Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

2007 version, Valley oak tree on label: Opaque body, with a tan head that disappeared way too quickly. Splotchy lacing. Holiday cookie-like aroma, which was quite a bit sweeter than the flavor. At first, the flavor profile consisted of cardamom, nutmeg, giner, allspice, and toffee, but the finish could best be described as acrid coffee and smoke. The carbonation was lively, but overall mouthfeel was slightly on the watery side. I feel that Anchor did a pretty good job with this one, but years past had finer offerings.

Winter 2007 Edition. Pumpkin, allspice, nutmeg, strong maltiness at the outset. Very spicy bouquet. Blood red with substantial, foamy, tan head. Initially spice overwhelms flavor: allspice, clove, nutmeg, cinammon. Malt takes on midpalate, with a touch of spicy hop on the finish. Spices subsist till the finish; however, the finish is rudely abrupt for such a boldly flavored ale, and it may have benefited from a more drawn out flavor. Still, quite a warming ale. I might take a case up to the mountains with me next month.

Bottle. Malts have a moderate aroma of pumpernickel bread and toasted, light notes of perfume and earth for the hops and yeast, with rootbeer, clove and nutmeg in the background. Head is creamy, off-white, has excellent lacing and is mostly lasting. Color is a deep reddish brown. Flavor starts lightly sweet and acidic and finishes lightly acidic and bitter. Palate is light to medium, between watery and creamy and has a lively carbonation. It finishes lightly dry. I’m not a big spiced beer fan, but this one was pretty good.

Pours a dark copper color with small hints of amber peeking through when held to light. A finger of light tan head frothed up quickly, then the lacing stuck around on the sides of the lager glass. The scent was of brown sugar, malt, dried fruit and spice. A hint of cinnamon and brown sugar came across up front with some sticky molasses , nutmeg and dried fruit to finish. I am glad to have tried this, but wouldn’t search out a six pack.

Old Rating Deep dark red with a vanishing khaki head. Active carbonation. Smell is wintergreen at first followed by overowering roast, dark coffee, and a mild earthy/spiciness. Intial mouthfeel is full, taste is milk chocolate, malty, and cream followed by a spicy rush and what tastes like nutmeg and cloves. Moderate mouthfeel at the end.

2007, dark reddish brown, low carbonation. Spicy hoppy aroma, coriander,nutmeg, with a little bit of sweetness. Medium bodied, smooth with medium bitterness. Hops are fairly heavy, not overwhelming, aftertaste of spices and hops.

Didn’t like it as much as the 2006. Pour was beautiful, almost black with a thick tan head (that is still there 10min later). Smells of hops, malt, spices. Taste is quite hoppy with that spice kick right underneath. Finish is slightly long and bitter for me. The spice seems to be ginger driven, with nutmeg, and a hint of cinnamon. Quite tasty, though I think I like some other christmas ales better.

Not exactly what I expected. 2007 batch. Very spice-driven, almost the way a pumpkin beer might be. Of course, it’s spiced as a a winter and the taste is very much all spice, coriander, and what else? It doesn’t entirely come together well.