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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?  
 ultraspank (866), Dublin, Ohio, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
Dec 22, 2007  
2007. Excellent nose of spice & malt, perfume, roasted coffee, cola, and fruit (both berries and dried). The brew pours a clear ruby. The tall dense beige head is fully lasting and ultra creamy with decent lace. The brew is malty and roasted through and through. The middle has a moderate acidity and the finish is both spicy and roasted. The full body is lively and chewy like a stout. The finish feels dry. This is a very exceptional offering, I wish I would have taken home more than one bottle.


 Oakes (8080), gone rambling, Vietnam
2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/53/101/56/20
Dec 21, 2007  
2007 Magnum
Dark brown. Spicy, minty, cinnamony aroma doesn’t disappoint. Grk. Thin and flat body. Spices limp along without any particular malt to back them up. Liquorice flavour is strong but comes across far too bitter - again showing a lack of residual sugar. Thin, weak, poorly executed. Far below Anchor’s and this beer’s standards. Had to choke it back.


 malrubius (977), Valley Stream, New York, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/105/516/20
Dec 21, 2007  
12 ounce 2007 bottle in pint glass. Dark brown, almost black with dense brown head and lace. Aroma of anise and chocolate. Excellent mellow flavor of anise, chocolate other spice and fruit with medium bitterness. Medium-full body and medium-low carbonation. Excellent mouthfeel. Amazingly smooth in a good way. Much better than I remember for a fresh Anchor Christmas. Excellent.


 Charlzm (247), Los Angeles, California, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/57/103/515/20
Dec 21, 2007  
2007 bottle, consumed on 12/21/07. Aromas of nutmeg and spice and cola. Flavor is nicely malty with spices appearing on midtongue. Finish has a light touch of bitterness with a lingering nutmeg/clove character that’s not entirely welcome by the end of the bottle. Mostly well done. One bottle is enough, though; not a good session beer.


 AgentSteve (1357), SF Bay Area, California, USA
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/56/103/516/20
Dec 21, 2007  
Pours deep brown with fluffy thick head. Nose is a cola like malt with caramel and spice. Flavor is cloves and spice. Very smooth and easy drinking.


 Wulfstan (509), California, USA
4.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/105/518/20
Dec 21, 2007  
The 2007 ale, in December 2007: dark, almost black, red-brown with a big, thick light brown head that is long lasting and leaves some lacing. The aroma is nutmeg, rootberr, and hint of anise and clove over a malty-toasty body. The taste is rather like a porter-brown ale (of the Newcastle type) mix with spices, toasted grain (not burnt), rootbeer, and faint hints of coffee and chocolate. There is a light bitterness. It’s fairly complex and hard to pin down and is very tasty, interesting, somewhat complex, satisfying, and smooth.


brewandstew (11), Salisbury, Maryland, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/516/20
Dec 21, 2007  
12oz bottle, 2007 vintage. Pours a dark brown with a light frothy head. Aromas of ginger, cinnamon, and other seasonal spices. Taste resembles that of a stout, and not overly bitter. Alcohol comes through a bit on the tongue. Pairs well with a hearty stew, winter squash, yams, and would go well with anything containing cranberry. I really enjoyed drinking this with my vegan sweet potato and winter squash minestrone.


 BlackForestCO (820), Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/512/20
Dec 21, 2007  
07 bottle. Poured a tawny brown with a pillowy, light tan head that left nice lacing. Nice aroma of caramel, spices (clove and ginger mainly), and a hint of pine. I didn’t enjoy the flavor as much as the aroma. It began with a slightly spicey pine taste that led into a somewhat smooth caramel finish. It was relatively smooth on the palate. I just couldn’t really get into this beer.



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