 ansermadide (507), Kyle, Texas, USA
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 3/5 | 14/20 |
Dec 13, 2008 2008 Vintage: Sample at December 12, 2008 Beer Club meeting. The first Special Ale I have had since their 2004. Loved the awesome brown head on this. Had a solid, dark color. Now THIS is the kind of stuff I want to drink around the holidays. Its aroma is almost of pine, other spices. Its flavor, however, is almost candyish. Tons of spice, but well balanced. Very enjoyable and different. I like! Ginger is present, but not overpowering. Just enough. Musky character, as well.
Pawola22 (709), Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Dec 13, 2008 12oz bottle. Pours a dark brown body with hints of ruby in the light. Small, light brown head that dissipates slowly and remains nicely laced. Aroma is sweet and spicy. Lots of caramel and molasses blended with a holiday spice nose of nutmeg, ginger, and cinamon. Some christmas tree spruce needle aroma and some roasted grains. Plum notes and dark chocolate as well. The flavor is very similar. Dry roasted malts and lots of spicy caramel. Medium to full body and dry in the finish. Overall, a very malty and spicy beer. Good hop balance. Very drinkable. Pretty nice holiday beer.
realbama (35), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| 3.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 12/20 |
Dec 13, 2008 This was the first holiday brew I have tried from Anchor. It poured very dark and I wouldnt say amber, but moreso dark crimson. Very thick head. It smelled of the holidays, caramel, nutmeg, cider spices. I found it to be filling, interesting, and tasty.
timsilvia32 (446), from Michigan now in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 6/10 | 4/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Dec 11, 2008 Very dark amber pour, rocky cream colored head. Nice lacing. Rather unassuming aroma, some malt, citrus, Thanksgiving and Christmas dessert spices. Flavor is much more standout than the nose. Nice malt and hop citrus and pine up front. Mellows to slightly sweet and the spices. Clean finishing and surprisingly filling. Liked this one a lot, much better than the previous 2 years. Though none of these Christmas ales have been bad.
theviolet (168), New York, New York, USA
| 3.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 3/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 4/5 | 14/20 |
Dec 10, 2008 2008 Bottle Into Tumbler.
Aroma seems very spicy in a holiday type way with a bit of caramel. Not something I particularly enjoy. Looks nice, small tan head, rich brown body, good lacing. My initial thought when tasting it was wow, bitter. As i swallowed, the bitterness was replaced by holiday spices, and a slight bit of sweetness. Aftertaste was again bitter in an almost toasty, slightly burnt way. Has a bit of creaminess, but not overly prevalent.
bobaidan (358), Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| 3.4 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 6/10 | 4/5 | 13/20 |
Dec 10, 2008 2008 bottle. Pours dark brown with a medium head. Aroma is dark caramel with some nice spicy hops. Mouth feel is very carbonated, but in a good way. Flavor is spicy but rounded off nicely with sweet roasted malt.
weezfour (122), Oradell, New Jersey, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 5/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 14/20 |
Dec 8, 2008 Damn good. A little too dark and syrupy to just sit and drink, but would be great with a nice meal.
Fin (3403), Merton, Oxfordshire, England
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 14/20 |
Dec 8, 2008 Had this at a Café/bar in the company of Loz, Casey and Traci on 17-11-08, just before we said cheerio to Casey and Traci. Pours very dark brown with light beige head. Really nice and creamy, some condensed milk and big caramac flavours leapt out at me quite yummy with good Christmassy feel. A7 A4 F7 P4 OV14 3.6
|
Rate This
Statistics
Find This Beer (Want/Have)