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Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Percentile
91
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
10363.56/5.03.56/5.0Winter5.5%94.9Lager 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.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
MagooinPA (99), Warminster, Pennsylvania, USA
2.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/55/103/512/20
Mar 9, 2008  
120z pour looked awesome, tasted horrible. To many spices that didn’t work for me. previous years have much better. This 2007 version has too much going on and much of it is conflict.


 kennydiaz (185), staten island, New York, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/57/104/516/20
Mar 7, 2008  
I HAVE HAD THEIR CHRISTMAS BEER EVERY YEAR SINCE 2002. 2007 HAD A COMPLEX FLAVOR BUT I THINK THERE WAS TO MANY SPICES IN IT THIS YEAR. I ENJOYED 2006 ’S VERSION THE MOST.


 Ansset13 (127), Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/102/515/20
Mar 4, 2008  
The pour is deep brown with 2 & 1/2 finger tan head, leaving nice lacing. The nose is complex with scents of cinnamon, licorice mint and pine. The flavor is also very complex with pine, vanilla, anise and possibly ginger, with other wood resins . Quite a unique brew.


 chicagodri (1041), Chicago, Illinois, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/515/20
Feb 27, 2008  
Pours a dark brown, you can see a ruby color when it is held up to the light. Had a large tan head. Interesting aroma, seems to have a ton of different spices....cinnamon, ginger, maybe some raisins, a little coffee? The flavor is equally as unique. Cinnamon and ginger stick out the most, seems to have some toffee also. Interesting Christmas beer.


 dkachur (2349), Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/103/511/20
Feb 26, 2008    Updated: Dec 10, 2008
2007 bottle from Whole Foods Charlottesville. Pours reddish-black with a very large head and mad amounts of lacing. Strong cinnamon/coffee aroma. Taste of coffee, raisin and spice &&#35;40;anise?&&#35;41; behind a very thin mouthfeel. Taste is good, but the rest is lacking. 6/4/7/2/11..... 12 ounce bottle from Whole Foods Market Charlottesville, 2008 release. Pours a dark brown color wirh a medium head. Highly splced, slightly tart aroma. Taste is also highly spiced with hop notes, eggnog. Medium bodied. 6/4/6/3/11


 BelgianBeerGal (1283), Sabbatical in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Feb 24, 2008  
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.


mrw1zard (54), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/57/104/516/20
Feb 21, 2008  
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!


 mybestfriend (262), Gothenburg, Sweden
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/57/103/512/20
Feb 17, 2008  
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!



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