Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker, Tumbler

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A tasty spiced ale, absolutely perfect at my local pub on Christmas Eve. Deep brown with a thin tan head. A nice aroma, clove and allspice, with a hint of cream. Flavor is spice, brown sugar, and roasty malts with nice carbonation that tingles just a bit. Finishes clean, and refreshing. Not something to drink everyday, but a great seasonal

Absolutely delicious. Other "Christmas" beers I have had can’t compare. Aromas and flavors of everything one would expect from the season, alternating with each sniff or taste. Aggressive, yet soothing.

2008 12 oz Bottle: This is the third year I’ve enjoyed this beer. I find it less defined by Christmas spices than a robust hoppiness this year than in previous years. It was superb last year on tap at the Berghoff in Chicago and I imagine this years would be, too. It’s thicker than Guiness, (Guiness is watery) and delivers a remarkably robust flavor. I find it reminds me of gingerbread cookies. Others I introduce it too find other flavors. Everyone agrees, however, that the combination of texture and flavor might well be disastrous in other beers, but in this case, are extraordinary.

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.

This beer pours a nice ruby red color with a decent head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is of cinnamon, nutmeg, and yeasty gingerbread. Taste is very much so gingerbread and Christmas cookies in general with sweet malts flowing throughout, along with a very prevalent nutmeg note. Great flavor in this beer, big but drinkable

Pours like ancor stem beer. Very spicy and piney warmth oif christmas in a bottle. A favorite in december and love to open gifts with a few around.

Pours a very deep, dark brownish red with a poofy brown head and almost zero opacity. Smell is rich of allspice, christmas cookies, some metallic notes, cinnamon, cloves and roastyness. Caramel and a slight woodyness comes through as well. Taste is moderately sweet and moderately bitter, but most of the bitterness coming from the toasted malt and spices. Huge nutmeg and cinnamon with hints of ginger and beautiful maillard qualities. Finishes with a lovely spice linger. This will age phenomenally.

Dark appearance , with malty aroma, hints of vanilla and nutmeg, heavy bodied with a short slightly bitter finish. Great winter ale , very drinkable, goes down pleasantly without any astringency.

Anchor’s 2012 iteration is a solid outing from the brewery. The same bitter backbone and pungent aroma. Heavy on the spice, esp. nutmeg, but also has some caramel and bread in the flavor. Tried at the Burger Stand in November, 2012.

Spruce, Cinnamon, Licorice, Spices and Malts. The flavor itself reminds me of Christmas and and Pine Trees. Body is light and carbonation is just right, giving it a easy and crisp drinkability. Overall one of the best Winter Warmer ales I’ve had yet!