 jsquire (2121), St. Marys, Ohio, USA
| 3.6 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 3/5 | 15/20 |
Dec 24, 2002 Had the 2000 and 2001 from 12 oz. bottles tonight and the rating is really an average. Both are very dark with frothy, beige head. 2001 has more orange/citrus notes in the nose and the flavor. Both are nice and spicey with the 2001 having sharper ginger/clove/nutmeg flavors. The 2000 is smoother and better blended with darker sweetness. Both very good and I bet the 2002 will be even better next year.
ekarmst (35), Ames, Iowa, USA
| 4.5 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 19/20 |
Dec 24, 2002 A vintage bottle tasted 12/24/02. Great raisin, plum malt complexity. Muted spices meld well with the malt. Well balanced hop bitterness. Full bodied with lots of melenoidans! As usual Anchor scores with a fine effort. A great beer if you can still find it stored properly.
ToadMan (554), Washington, Washington DC, USA
| 3.2 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 5/10 | 4/5 | 10/20 |
Dec 19, 2002 Dark color with a ruby tinge, poors a decent head. Rich ginger bread aroma. The taste is somewhat with lots of wintery spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, ect..) Overall its good but too sweet and not enough of what makes a beer a beer.
raindog (559), Evansville, Indiana, USA
| 3.7 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 4/5 | 7/10 | 4/5 | 15/20 |
Dec 10, 2002 99 bottle.Dark brown with decent tan head.Full of aromas.Cinnamon,pecans,chocolate,nutmeg.Also rum-like aromas.Body was a bit thin.Found in a cooler at a store three months ago.Horrible conditions.Still,decent malt flavor that almost have a wine feel to them.Spices and hops taste old(not negative in this case).Probably stellar if stored properly.
Drinkingdan (371), East Norriton, Pennsylvania, USA
| 4.1 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 7/10 | 5/5 | 9/10 | 4/5 | 16/20 |
Dec 8, 2002 Very rich and very dark. Complex and full bodied. I think I will have to have drink it again to get a better Idea of what was going on.
pivo (2537), Germany
| 4.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 8/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 5/5 | 17/20 |
Dec 8, 2002 <html>
<P> 1997
This vintage starts with a sweet, port-like nose with hints of cloves. A big frothy head sits atop an opaque brown, almost black body. A complex blend of spices (cloves, nutmeg, ginger) bonds well with a fruity, malty ale base. It turns slightly sour in the middle, but this was not disturbing. It resounds with a long, pepper-embellished finish. Overall this has a luscious, full flavor with a very long profile and a big warm mouth feel with sweet round edges. This was a favorite of many that night.
<P> 1999
This nose of spices (nutmeg) and chocolate is a little more perfumy than the 1997. The main flavor profile is not as strongly spiced, but distinct nut-like notes come through in the middle with a hint of chocolate in the swallow. It concludes with a bitter, crisp finish that was slightly astringent. This is noticeably thinner and not as full or complex at the other years. Though enjoyable by all means, this was the least favorite of some.
<P> 2000
The Anchor Christmas Ales certainly remind one of Christmas from the nose: like cookies, cakes and candies common to the season. The 2000 hinted at allspice and recalled sour chocolate milk a little. Again, we find a big frothy head and a dark brown body. Tastes of cloves, licorice and chocolate lurk behind a heavy ale body in this vintage. A quick, but sharp spiced bitterness (nutmeg) on the tip of the tongue brings the flavors to an end. This was also thinner and had less character than 1997.
<P> 2001
The aroma here is perfumy, almost medicinal. A suggestion of clove is buried deep within a rich, spicy flavor that is laced with hints of chocolate. A certain sourness became apparent about mid-glass. Also thinner and clearer in texture, this year had a creamy mouth feel.
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YogiBeera (2437), Hamburg, Germany
| 4.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Dec 6, 2002 Average of the tasted vintages 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2001.
1997:
8;5;7;4;18 = 4.2
Malty, port and cloves Aroma. Black with a frothy head. Sellerie and sour flavor. Also hints of cloves. Smooth though.
1999:
9;5;8;4;17 = 4.3
Spicey, chocolate, nutmeg nose. Chocolate Brown body, brussels lace. Bitter chocolate flavor. Bitter finish.
2000:
9;5;9;4;18 = 4.5
Malt, sour, allspice aroma but light. Medium frothy head on dark brown body. Chocolate taste with nutmeg and spice hints. Crisp.
2001:
8;5;8;3;16 = 4.0
My least favorite one. Sweet malt nose. Black with a big frothy head. Bitter chocolate taste, almost sour. Thin taste.
All in all looking forward to the next vintages.
madsberg (5056), Søborg, Denmark
| 4.3 | Aroma | Appearance | Flavor | Palate | Overall | | 9/10 | 5/5 | 8/10 | 4/5 | 17/20 |
Dec 4, 2002 Updated: Oct 29, 2003Bottled, 2001-vintage: Dark, dark red colour and a huge chocolatelike head. Phenomenal aroma. Complex as hell. Port, roastyness and sweet caramel. Flavour is not as complex as the aroma. Very smooth. Roasty with a touch of caramel. This is a very good beer.
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