Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Bottle as shown. Pours a dark brown almost black color with a medium light tan head. The aroma is very malty with caramel and chocolate. Decent lacing on this one. The taste is dark chocolate and black licorice. I was expecting more from this but still a good christmas brew.

2007. Pours a pretty dark brown with a nice tan head. Spicy aroma and great spicy taste. Definitely a good holiday brew. 12 oz. bottle.

Dark mahogany big, foamy tan head / Winey root beer, brown sugar, and spice nose / Medium body, fizzy, a touch watery with good balance and decent finish / Flavors of cooked brown sugar, toffee, raisins, coffee syrup, and holiday spice / 2008 much improved.

Pours quite dark, nice tan head w/ lacing. Aroma of cinnamon and nuts. Flavor is salty, nutty and mild. Vague dacetyl in the mouthfeel. I was unimpressed.

2008 bottle. ok i dont remember this beer being this bad, but i have learned a lot since the last one came out. honestly all i can think of is jagermeister with this one. its like somebody put a shot of it in a very light bodied porter and thats wtf is in my glass right now. i think its going down the drain.

2007: Getting earlier and earlier every year! Remember when you HAD to wait till after Thanksgiving Day to get this. Merchants actually got penalized if it was released early!!! Nice frothy tan head. Dark brown in color with little or no light passing through it when I hold it up to my computer monitor. Fair amount of fine carbonation. Aroma loaded with spices, especially ginger root. Heavy ginger in the flavor as well, with other spices too, which even it out. "Normal" body mouthfeel, as opposed to what it used to be like a few years ago. Rather bitter aftertaste lingers on the palate longer than I’m care to have it. This used to be my favorite XMAS brew to grab, but not anymore. Too one-sided in the flavor profile compared to others.I also remember when the flavor profile seemed to change every year. They claim it still does, but I’m not 100% sure of that.

2007 vintage: Pours a semi-clear, dark reddish borwn brown with a thick off-white head that has some good retention and lacing. Aroma of some spiced dark caramel malt, nutmeg cinnamon, and something resembling the scent of a wet dog. Flavor is medium bodied, some light carbonation, along with flavors of dark malt, cinnamon, cloves and a touch of nutmeg. Finish is slightly spicey, a little dry with a clove and malt aftertaste. Quite the seasons greetings brew.

(bottle) Pours dark red/brown with an off-white head. Aroma is very unique with some nice nutmeg, cinnamon, and the smell of pink Extra gum, along with some pine tones. Flavor is very spicy with as OSLO said bubblegum too. An odd beer indeed, but it’s pretty good and a nice change of pace.