Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Magnum bottle labeled for 2007. Dark brown colour with a big foamy beige head. Spicey aroma of herbs and some chocolate. Slightly sweet flavour with hints of chocolate, nutmeg, and light coffee. Definitely better than average.

Lots of flavor to this. Pours a dark color with a cream colored head. I was expecting a bite to this, being so dark, but it is really smooth, a very strong spice taste at the end. Very enjoyable - a must for the holidays and non-eggnog people!

2007 bottle. Pours an almost black colour with a beige head, On the nose I got some fresh, but artificial, citrus (made me think of detergent) mixed with some ginger, roasted coffee beans and julmust (a swedish christmas soft drink). The taste is a bit sweet and resembles the aroma but with much more ginger!

Jan. 2007 - I’m trying to be fair. I hate these overly spiced ales. This one, if I look at it clinically, was probably good. Deep brown color with red highlights. Nice head and lacing. Lots of roasted malts, chocolate, and some spices...too many of them for me to even finish the bottle, but if this is your thing, I’ll bet this beer would be loved. Rich thick mouthfeel. Not again for me, though.

2007 bottle. pours a dark ruby-copper with a tan head. aroma is clove, spice, dark fruits, sweetness, and yeah, i actually do sense the furniture polish hughie wrote of (haha, a strangely satisfying aroma)! taste is clovey, liquorice, dirt, spices, light cinnamony raisins. tastes very christmas-like, similar to bread pudding. mid-light bodied with a bubbly, prickly mouthfeel. not a bad brew at all, has that classic anchor taste with a holiday twist. not a flavor explosion, but a gently satisfying holiday session brew. will definately buy again next year.

2007 Bottle from Whole Foods Market, New York. Dark brown with a large beige head. Aroma that combines icing sugar, dark fruit and furniture polish. Sugar and spice in the taste. A little cinnamon, some liquorice and a background earthy sourness. Quite a light, gentle mouthfeel: nothing very demanding. Mid bitter finish. Odd, special beer for a special occasion.

Bottle at the Manchester Winter Ales Festival. Very nice. A good xmas beer (I would imagine, what the fuck do I know? Who am I?), dark brown, almost opaque. Like a mince pie. All Christmassy and that. Lovely! Cheers and happy christmas to one and all.

Without a doubt, I feel warmly filled with the Christmas spirit after drinking this delicious spiced beer despite it being mid-February. Dark mahogany pour with decent beige head, this winter beer hits the drinker with a sweet mixture of spices (cinnamon? toffee? someone suggested pumpkin) I noticed a strong chocolate presence as well. Very smooth spiced beer that finishes well.