Anchor Our Special Ale (2002)

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

Dark reddish brown, with a thin biege head. Nose is spicy with hints of nutmeg and wood. The flavor is complex with many different spices like nutmeg, cardamom, and perhaps cinnamon. The finish is dry and lemony. This is a very good beer to join friends around the fireplace at Christmas.

I couldn't decide what to buy at the half-lame liquor store that is on my way home, I've had everything there, so for some reason I bought a sixer of this. They say that it is different every year, but it seems about the same as I remember. Someone said that it tasted Christmas-y, well that about sums it up. Overall it's not bad, but I would rather have had a sixer of Anchor Porter (they had none), it would have been cheaper too.

This beer poured a almost black ruby color and formed an amazing Guiness style cascading dark tan head and formed circular lace. The aroma was of malt and spices, possibly nutmeg. The flavor was of malt, spices and burnt chocolate. There was a touch of sourness in the finish that I think subtracted from the beer and hurt it's flavor. Fairly light for this style. I wanted to like it, but I just wasn't as impressed with this Anchor offering.

- deep dark brown color with a reddish hue, short white head, very nice rich aroma, cinnamon and nutmeg, pumpkin, a bit of candy sweetness, a hint of roasted malt and chocolate; roasted malt flavor stands out as the strongest flavor quality, spicy – cinnamon and pumpkin, hints of nutmeg, a touch of chocolate - but also a nice dryness like a dry stout, slightly bitter with a fruity lemony finish, nicely textured and smooth

Deep brown color, lasting head. I think nutmeg is the most prominent scent, but could be others. Tastes... Christmasy, if that helps. It has the general taste of a Christmas spiced drink. A little bitter as well.

Nutmeg and spice odors from the dark brown brew and a tan head to boot. Light nutmeg and slight citrus flavors. Bitter finish not unlike an iced coffee. Not thrilling but is just a once a year thing anyway.

Very dark brown body with red tinting topped by a medium thick creamy head with lots of lace. Slightly sweet yet citrusy sour aroma with spicey (nutmeg, cinnamon) notes. Actually reminds me of Christmas. Sweet and spicy malt flavor with a slightly citrusy character. The finish is slightly smokey. The flavor and nose are very similar. It tastes just like it smells, however, the flavor is slightly different, unfortunately in a negative way. It reminds me of christmas pot pouri of all things. Full bodied and relatively smooth with a slight warming sensation.

Alright, this beer seems to do fairly well in the ratings, but I'm not so sure about it. The nose is...soapy? That's right, it smells a little like some fancy soap. Perhaps that's the odd combo of ginger, vanilla, anise, and nutmeg? Anyway, the flavor is, for an Xmas beer, a little less spiced than expected. Compared to the Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, this one really lacks some boldness. An odd beer...