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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?  
 haggis03a3 (135), Piedmont, California, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/516/20
Jan 14, 2008  
2007 on tap. Black color with a beige head. Aroma of malts and spices. Flavor was an explosion of well balanced spices and malts.


 Gr0ve (1392), Oslo, Norway
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/57/104/517/20
Jan 14, 2008  
355 ml bottle. 2006 vintage. Dark, almost black with a strong ruby red hue. Tall fluffy beige fine-laced head. Potent spice aroma with a dominating apricot background. The aroma is fantastic. Well-balanced and enticing. Feels a bit light-bodied and thin on the tongue initially. Little malts, but quite a bit of spice-infused flavour. Ends with a light sourness on the tongue. The finish is of juniper. Very nice beer, and is actually very drinkable.


 skortila (2893), Bunnik, Netherlands
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Jan 13, 2008  
Bottled. 2007 Version. Aroma has roasted malts, some licorice, ginger (luckily not too much), cinnamon, other spices. Black coloured with a beige, medium head. Taste is a bit sweet with roasted maltiness and spices. Well balanced and with all the spices, I think that’s quite hard. So good job, this one.


 DruncanVeasey (2710), The Penguin’s Arms, Europe, Warwickshire, England
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Jan 12, 2008    Updated: Jan 14, 2008
2007 version, Inspire, Coventry. Mahogany pour with red edges, and an irregular beige head and lace. Distinct ginger, cinnamon and possibly rosemary in the aroma and flavour, but not excessively mulled or overdone, and nicely underpinned by roasted malt and sourish lactic touches. Aromatically spiced festive ale.


 CaptBier (302), Birmingham, Alabama, USA
2.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/104/54/104/56/20
Jan 12, 2008  
Bottled. A pitch black beer with a slight brown shine under a huge brown head. The aroma is sweet with strong spicy notes among them strong notes of spruce and cardemomme - a bit too much for me. The flavor is sweet again with strong notes of spices - especially spruce and cardemmome, but then a note of roasted malt joins in, and combines with the spices to give it an extremely dry finish.


 Otje (668), Leiden, Netherlands
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/515/20
Jan 12, 2008  
OK, another rating. vintage 2005. Lots of basil and allspice like cardamon in both taste and smell. not bad


 jmuhops (663), Winchester, Virginia, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/55/103/511/20
Jan 10, 2008  
2007. Pours very dark brown with a large off-white head. Lots of woodsy, earthy spices in the aroma. Little else besides. A little bit of everything in the flavor: spices, chocolate, lactose, light hops, etc., etc., etc. Ends slightly sour and woody, which would be great in another beer. As it stands, not so much. Quite drinkable and not exactly offensive, but I was expecting more.


 Frauditor (148), Hagerstown, Maryland, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/58/103/515/20
Jan 10, 2008  
interesting beer. Lager journey. Something woodsy in here. Maybe pine nuts or evergreen. Nice and refreshing light and bubbly. Would like to drink another with some flapjacks.



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