Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Brewed by Anchor Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
San Francisco, California USA

Overall Impression: I do not have a lot of information on this old rating, but I do remember thinking this one was pretty good.
**Could use a re-rating on next tasting

This beer is very similar to Kirsten Dunst, nice body, but not much else worth bragging about. This one is aggressive with the spices, very rich, sweet, and malty. IMO, too much in the spice and plum/raisin/prune. There is a strong taste of dark fruit that isnt balanced enough with hops or alcohol. I prefer previous years over the 2008.

Bottle (vintage 2007): Deep ruby amber coloured, a bit hazy, small off-white foamy layer; christmas spices, coriander toasted malt and dried fruits in the nose; moderate to solid - relatively dry - bitter-sweet flavour, medium bodied; dry bitter finish, rounded by some toasted malt and spices. Pleasant, well rounded stuff.............

Poured a dark murky brown. Sweet, spicy, piney nose. Flavor is cinnamon, clove, caramel, some licorice. Very good xmas beer.

12 oz. bottle (2008), poured into a Guinness pint glass. The best Christmas ale out there, in my view. Ar: Pine, nutmeg, Cinnamon, bread, faint molasses, ginger, lots of pine and spruce. Ap: Pours a large, frothy roan head that diminished into some nice lacing fairly quickly. Clear caramel-ruby color. Fl: Citrus, tons of spice, ginger, dry roasted malts and some chocolate, anise and cloves even. Pa: Swills around nicely in the mouth and not as thin as some found it, but I didn’t want anything dense. Nice dry balance @ the end. Aroma was the strongest suit- great holiday beer. Had a year old 2007 bottle as well- flavors become more distinct, but less complex. One of my faves.

Bottle. Poured a brownish color with a little white head. Aroma was nutmeg, cinnamon, and malts. Flavor was nutmeg and bitters. Not the best from anchor.

Dark brownish poor white white head. Aroma is sweet, spicy, bready all at once. Sweet, gingerbread taste with hints of chocolate and roasted malts. Nice finish. I really enjoyed this one. Good holiday beer.

2008 vintage, courtesy of mgermani. Been meaning to try and rate this for years and am finally getting to ’er. Poured dark brown with a hint of orange, medium tan head with little retention. Brown sugar, savoury herbs, citrus rind, and raisins on the nose; flavour is slightly vinous with tree fruit and herbal notes, roasted malt and bittering hops on the finish. Oddly light mouthfeel, quite heavily carbonated, but pleasant overall and worth having again.