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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?  
 BeerVirgin72 (778), Pataskala, Ohio, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/58/104/515/20
Dec 20, 2007  
Had on draft at Brews in Granville. Poured a dark brown, slight creamy head. Sweet, spicey smell. Taste was caramel, cinnamon, ginger, butter, with just a hint of hops. Very delightful, actually!


JustinBennett (67), junction city, Kansas, USA
2.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/103/53/103/515/20
Dec 20, 2007  
bottle thanks to ford9719. poured a dark brown. smelt of ginger and spice. tasted bitter. cinnamon after taste.


 Ethereal (1500), London, Greater London, England
4.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/57/104/516/20
Dec 20, 2007    Updated: Jan 2, 2009
Bottle with Mes & tashi. Dark brown, lacing. Great aroma of cloves and other Christmas spices. Palate is light and drinkable - a refreshing change for a Christmas. Overall, fantastic! Updated - 2008 version, batch 294, on tap at Microbar, 18th Oct 08. 8/4/7/4/15 Restrained nose of Christmas spices with a dusting of sugar. Ruby brown with a persistent cream head. Lots of chocolate and caramel flavours. Smooth and drinkable. Gets the winter ale feel with a surprisingly low ABV. Good stuff.


 Jmichael (633), Asheville, North Carolina, USA
2.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/56/104/510/20
Dec 20, 2007  
rating based on average of two years 2006 and 2007 on a vertical. 2007. pours a brown. spicy aroma, loose and spicy wit some sour backgrounds, not too complex and dissapointing. 2.5. 2006. pours a brown. sweet malty aroma, light sweet vanilla aged oak presence, deeper and more complex. 3.2


mikebeertaster (94), vancouver, Washington, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/102/513/20
Dec 19, 2007  
Had this beer out of a bottle. It is a full flavor, but frankly not my favorite. it has a smoky taste to it and that just doesn’t work for me.


 drpimento (809), La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
4.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/58/104/517/20
Dec 18, 2007  
Not a huge fan of spice beers, but this one is substantially better than the rest. Pours with a big dark tan frothy foamy head. Plenty of lace. The spice is definite but yet balanced with some good bitterness. Some sweetness there too. The finish is good with the flavor not too heavy. Not quite a session beer. Had this one on draft at Bodega Brew Pub downtown La Crosse, Wis USA. They have bottles of the ’06 & ’07 as well.


grikmok (92), Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA
4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/517/20
Dec 18, 2007  
Pours to a frothy, off-white, thick head. The aroma was complex and actually had a hint of eucalyptus spice. Flavor was complex and spicy. The finish was yeasty. Had a very good experience. Will definitely buy again.


 mwelsh13 (483), Maryland, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/515/20
Dec 18, 2007  
Deep brown, almost opaque pour. "Guiness" type head. Laces nicely around the glass. Bread like and spice aroma. Dry on the tongue, almost astringent. Nice full mouth feel with a tart aftertaste. Cinnamon/nutmeg/ginger taste. Hops bitterness more in the aftertaste than in the initial. Almost a slick taste to it. Not undesirable, just not expected. I definitely liked 2006 more. Wish I would have kept more of it. But, this was a nice beer overall.



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