Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

	Percentile
	91
	overall

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

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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Ratings	Average	Score	Seasonal	ABV	Style Pctl	Serve in
1036	3.56/5.0	3.56/5.0	Winter	5.5%	94.9	Lager 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.

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TipsyMcStager (916), Calgary, Alberta, Canada

3.4	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.4	6/10	4/5	7/10	3/5	14/20

Mar 21, 2008

(2007)Aroma of molasses, prunes and slight licorice. pours a very dark brown with tan foamy head. Licorice again up front, gingerbread. Mid range body. Finish has slight alcohol and is fairly dry. Enjoyable

Sammy (3976), Toronto, Ontario, Canada

3.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.5	6/10	3/5	7/10	3/5	16/20

Mar 21, 2008 Updated: Dec 9, 2008

2006 Fir ’n’ spruce flavoured and aroma ale. Always somewhat different and interesting and carbonated. Pours yellow with off-white head. Full mouthfeel. 2007 dark fruit, nice roasted chestnut dryness, licorice..even better. 2008 on tap at Cole’s, bit sour and chocolately.

Blom (390), Odense, Denmark

3.1	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.1	6/10	5/5	6/10	3/5	11/20

Mar 20, 2008

2005 tasting notes. Ruby red with a grey massive head. Sweet and spicy aroma with some orangy fruits and perfume. The flavours are spicy but balanced and it finishes a bit dry.

JasonG (700), Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

3.3	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.3	7/10	4/5	6/10	3/5	13/20

Mar 19, 2008

2007 12oz bottle - pours a very deep ruby red color with medium sized tan head. Aroma is full of medium toasted caramel, fair amount of cinnamon, vanilla, bit of anise, spruce tips, orange peel, cherry syrup. Flavor is malty, nutty, touch of caramel, seville oranges, spruce. Finish is mildly bitter, a bit too much for the style, IMO. I think given a few years the spices would mellow a bit and the bitterness would drop out a bit, and would overall be a bit better.

durhambeer (1200), Durham, USA

3.8	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.8	7/10	4/5	7/10	4/5	16/20

Mar 16, 2008

I think this has mellowed nicely since I first tried it late last year. Dark brown pour and bubbly and persistent tan head. Aromas of anise, chicory, caramel, vanilla, and juniper. Mostly the same flavors, with added cola taste. Refreshingly light on the palate. It’s spicy, but not in a bad way, I think. Worth revisiting with some age.

travita (1887), Frisco, Texas, USA

3.9	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.9	8/10	4/5	8/10	3/5	16/20

Mar 12, 2008

Red to dark brown in color with a nice tan colored head. Smell is of a fresh spruce tree, it smells like Christmas. Flavor has slight hints of pine with a delicate malty sweetness that balances out the spices and hops nicely.

mistersinalin (367), St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

3.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.5	7/10	3/5	7/10	4/5	14/20

Mar 11, 2008

This beer helped me win a best of seven pool match, which turned into a best of ten, for which I then lost. Good beer though. Unique tasting herbs, just right for holiday times.

jacobwennbom (274), Uppsala, Sweden

3.5	Aroma	Appearance	Flavor	Palate	Overall
3.5	7/10	4/5	6/10	3/5	15/20

Mar 10, 2008

Darkish. Aroma is very chocolatey. Taste is spicy. There is marsipan, vanilla, all kinds of floral perfumy notes and that taste the air has at your local butcher. Exciting but maybe a little too much going on for its own good.

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