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Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Percentile
91
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
10363.56/5.03.56/5.0Winter5.5%94.9Lager glass, Tumbler
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?  
 finol (486), Nacka (Stockholm), Sweden
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/514/20
Nov 29, 2008  
Bottle from Systembolaget. Red brown in colour. Smells of citrusy hopps and pine. Tastes of pine, spices and Christmas!


 jhagmar (114), Gothenburg, Sweden
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/513/20
Nov 29, 2008  
Bottle, thanks ekstedt. Dark reddish black with a tan head. Burnt sugar, cloves, nutmeg and soap. Sweetish with some bitterness. Medium bodied, light carbonation.


 Drink4Satan (585), Bristol, Rhode Island, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/105/57/102/515/20
Nov 28, 2008  
2008 50.7 oz. bottle. The pour produces a massive, puffy tan head above a dark brown colour with ruby edges. Rings of lacing are left behind with nearly every sip. The nose is filled with dried fruits, caramel, roasted malts, cinnamon and other spices. The flavour is spicy and malty sweet, with chocolate, loads of cinnamon, ginger and graham crackers. The finish is alcoholic and heavily spiced. The mouthfeel is creamy, but a little watery, especially in the finish. It’s a nice, enjoyable fireside beer, but nothing amazing.


 JaBier (1182), Capital City, Ohio, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/512/20
Nov 28, 2008  
12oz bottle, ’07 version. Pours a medium brown with a 1 inch off-white head. Aroma is of cinnamon, caramel and ginger. Flavor is cinnamon, dark fruit and some hop. Personal preference here, but I prefer beers that are spiced to be loaded up. This one teases you and doesn’t really deliver on the flavor.


 pj1855 (154), Eagan, Minnesota, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/59/105/517/20
Nov 28, 2008    Updated: Nov 29, 2008
This is a fantastic beer. Pours a dark amber color with a small light brown head. Aroma of roasted malts and Cinnamon. Great mouthfeel. Complex flavor. Tastes of cinnamon, roasted malts and chocolate. Pefect balance of everything. Very sad to take the last sip of this one.


 AdamSkillin (376), High Bridge, New Jersey, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/516/20
Nov 27, 2008  
Draught at the Burns House on Thanksgiving 2008. It’s a gorgeous deep mahogany color with a malty and spice-balanced flavor that makes it a perfect beer for cold weather.


 fidelis83 (712), Clinton, Iowa, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/103/513/20
Nov 27, 2008  
Pours ebony black with brown only popping in the fringe when held to the light. Head is 1.5-2 finger, frothy, muave, and somewhat chunky. Good retention and decent lacing. Aroma has lots of spice to it-cinamon and ginger, slightly charred maple, raisin, roast, toffee and a decent nutty note. Flavor is spicy cinamon sticks, nutmeg, sweet dark chocolate, raspberries, a hint of pine hops and burnt biscuits. Finish is dry with a spicy char that is intriguing enough to encourage another sip. Body is medium thickness and sweet at first, increasingly thin and dry as flavor profile progresses.


 aplusbreaks (330), , Colorado, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Nov 26, 2008  
2005 vintage consumed Oct of ’08. I was really drunk when rating this so keep that in mind while reading my notes.... Pours a black/brown with a nice sized tan head. Aromas of....Its Anchor X-mas!! Cedar, spruce, syrup and hops. Flavors....god I love this stuff. Spices, hops, malts, and woody flavors.This has aged quite nicely. 2004 vintage was always a favorite of mine, but the ’05 has held up quite nicely.



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