Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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

12 oz bottle from Winooski Beverage Warehouse in Winooski, VT. Ruby-flecked dark, hazy molasses with an everlasting immense tan head...as usual, allspice is a dominant component in the nose along with ginger and nutmeg, roasty maltiness, and anise...seems a bit subdued like last year’s and not an aromatic explosion such as 2003...on the tongue, though, this is rather dry like two years ago, with prickly carbonation, some tarry, ashy burnt wood character to go with the creme brulee and light piney hops...right now I’m gonna say this is far from my favorite, though I’m a sucker for this beer and even this year’s is special enough. I suspect a few months will help cut the tarry bitterness to a level that’s more enjoyable.

Dutch Ratebeer Gathering. I had one at ’t Klooster in Delft with my fellow Ratebeerians.Dark brown coloured, lasting brown head. Malts and spices dominate, followed by a lasting bitter finish. Nice beer.

2006. Tempting magnum bottle, promising fragrance, high long lasting head. Fullbodied maltiness, balanced bitterness, a little smoke but not dominant. Full of spicies and not too much sugar or alcohol. STurde companion to any christmas meal.

2006 Bottle. Pours deep brown / garnet with a dark reddish tan head. The aroma has toasted malt, juniter, pine (but not in a hoppy way) and some spices. Smells like Christmas in a bottle. Medium body with semi-sharp carbonation. The flavors start with the evergreen taste along with roasted malt and a nice amount of spice. The non-hop woodiness is there as well giving it a cool winter taste. The finish adds a bit of hoppy spice and some crispness. Very nice and enjoyable beer.

Bottled. Very dark ruby, rich firm off-white head. Spruce aroma. Medium sweet with clean mouthfeel. Spices are evident - spruce needles, cinnamon and nutmeg is what I get. Hops lay unerneath togehter wih ligtly roasty malt. Due to the clean mouthfeel the body feels light. Finishes with medium bitterness.

2006 vintage. Dark beer with deep mahogany tints when held against the light. The typical spicey nose with cinamon, clove and a lot of orange zest and toast. One finger foamy brown head that shrank to an attractive frothy ring. Dark toast, cinamon, clove, orange, coffee, some bitter chocolate, and a tartness that is a little berryish. Not as cohesive a spiced beer as some other vintages, but still a big, spicey holiday brew.

Dark brown and pours with a medium sized head.Some nutiness and a wonderful warming mouth feel. An all round pleasant and interesting beer.

Marcello Wine Market, Baton Rouge, La. - 12 oz bottle. Pours a dark purple, almost jet black, with a tight, but long lasting khaki colored head. Aroma is spicy. Hints of licorice, coffee, some Karbona spot remover. Flavor is of course spicy and Christmasy. This year, I pick up a definite strain of Horehound candy. The old fashioned kind you find in old General Stores. Hints of licorice and Christmas spice as well. Mouthfeel is a tad thinner than expected. Good winter warmer. 2006 - (saving for future reference in case it becomes an actual entry). Dark purple pour - close to black tar, with a tight, but long lasting off-white colored head. Aroma is Christmasy spicy. Hints of peppermint in the aroma, some Karbona spot remover as well. Flavor is of course spicy and Christmasy. This year, I pick up a definite strain of peppermint candy - but not very pronounce. Brief hints of licorice and Christmas spice as well. Mouthfeel, like last year is a tad thinner than expected. Decent - but not as dood as 2005’s. 7 4 6 3 14 = 3.5