Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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.

Spice hits right away, like spiced apple cider, strong almost like one of those scented candles (which I hate). Very dark, clear ale with good looking amber highlightsand a rocky beige head with good retention. Christmas spices completely dominate the smell, obscuring any malt or hop aroma. Taste is, thankfully, more mellow than the smell, although spices are still very prominent, there’s a decent malt backbone and a pleasant bitterness. I think that cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger are the main spices, but I’m not claiming any expertise in this area. Some caramel apple flavor, smooth feel even though the carbonation is a bit much for my taste. I would probably enjoy this one more with age on it, right now it’s almost one dimensional and not too enjoyable to me. Some citrus emerges on the finish.

Bottle. Medium head with medium duration. Color is dark brown. Aroma and taste are malt, herbs and hops.

12oz bottle, 2007. Pours a dark caramel color with red highlights. Nice, thick, creamy looking, light brown head. Smells like the holiday season to me. Nutmeg and malt dominate the nose. Tastes of nutmeg and other spices. Pumpkin? This beer is a little on the thin side. Nice lively carbonation. This is the best holiday brew that I’ve ever had.

Bottle, thanks Harry. Ruby red, brown frothy head. A cinnamon- toffee nose, very warming. A dry-bitter-spicey-butter flavour with a wonderful christmas pudding finish. Enjoyable

Very strong head. Excellently flavored winter ale. has a strong hint of raisons along with other speices. Very good Christmas Ale. Would definitely purchase again.

2007 - Slight black cherry and cloves on the nose. Some spice and burnt sugar, but not quite enough sweetness to balance the bitterness. Seemed thin. Not terrible, but there are much better winter/holiday ales out there.

Pours almost opaque. Tan head. Very perfume like nose. Very full. Flavor is smooth with a nice earthy edge. Mild and beautifully bitter tones. Smooth feel on liquid and carbonation. Very nice drinker. Smooth, great character, and easy to drink. What more could you ask for?