, spruce maybe? The malt flavor of this beverage is one of the deepest and thourough I have had. The flavor is sweet, earthy, with cinnamon, trees in the flavor as well. The elements sound disparate, but the whole is compelling and convincing. Delicous.
2.7 AROMA 5/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 4/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 13/20
On tap. Very dark reddish brown colour with a nice head. Aroma of fresh pumpkins. Light body but with a lot of flavour of cinnamon, spice, sweetness and a touch of pumpkins. Bu ends up little bitter.
3.7 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 5/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle: I haven’t had a bad Anchor brew yet. This one is a dark, dark brown with a reddish tint along with a fluffy light brown head. The aromas are rich and malty as well as those of sweet spices. The tastes were licorice, peat rich soil, spices and organic root beer. The alcohol flavor seemed to come through pretty strong. The feel is perfect for a winter beer, a thick, full body. Deeeelishous!
3.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Bottle, bought in San Francisco. Very dark brown, big bubbly tan head. Aroma of Christmas! Well, Christmas tree at least. And rosemary. And perfume. And nutmeg and cinnamon. Not your typical "festive" beer aroma by any stretch, much more herbal and plant like. Very earthy. This perfume / spice mix transfers over to taste. Thin body; wish it had a little more. Silky mouthfeel. Weird and interesting, not sure I could drink a lot because it is quite sweet as well, but kudos to the effort and originality. My first Anchor "Special Ale".
3.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
This is my first taste of Anchor’s Special Ale, and I really like the idea of a changing recipe. Pours dark but thinly into my glass, developing a very large tan head. Upon first glance (discouting the head) and sniff of the aroma, I had incorrectly deduced it as a porter. I think it was the strong coffee and caramel notes. These also come through in the flavor, but more towards the end, when you sit in the glow of a finished glass of beer. Otherwise a complex amalgam of flavors, a little bit of dark fruits some nut flavor. Very good!
4 AROMA 9/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
a decidous tree with leaves in the holiday season? california is mad weird, brown body with an uber thin ring of head, spicey nose, sprucey, citrusy and cedar like, dry rye flavor, super sweet thick malt finish, light and delicate on the palate, crisp tart and bitter, well done (clapclapclapclap)
2.9 AROMA 6/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 11/20
Pours a dark brown color with a thick tan head. I get nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger in the aroma with a faint bitterness that I have a hard time describing. The flavor has some cinnamon/sugar and nutmeg along with way too much ginger that is harsh and overbearing. Rocky mouthfeel and a taste that actually gets harder to deal with as it gets warmer. One day I will try to age on of these in magnum form and maybe I’ll like it when it’s a few years old. I’ve never been overly impressed with this one fresh.
3.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 8/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 16/20
UPDATED: JUL 30, 2008 12 oz. 2005 bottle, rated "live." Very promising start. Opens with a sweet smell of cinnamon, vanilla, raspberries and mulling spices. Pours a deep ruby red with a ocher head. Taste is a heady melange of spices, with nothing dominating. I can point out impressions of sassafras, orange peel, nut roast malts, red wine, ginger, nutmeg, maybe the slightest hint of red pepper. What hops I find help tilt it to the earthy side. A fine festive brew, light on alcohol as holiday beers go, for the enjoyment of all!
3.6 AROMA 8/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 6/10 PALATE 4/5 OVERALL 15/20
Draft
Color - Red/Dark Brown
Head - Long Beige
Aroma - Fruit, Sweet, Pumpkin, Flowers
Flavor - Light, Littel bitterness, sweet
? - Good Beer
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Draught at Cole’s, Buffalo NY. Pours black with ruby hues and a small diminishing off-white head. Aroma of Xmas spices, brandy, hops, roasted malt and molasses. Flavour is predominently Xmas spices followed by sweet malt, sugar and a slight hop bitterness. Body’s a little thin. It’s pretty good but it’s also quite sweet, I can only handle it in small doses
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