 rayOfBeer (316), El Cerrito, California, USA
Dec 21, 2008 Poured from bottle labeled 2008 a dark brown with large brown foam head. Aroma is piney like fresh pine needles with some allspice, maybe a dash of nutmeg and a touch of toffee. Flavor is subtlely spiced with some salty notes, allspice, pine, a bit of brown sugar sweetness but rather dry overall. Palate is thin with little malt thickness and mostly dry with just a touch of sweetness across the tongue. At first taste I was slightly disappointed, it seemed a little watery and the aroma did not match the flavor much. After letting it sit a moment and then coming back it was good.
DrDavid (957), Johnson, Vermont, USA
Dec 21, 2008 Bottle. 2008 version. Very malty aroma, somewhat sweet, with toffee and cinnamon. Dark reddish brown body, large off-white head. Spicy flavor, smooth and mellow, with malts and a touch of hoppy bitterness. Smooth finish.
JAXSON (229), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Dec 21, 2008 Several pours out of two big 1.5L magum 2007 bottles consumed in December 2008. Thanks to whomever brought these two large bottles of which I partook heavily. Still has a lot of hop presence. Some malt and slight chocolate took center stage with the bittering agents. Very dubbel-like, but mor ehop character. Second pour was better in its movement towards something sweet. Not epic but pretty good. I suppose a few more years could help?
sebletitje (1880), Tampa, Florida, USA
Dec 19, 2008 Thanks to super Dave, the cellar king of FL for bringing these rare offerings.
Got to try the 2005 and 2006 versions.
Both of them pour brownish with light tan - beige head, 05 had a more lingering lacing on the glass.
Aroma was a little more in the favor of the 05 version with a more nutty nose vs. a piny approach for the 06.
05 offers a more gingerbread taste with spices, smooth and light caramel. 06 has more light chocolate notes and caramel with molasses. with attenuated cinnamon touch.
Overall bot are very enjoyable beres that have aged well. Score goes to the 05 version.
jeff789 (360), Pennsylvania, USA
Dec 19, 2008 Pours a deep deep ruby with a thick tan head and leaves a slight bit of lacing... Smells of sweet fruits with a woody undertone... Tastes of Spruce/Pine, earthy hops, a slight bit sweet... Finishes a bit dry with a lingering spruce taste, medium bodied... Overall i found the 08-09 offering a bit thinner and less appealling than in years past... I remember a certain fullness to the body that was missing, either a bit of roastiness or creaminess would have completed this years IMO....
BelgiskOlklub (397), Viby J, Denmark
Dec 19, 2008 Draft at Cockney Pub. Nice brown hazy body and lasting white creamy head. Has the taste of "christmas" like cardamom and cinnamon. Creamy texture.
ARMed (485), Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, USA
Dec 18, 2008 Thanks Joeyplush for this great birthday gift. It is an outstanding brew with a ton of flavor and a lot of character. Great spicey flavor of winter porter with the aroma of a pine forest. I wanted a second one!
kiefdog (1567), Tampa, Florida, USA
Dec 18, 2008 Bottle courtesy of Ibrew2or3. Pours a dark brown to black color with thin tan head. Aroma is malty with notes of phenol, molasses, caramel, spice, rye. Flavor is malty and sweet with notes of peanut, wood, molasses, rye, nutmeg and other spices. Generally medium body with sweet and malty finish. Sampled in a vertical tasting of Anchor Our Special Ales 2002-2006. The 2006 vintage had more burnt candy sugar notes and was slightly sweeter than the 2005.
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