Anchor Our Special Ale (2001 and earlier)

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

Pours a thick, creamy tan head. After the head settles, a dark chocolate/coffee color manifests. Smells of nutmeg/alspice and more or less like Christmas. Has a slight roasted flavor as well.

Black opaque pour with a thin tan head. Aroma of roasted malts, raisins, dried fruit, allspice and gingerbread. Ginger,chocolate, and coffee flavors. More bitter than anything else. Not well balanced. Thin mouth feel.

Bottle: Dark red amber colour, with a white head. Aroma of spynes,malty and hopy nose. Flavor is spicy,corriander,peppery and lavendel. medium spicy finish.

Had this beer on 10/28/1998. Color is deep dark brown, carbonation is good and head is good. Aroma seem like a cross between a Porter and a Barley Wine with rich roasted malt scents. Taste is odd, some what woody or maybe you could say earthy. It starts with a medium body and goes down a little sharp. The finish is where it gets odd the malt taste is light as well the bitterness but there is an almost citrus taste in there I believe maybe orange. I think they may have also put in a good bit of coriander or some other spice. Intresting beer but a bit odd.

The beer is burgandy in color and pours with a big head. The aroma is like a spicecake. The flavor is like a bland spicecake.

I’ve had 3 or 4 versions of this in the past few years.they’re always good,ive noticed a clove taste,chocolate,and various spices,but one year (at least 3 years back ,lemme know)there was a distinctive pine taste that worked surprisingly well,truly separating it from the pack..along with left hand xxxmas ale..the only beers that have actually made me "taste" the holiday

22-year vertical thanks to mwsf and jesskidden as well as some from my own cellar.

2007 Consumed 11/13/07: Pours dark brown with a tan head. Smells of cookie dough, coffee, pepper, some nice cinnamon hints. Tastes of cherries, chocolate, earthy, some coffee, touches of spice. Mouthfeel is full with a nice earthy finish. One of their best in years.
App: 3/5 Sm: 8/10 Ta: 8/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 16/20

2006: Pours brown with a nice tan head. Smells of nuts, hints of cherries, some light peppery hints, hints of chocolate. Taste has a nice subtle tartness with chocolate and spices. Some peppery hints as the beer warms. Finish has hints of chocolate. Everything is well blended.
App: 4/5 Sm: 8/10 Ta: 8/10 Pa: 4/5 Ov: 16/20

2005: Pours brown with a red tint and tan head. Smells of nuts, spice, some chocolate. Tastes spicy with some chocolate and hints of pepper. Very malty and sweet with some brown sugar and molasses.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 7/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 14/20

2004: Pours brown with a tan head. Smells of chocolate, dough and spices. Tastes of chocolate with some coffee hints. My least favorite so far.
App: 3/5 Sm: 6/10 Ta: 6/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 12/20

2003: Pours dark brown with a reddish tint and some tan carbonation. Smells pf pronounced spice, cherries, some earthy hints, pepper, chocolate and hints of syrup. Tastes malty and well balanced with dark fruit and chocolate dominating. Mouthfeel is full bodied and slick. Finish is earthy and bitter with lasting chocolate and spices.
App: 3/5 Sm: 9/10 Ta: 9/10 Pa: 4/5 Ov: 18/20

2002: Pours dark brown with less of a head and more red tints. Smells of cherries, spice, some maple hints, some chocolate. Tastes slightly tart with chocolate, spice and coffee dominating. Mouthfeel is thinner than newer versions. Finish yields some diacetyl and tartness.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 7/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 14/20

2001: Pours dark with a soapy tan head. Smells of roasty malt, molasses, cinnamon, some chocolate, dough. Tastes lightly tart with lots of spice, chocolate, some peppery hints, some nice roasty qualities. Palate is thick and refined with a nicely balanced chocolaty finish. This version continues to impress me.
App: 3/5 Sm: 9/10 Ta: 9/10 Pa: 4/5 Ov: 18/20

2000: Pours dark brown with a small white head (to be expected of a 7 year old beer and pretty common for most of the older vintages). Smells of molasses, light bitter chocolate and some spice. Tastes of tart cherries, brown sugar, and hints of coffee. Syrupy mouthfeel with a spicy finish.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 7/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 14/20

1999: Pours muddy with a thin tan head and the bottle was the first of the older vintages to have some noticeable sediment (protein? bottle conditioning?) Smells of noticeable cherries, some chocolate, spice, hints of roast. Tastes of chocolate, some tart hints, lots of underlying bitterness, Mouthfeel is a little watery and this beer has definitely peaked already but is still drinkable.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 7/10 Pa: 2/5 Ov: 13/20

1998: Dark brown and muddy with a light tan head. Smells of some chocolate, raisins, hints of dough. Tastes lightly tart with some spicy elements and lots of cocoa. Palate is Thicker than the 1999 version. Some buttery diacetyl is present throughout.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 7/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 14/20

1997: Pours dark brown with some sparse tan bubbles. Smells of chocolate and some spice. Tastes of molasses, pepper, chocolate, some coffee, and hints of tartness. Mouthfeel is thick and enjoyable. Finish yields some dark fruit.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 7/10 Pa: 4/5 Ov: 14/20

1996: Pours dark brown with sparse tan bubbles. Smells of some spice and roasted malt. Tastes of chocolate and tart but otherwise faded. Only some residual bitterness remains.
App: 3/5 Sm: 6/10 Ta: 5/10 Pa: 2/5 Ov: 11/20

1995: Pours dark brown with a red tint and a thin tan head. Smells of cherries, dark fruit, brown sugar, some earthy hints. Tastes of dark chocolate, some tartness, hints of spice and earthiness. Surprisingly full-bodied considering its age. Finishes lightly peppery with some complimentary cinnamon. This one has held up very well and came as a surprise.
App: 3/5 Sm: 8/10 Ta: 9/10 Pa: 4/5 Ov: 17/20

1994: Pours dark brown with a soapy tan head. Smells of tart cherries, some chocolate, hints of pepper. Tastes of chocolate, spice, some roasty hints, and touches of dark fruit. Mouthfeel is full with a decent spicy finish.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 8/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 15/20

1993: Pours brown with a reddish tint and some sparse white carbonation. Smells of cherries, some chocolate, some cinnamon. Tastes of chocolate, spices, dark fruit and molasses. Finishes sweet.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 7/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 14/20

1992: Pours a muddy red with a tan head. Smells of pronounced cherries, some spice. Tastes of chocolate, pepper, some bitter hints, some cinnamon. Mouthfeel is full with a spicy finish.
App: 3/5 Sm: 8/10 Ta: 8/10 Pa: 4/5 Ov: 16/20

1991: Pours reddish brown with a thin white head. Smells of cherries, some chocolate, spice, pepper. Tastes of cocoa, cinnamon, cherries, and some caramel. Mouthfeel is full bodied. Finish is slightly bitter with some chocolate.
App: 3/5 Sm: 8/10 Ta: 8/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 16/20

1990: Pours brownish red with thin white bubbles. Smells of roses, chocolate, some earthy hints. Tastes of chocolate, some spice, and some dark fruit. Still very drinkable.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10 Ta: 6/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 13/20

1989: Pours brown with a thin white head. Smells of chocolate, coffee, raisins, some dough, cinnamon, hints of ginger. Tastes of chocolate with some dark bitter elements and lots of spice. Mouthfeel is full. Finish yields lots of spice and hints of bitterness.
App: 3/5 Sm: 9/10 Ta: 8/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 17/20

1988 Vintage consumed 7/2/09: Pours brown with a thin tan head. Smells of molasses, raisins, some tarte cherries, earthy. Tastes of chocolate, earthy, cinnamon, some tea lke notes on the finish. No detectable oxidation, but most remaining flavors and aromas have become muted. Some touches of sweet citrus peak through as the beer warms.
App: 3/5 Sm: 7/10Ta: 7/10 Ov: 14/20

1987 Vintage consumed 7/22/09: Pours brown with a thin tan head. Smells of raisins, chocolate, some fruity hints, earthy. Tastes of spice, pepper, some tarte hints, earthy, some chocolatey hints, a touch of bitterness, some tea like hints on the finish. This was much more robust than the 1988 bottle.
App: 3/5 Sm:7/10 Ta: 8/10 Pa: 3/5 Ov: 15/20

Final remarks: This seasonal is a real enigma. Coming in, I wasn’t expecting much of anything from the older vintages. What I found is quite the opposite. 2006, 2003, 2001, 1995, 1992, 1991 and 1989 were all standouts with 2001 still an outstanding beer even with 6 years of age. All of these are worth trying as, despite the low ABV, this series stands up to years of cellaring for the most part. I’ve tried many barley wines I cannot say the same for. Overall, this series impresses me.

2006 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year ale. A wonderful roasted malt and nutty aroma. Moderate head that’s equally diminishing but very frothy and clings well to the glass. Beautiful dark yet clear cranberry color. A little sweet, a little fruity but the pallet on this beer is full and creamy with quick finish that leaves you immediately ready for another drink. If you decide to try this years selection grab two or three, you wont be disappointed.