Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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

pours dark with a nice brown head. Very spicy and piney flavor with a dry finish.

Bottle, 355 ml - A very dark brown beer with a big strong head. Aroma is spicey and malty with hints of fir needles. Flavor is roasty with hints of spices and some hops. Enjoyed it much more now than I did a few months ago...

Appearance: Very dark brown. Little bit of head. Aroma: Spices, cinnamon. Malt. Even chocolate and fruit (dark). Taste: Spices. Malt and chocolate. Strong. Bitter aftertaste. Info: 355ml bottle, 31/1-2007, 140/500

Bottle, Corks of Cotham, Bristol. Poured a dark brown with a reddish hue and a creamish biege head. Aroma is jam packed with christmasy spices, cinnamon, brandy sodden raisins, herbs, ginger, orange peel, the list goes on. Really wonderful. Silky smooth mouthfeel. Many of the characteristics of the aroma were evident in the flavour and this is undoubtedly a very complex and well crafted brew. I loved it and would happily drink this at any time of the year ! A worthy bottle to bring up my double century !

Spicy caramelly aromas, cinnamon, nutmeg. Pours reddish, dark brown with a huge tan head that lasts! Smooth, sweet malts, hints of molasses, with spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, traces of cardamom. Very creamy mouthfeel. Very nice.

12oz bottle, 2005 vintage, courtesy of a trade from a while ago (?). Thanks! Pours a murky brown color; thin, medium tan head with fine-bubbled lacing. Plenty of spice (cinnamon, allspice), chocolate, and floral notes in the aroma; roasted malts, leather, and a touch of alcohol coming through; soft, chewy spicing overall. Medium-to-full mouthfeel: creamy carbonation; chocolate, nougat, and leather upfront; well integrated into a soft spice profile; minimal alcohol; a touch of breadiness and roasted malts. Pretty drinkable, tasty stuff. Lengthy finish: leather, dark chocolate, slight mineral bitterness, and lingering soft spice.

2007 series. A pleasant medium-bodied ale with a slightly sweet/spicy flavor. Perhaps cinnamon? Smoky and leathery also. The flavor wasn’t as robust as expected though, considering the appearance, but it’s still a good beer overall. The categorization of this ale is a complete mystery to me. I mean, when you take into account that "Spice/Herb/Vegetable" usually means Budweiser Chelada or malt liquor/wine cooler hybrids. Just categorize it as a brown ale or something. Anyhow, this ale worth a try by anyone. Most will be pleased to some degree.

2007 version, Valley oak tree on label: Opaque body, with a tan head that disappeared way too quickly. Splotchy lacing. Holiday cookie-like aroma, which was quite a bit sweeter than the flavor. At first, the flavor profile consisted of cardamom, nutmeg, giner, allspice, and toffee, but the finish could best be described as acrid coffee and smoke. The carbonation was lively, but overall mouthfeel was slightly on the watery side. I feel that Anchor did a pretty good job with this one, but years past had finer offerings.