Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

Brewed by Anchor Brewing Company
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
San Francisco, California USA

Pours a dark reddish brown with a thick, tan head. Aroma of spice : clove, cinnamon, pines. Flavor is tart and spicey with some berry notes, and finish like chewing on a cinnamon stick. This still tastes like a christmas tree in a bottle, though maybe a bit muted from what I remember from last years. I’m going to drink a couple, save a couple, and give thedude one.

bottle. has a thick roasted maple aroma. pours a dark brown with a very thick dark tan head. has a very nice smoky flavor. maybe a hint of eggnog??

bottle, dark brown pour with thick khaki foam, nose is spicy with a flavor of malt, nuts and more spice, tasty

Bottle (2008) from Kegs and Barrels in McKinney, TX. Pours a deep brown, red hues, and a beige head. Aroma is somewhat odd, can’t put my finger on it, spicey, also has a presence of berries and possible lemon. Flavor was pretty different as well, some dark malt, berries, faint astringent, piny, root flavor, some bitter. Medium body with high carbonation. Overall, not bad, a little strange, but pretty decent.

2007. Very strong and complex spicy nose, fresh of some herb I can’t figure out, perhaps cardamom as Ungstrup suggests, some chocolate, rhubarb, piney. Too bad has so thin a palate. Dry finish.

[2006 Bottle - almost 2 years old] Pours a dark thick murky reddish brown with a small thick creamy beige head. Smells like christmas spice cake & eggnog, cinnamon, raisins, tons of nutmeg and a touch of oxidation. Rich flavor, dry nutty caramel malts, touch of coffee, hint of dark molasses, the spices blend seamlessly with the malt and are surprisingly not overpowering. This is a beer to be reckoned with; pecan-pie in a bottle. I love the nutmeg. Faint hint of oxidized hops that give it a brandy like richness, decadent. Medium/full body, lightly chalky/creamy with very smooth fine fluffy carbonation, great mouthful. This is one of the better beers I’ve had in a while.

2006 edition in a 12 oz bottle courtesy of Mr. Lemur. Dark red pour with a big off white head that fades slowly. Big aroma of spices and fruit and flavor of much the same with some sticky essence of molasses in the back end. Finishes bone dry with a pleasant burn.

Pours a clear deep amber brown with a creamy tan head. Aroma is moderately sweet, nutmeg, juniper berries, chocolate and dark fruit. Flavor is nutmeg, cherry, grape, juniper and molasses. Medium bodied, stickyish texture. Very dry finish. This one just has too many contrasting flavors to be enjoyable.