Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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

Poured from bottle. 2006 batch. Looks like Guinness with a sloppier head. Malt, chocolate, clove, pine, and even mint in the aroma. Hops and malt blend well in the flavor, but theres something else, woody and bitter in there that lingeres into the aftertaste - could be ginger. Has a porter-like feel to it. Nice beer for a slow, winter drink.

Tap. Chocolat, roasted, light licorice and some blackberry aroma. Dark brown color, light brown head, good lace. Coffee flavor, fruity, hint of cherry, hint of licorice, lots of spices but mainly clove. Nice body and complex. Don’t see much difference between this one and the other vintages though.

I’ve been slowly consuming my case of OSA 2005 over the past five months and thought an appropiate time to rate it. After opening the bottle I’m greeted by a gingerbread nose, murky cola brown body and a thin tan head. Medium body with cocoa, licorice, and bitter sweet flavors. Reminded me of a spiced Old English Ale. I think Anchor Brewing is producing more quaffable OSA’s, I’m only half way through my 2005 case so I should be cellaring it for a few years.

Vintage 2007. Dark brown colour. Thin creamy weak light brown head. Aroma is malty with fruity (raisins), spicy (coriander) and caramel notes. Flavor is malty too with fruity (dates, ripe prunes) and light licorice notes, ending in an initially fruity, then roasty finish. Light to medium bodied.

2007 ed. Mouthfeel and a certain flavor aspect are highly reminiscent of Rogue Hazelnut Brown Nectar. Finishes slightly watery just like the aforementioned as well. It’s actually not as big as the inviting seasonal aroma would promise.

The Lure:
Embedded star anise tries to rise above the rooty cola reminiscence. Roasted malts play a second-tier role, but with the prevalent sweetness creates stout-like passages. Sturdy conifer needles point their way once in a while.

The Festivities:
Prominent earthiness, tree root and bark surround themselves with roasted molasses and a plethora of blackberries and mushy blueberries.Their union is balanced in an ample but easy to digest body. Negligible dryness and bitterness appear in the finale; this is unique stuff as always.

Transcendence:
Nicely laid out ornaments do enliven the atmosphere.

Creamy mocha-colored head with a rusty-brown body. Aroma of nutmeg, toffee, cinnamon, clove, light anise, and fruitcake. Full flavor is like fresh malt syrup with notes of plums, chocolate, molasses, and toffee. Medium sweet with nicely integrated, lightly pungent spices. Medium body and a very pleasant aftertaste. This has matured nicely so far. Good call, Scott.

Very pretty ruby crimson color through the light, pellucid with an otherwise unassuming dark asphalt color. The head is off-white, nearly tan; fizzy, non-retentive. Moderate lacing. Nose of light dark cocoa/chocolate and piney fruity herbs and hops. The flavor is bright up front with zesty hops then mellows to a large chewy body of mainly chocolate and other lightly roasted malts and light cloved orange notes. The finish is a bit much for my palate, seems to just dance over it like water on a hot skillet. Very nice edition of this seasonal gem.