Anchor Our Special Ale (2004)

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

12 oz. bottle. Pours a beautiful clear garnet hue with a tan head. Sweet fruity, spicy smell - strong cloves. Medium bodied with nice carbonation. Malty sweet taste with cloves, caramel, and bananas. A nice fresh Pac NW hop burp finishes off this stand out brew. One of the best Christmas beers out there.Nov 2004

Bottle of 2004 vintage, provided by Capflu (thanks for the trade!)

What a distinctive beer - where to begin? Pours a beautiful near-black amber with a lovely deep brown head wich great retention and lovely lacing. Aroma is unbelievable. Wow - reminds me of Pannepot. Rich and sweet, notes of graham cracker, toasted oatmeal cookie... sweet and pungent. Taste is very complex - fig, chocolate malt, slightly dry finish, definitely some bittering hops, light astringency. The fig really shines through, I find, and it’s a bit watery. Wonderful creamy but slightly thin body with good carbonation. What an interesting beer, I wish we could get it year-round. And what a great opportunity, to enjoy the 2004 vintage nearly 8 years later. Thanks again to Capflu!

2004 vintage came out of the cellar in the magnum sized bottle. Head was slightly off white, thick and foamy and lasted throughout the glass. The body was oily looking, nearly opaque deep dark brown and looked a lot more developed than the 2007 vintage. Aroma was yeast, holiday spice, malt and alcohol. Flavor had mellowed nicely with the holiday spice and biscuit flavors and had added a nice chocolate tone to it. Became heavy and oily on the tongue and warmed the cheeks. Really developed body, flavor, finish and aroma in the cellar for 3 years. Wish I had more of this to keep around.

2004 edition. Nice aroma but thin mouthfeel and bitter taste. Not as big as the inviting seasonal aroma would promise.

ah yes, the 2004. , in 2004 it was great (as always), 3 years later i had this one again and it was more than great. i was wondering if the cap seal would hold after this long. needless to say, it did. it had a beautiful head and all the spiciness to back it up. the best part was how the flavors came out more after being cellared for 3 years. yum yum.

Had this beer on 11/20/2004. Aroma is roasted and sweet. Color is a deep dark amber with a tight thin head. Taste bright and clean with a mild roasted flavor. Starting with light/medium body it goes down crisp and light. The finish comes on with a mild roasted flavor backed by a smooth bitterness that leaves you with a clean feel. I like this beer, its crisp, clean and easy drinking, but its not what a good winter brew should be. Overall its just not rich and bold enough for a winter brew. Looking back it seems this is the mildest they have made it and it also likes like 2002 was the best so far.

Keg (Gallows Bird, Espoo, Winter Ales 2004) Spicey aroma. Heavily roasted burnt taste - fruity like christmas pudding, heavy on raisins.

Had in 2006. Oage did not treat this well. Most of the flavors had oxidized and died out. Definitely spiced but again not too distinguishable.