Anchor Our Special Ale (2001 and earlier)

Formerly brewed at Anchor Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
San Francisco, California USA

Popped open a magnum of the 2001. Dark brown with reddish highlights, nice tan head. Good, robust nose. Smells of Christmas cookies baking. Gingerbread men. Lots of spices. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Nice feel in the mouth. The flavor was very spicy and complex but also very rewarding. Emphasis on the ginger and sweetness but not cloying. Not bad at all.

Here in Nor. Calif. you have to look hard to find these special offerings. Safeway no less, had it @ $8/ 6 pk as well as Pyramid Snow Cap and the Oktoberfest beers. I splurged and have never experienced anything this spicy. It reminds me alot of the Spaten Hefeweisen (monk on the label). The gingerbread definately came through as well as other "peppery" flavors. I will hold on to the rest just to see how it develops. Thanks Anchor for taking a risk!!!

Deep brown. Spicey nose, nutmeg dominates. Nutmeg is the primary flavor on top of porter base. Nice. Very much a holiday brew.

I tried 5 vintages on tap at the Stuffed Sandwich (’00, ’01, ’02, ’03 & ’04). The ’01 was my favorite with the ’00 a close 2nd. Nice subtle, malty, caramel aromas and tastes. Molasses. Light spices. I’m glad I had the chance to compare the 4 vintages on tap.

NOTE: did a tasting on 1/15/05 that included years ’87, ’90, ’94, ’97, ’98, ’00, ’01, ’02, & ’03. The ’02, ’01 & ’94 stood out as the best of the bunch. The ’94 had a nice whiskey taste to it that the others did not. I thought the older vintages help well over the years.

1999 bottle, sampled on the eve of the first snowfall of the season, 2004: Looks surprisingly like the 2004 I had mere moments ago, same near-clear, crimson color, same full head, fluffy, cakey, creamy, a light toasted brown. Aroma: a touch abrasive and strong ate first, harsh, almost whiskeyish feel emits from glass and enters my nose, ... woody, malty, with caramel and vanilla tones, getting richer and more complex as we continue. Taste: a bit bitter at first, a tough rough on the palate, then smoothness...with an oaky character. Feels more like a porter than the OSA ales I’m accustomed to...not getting any of the usual spices, or piney/sprucey connections, either. Increasingly smooth. Medium bodied, at most, very rich on the palate, fine drinkability, though it does feel a bit strong. The more I close in on the bottle’s end, the more I’m comparing it to doublebocks, or, actually triple bocks I’ve had. And, of course, I’m scratching my head, trying to imagine what it was like fresh. i probably like it better that way...This may have been aged a bit too long, as though it still tastes fine, I feel something has been left behind. Getting some whisky notes at the end, and a touch of cocoa, ...maybe that will redeem this some...but, despite my qualms, it remains solidly among the best winter ales brewed!

Draught at Stuffed Sandwich, San Gabriel. 2000-2004 Vertical tasting on 11/19/04
2000 Vintage - Beautiful chestnut coloured body with an ample, fluffy, lasting tan head. Aroma of spice and ripe fruit. Flavor of caramel, nut, malty sweetness and alcohol. Full-bodied, lasting mouthfeel. Quite good.
5, 3, 5, 3, 14
2001 Vintage - Big recipe change here. Beautiful chestnut coloured body with an ample, fluffy, lasting tan head. Aroma and flavor of tar, raison, chewy resin and a lot of anise. Tastes like Jagermeister, I don’t like Jagermeister. Rather hot finish. Not as good as the 2000.
4, 3, 4, 3, 12

1997 vintage (7 years old). Thanks for hooking me up Randy. Pours a deep dark brown with little to no head and not much carbonation. Smell is vinuous and molasses. Flavor is malty sweet with a little bit of a root beer (ginger?) flavor. The palate is very thin, which was disappointing but it does leave a stickiness behind. Some lasting spice flavor in the end.

1997 bottle:i found this hidden in the back of the one of my local favorite stores.... it has a very dark brown,almost black apperance.the smell was a bit nutty with a molasses overtone,as was the taste as well.pretty damn good stuff.