Anchor Our Special Ale (2004)

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

dark brown colour, the initial foam quickly vanishes, aroma of ginger, licorice and pine trees, medium-bodied, a bit oily, a moderate sweetness is followed by a dry bitterness and long spicy notes in the finish - it’s Christmas ...

Dark red appearance with a lingering tan head. Taste is dominated by malts and a little spice flavor. Not too thick, but fairly easy to drink.

Aroma in this years seems to be much more caramel, and less spice, but neverless still very spicey, like nutmeg, cinnamon. Pour is a deep ruby when held to light, and dark brown when not. Tan head forms that is decently lasting. This is the first time I have had a fresh bottle of Our Special Ale, because the rest were vintages. This seems to be a little less flavorful, Caramel, nutmeg, slightly watery, but has a nice mouthfeel to it. I’m sure this will improve with age.

The beer decamps the 12-ounce stubby brown bottle a deep reddish amber color with a medium sized frothy light tan head that settles quite slowly, and the resultant lace a thin covering blanket. Nose is sweet with malt and a brisk crispness, hops are lightly aromatic, start is sweet and nicely malted, the top is medium in feel. Finish is striking in its acidity and the hops delectable in their spiciness, dry aftertaste lingers long on the palate, a nice drinking beer that I wait for each year, and I always buy a case, so I can do a taste test for several years to come.

A fist of holiday spirit flew out of the bottle and punched the taste buds off my tongue. I find myself nodding my head as I drink this one. Tasty and festive. Upon taking a really deep whiff I do get some clove and black pepper aroma coming about (that winegal mentioned). This pours a nice ruddy color and a little tan head that says "drink me!". Taste is full of spice and sensations of flying through space. This is quality stuff

Wow!...love the aromas! Smoky clove and black pepper. Nice forward flavors of malt, spices and dough (spice cake, anyone?) Orange flower water flavor is nice, but there isn’t much follow-through on the finish. I will try another bottle that is a bit colder. The one I’m basing my rating on is nearly room temp. Regardless, I can’t wait to taste this in a few years. I always love the older vintages.

Bottle: Beer #400 and first attempt at a real beer since my DR trip. Nice aroma of ginger and black licorice . Pours a dark red that’s somewhat transparent when held to the light. Nice tan head with fair retention. Pretty good lacing. Sweet up front with ginger, clove, pepper, smoke, and pine in the finish. Has a similar finish to the punkin ale by dogfish head, but not quite strong or as harsh. Smells great, but not impressed with the taste.

Ruddy brown. Nose lightly spiced, some caramel. Good maltiness, caramel and toffee, light zippy spice, some orange peel, pine as well. A nice mix between a malty winter warmer and a highly spiced winter ale.