Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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

2005 bottle, Pours a opaque black with discernible brown/red facets, slight head. Xmas spices noticeable in all stages, on the nose, palate, and finish. Nutmeg, cinnamon and molasses, accompany medium body and hop bitterness, though no flavor, in the finish.

Bouteille 12oz (2007), courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur brune-rouge foncée et claire. Nez épicé (cannelle, léger de clou de girofle et de poivre, notes de coriandre, de gingembre et de muscade), de malt légèrement rôti, léger de sucre brun et de café avec des notes de noix, de houblon herbeux et de fruits confits. Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture crémeuse. Léger-moyen goût fruité (cerises, traces d’agrumes sucrées) accompagné d’un léger goût épicé (léger de coriandre, traces de clou de girofle, de muscade et de cannelle) et de petites notes boisées et de réglisse noire lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût moyennement amer de malt rôti avec des notes de caramel et de chocolat noir (traces de sucre brun) puis progressivement un moyen goût de café vient se joindre au reste jusqu’en finale où l’on retrouve une amertume asséchante de houblon herbeux (herbes mouillée, feuille de thé des bois et de conifères) avec un léger goût épicé (poivre). Post-goût moyen et sec, moyennement amer de rôti, de houblon herbeux, léger de café et avec des petites notes boisées.

2007 A- Pours a deep mahogany color with a 1 finger mocha head which fades fairly quickly. S- Smells sweet and full of spice. Nutmeg, cinnamon and possibly some pumpkiny tones are present. T- Taste is suprisingly mild, coffee, nutmeg as in the nose, slightly bitter hop element. M- Creamy smooth with a good amount of carbonation. D- This is extremely drinkable. I think once its had a chance to lose that little hop edge after a year or two it will be an excellent session beer for christmas.

2007 bottling. Clear mahogany with a fleeting khaki head. This years spices seem to be a sharp ginger, with clove and maybe some coriander with a hint of smoked wood. Smooth medium body as always. Taste is a light roastiness then caramel in the middle, with the mildly strong spices hovering around the edges of the palate. Has a nicely bitter finish. Another nice one. Enjoyed on 4.21.2008

Dark brown color with a slightly reddish tone. Head is decent, tan colour. Aroma is pleasent- sweet, enticing with various spices, nutmeg and cinnamon are noticeable. Taste is soft and creamy, very pleasent. Its a great seasonal brew i look forward to every year.

I was not crazy about the fact that the recipe was changed for the 2005 vintage. I thought it threw the beer horribly out of balance, it did right some of the previous wrongs in the right, but still this could be a lot better. A completely different spice profile this time around, that almost reminded me of a Belgian style strong ale.

2007 bottle! Pours a dark espresso brown. Off white thick, frothy, and creamy head. Looks a lot like root beer. Roasted/toasted caramel aroma. Malty with some essence of chocolate, and spicy brown sugar. Very intense punch of flavor right to the tongue, slightly smoky oak. I also get some nutty notes, and some creamy milk chocolate in the finish. The palate is very unbalance. Harsh flavor and mouth feel all over at first, but as it roll to the back of your tongue it mellows out a bit. Buttery and full. It’s interesting, but could be better.

2006 bottle. Pours dark brown with light brown head. Aromas of toasted malts ,sweet sugar and spices. Flavor is mostly toasted malts with some spices. Finishes dry. Thin mouthfeel, somewhat watery with avearge carbonation.