Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Brewed by Anchor Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
San Francisco, California USA

2007 Vintage. Deep ruby ale looks black except in the light. Thick frothy tan head that has nice retention lingers forever leaving a sticky coating of lace on the glass. Clove aromas, cinnamon, nutmeg reminds of eggnog. Nutty caramel and more of the previous spices. Excellent malt and spices. 2008 vintage. Pours a dark brown with red intertwined throughout and a tight lasting beige head. Aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, molasses, figs and other fruits, other assorted aggressive spices, with a malty sweet base. Taste hits first with a load of spices, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, with fruits and sweet malts that lend a strange metallic twinge to the finish. A bit nutty or vegetal. 2007 seemed better. Original rating: 7:4:7:4:14

Thanks to Sparky for sending this one my way. I’m not a big fan of spicey beers, but this one is done very well. Pours a deep purple-brown, with a thin head. Aroma is gingerbread and spice. Flavor is the same, with some nuts, carmel, and bitter chocolate. Nice notes of some dark fruit as well. A very sippable beer, I enjoyed this one a lot.

Dark brown colour, tan head. Aroma is of caramel, roasted malts and spices. Flavour has roasted malts and cloves. Nice one.

Bottle from Ibrew2or3. It says 2005 on it. Black with a small tan head. Funky aroma, not sure exactly what that is... Taste is funky as well . Black cheeries, spicy, malty cocoa, spicy. Weird but in a good way. Texture is medium and easy to drink. Overall a good beer to try. Thanks Dave!

2007 version. Pours very dark brown, modest tan head, minimal lacings. Good dark roast malt aroma, some soy sauce. Taste is dark, rich coffee, chocolate, bitter hops. Nice Holiday brew. 2008 version Dark brown, almost black with a one finger tan head, plentiful lacings. Aroma is spicey. Taste is dark sweet chocolate, molasses, some coffee, good biiter hop finish. Smooth on the palate. Drinkability is quite good at 5.5% abv.

Mahogany with a large tan slowly fading head. Aroma of nutmeg, cinnamon, sweet malts, floral hops and other assorted spices. Taste is somewhat nutty and sweet with a spicy finish of nutmeg. Seems a little thin to me, except the finish which seems a little overloaded with spice.

Need to update this one. Sold as Anchor Christmas Ale here in Sweden, I was surprised when a friend found 4-5 bottles back in April. This beer has an absolutely wonderful aroma; a quite strong one for only 5,5% ABV. Wonderful malt, spices, pine needle... almost imperial stoutish smell. Flavour is really good, even though it maybe smells better than it tastes. Wonderful taste of Christmas-spices, particulary ginger, and some pine needle. Need too buy this again next Christmas...

Bottle. Dark vanilla, malt, sweet red wine, christmas spices. Large brown creamy sparkling head, long lasting; nearly black body. Moderate sweet, then it gets a little bit bitterer with some hints of coffee; average duration. Medium body, creamy texture with a soft carbonation. Really something special!