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Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Percentile
91
overall

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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RatingsAverageScoreSeasonalABVStyle PctlServe in
10473.56/5.03.56/5.0Winter5.5%94.9Lager glass, Tumbler
Commercial Description:
This is our special ale from the brewers at Anchor. It is sold only from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons appears born anew. <br /><br /> Editor’s Note: due to the significant similarity in style and strength from year to year (despite potential differences in the exact spice blend), this beer is no longer separated by vintage.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
lowgun1212 (79), Montclair, New Jersey, USA
3.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/56/103/516/20
Nov 29, 2009  
2009 - dark brown with large tan head. malty caramel licorice head - nice. flavor is roasted malt, coffee, slight tang from spearmint & nutmeg. nice flavor but the body is a little light for it.


 Nisse666 (412), Göteborg, Sweden
3.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/104/514/20
Nov 28, 2009  
Bottle at Christmas test 2009-11-27 AR: wiskey, a bit flat AP: brownish body, fluffy head F: vanilla fudge, clove, a bit brewed coffe and ginger
Earlier Rating: 10/31/2009 Total Score: 2.8
Anchor Christmas Ale 2008, 2008-12-24 AP: dark x-mas must with must head AR: weak hops F: watery this year!, dry, juniper berries! Rating 2,8 Anchor Christmas Ale 2006, 2006-12-13 More x-mas flavours and swetness this year rating 3,5!


 TheHulk (122), Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/103/513/20
Nov 28, 2009  
2007 bottle, exp 1 - 1/2 months ago ... Smells just like the Brooklyn winter ale I had yesterday, nice and winter ale spicy but not too asaulting on the nose like I expect of winter ale. Very dark, you need a bright light behind it to see the red. Nice head on pour. The full malt flavour takes a moment or two to really set in the flavour and then the spices become more noticable. Quite mellow, I suspect due the to age of this bottle. A bit too easy on the smooth side of the palate, I had expected a bit more bubbles but again I suspect the age to be the culprit. I’d expect at least 0.3 more point for a proper bottle.


 joeneugs (320), Livermore, California, USA
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/56/103/513/20
Nov 27, 2009  
Pours dark amber/orange with an orangy head. Vegetal aroma with spices. Nutmeg, cinnamon, citrus, clove. Flavor is the same with a lot of cooked vegetable notes. Finishes dry and spicy. Solid beer, but i’d go for other seasonals.


bearbear (1), Los Gatos, California, USA
does not count click to see why this rating of Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later) does not count
2.7 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/56/102/58/20
Nov 25, 2009  
I am very disappointing in the holiday ale this year. The nose is similar but lighter than years passed. The beer is inappropriately light bodied and the taste beyond the spice notes is very bland.


 patrickfannon (324), Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/57/104/515/20
Nov 25, 2009  
Bottle. 12 oz. Split with James. Pours deep brown amber with a thick, quickly fading off-white head. Aroma of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, yeast, roasted malts, and hints of pine. Medium bodied with a nice, smooth, warm mouthfeel. Clean finish. Good seasonal brew.


 drjay44 (779), Salida, Colorado, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/105/513/20
Nov 25, 2009  
2009 vintage. Pours a light mocha head, with some lacing, over a clear, dark brown (SRM 35) body....nose is coffee, vanilla, nutmeg, light allspice, clove.....taste is caramel, coffee, vanilla early, evolving into mild clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger......mouth feel is thick and creamy, carbonation low. The spices are there, but done with a light hand, so that the malts and hops are not overwhelmed as in so many other of this genre.



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