Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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

2008 version. pours a dark brown with about two fingers of tan, slowly dissipating head. Sweet raisin and sweet fruit odor. Lots of spice, I taste, cinnamon, pumpkin and clove. Interesting, I kind of dig it, its good for a nice cold.

2008 12 oz Bottle: This is the third year I’ve enjoyed this beer. I find it less defined by Christmas spices than a robust hoppiness this year than in previous years. It was superb last year on tap at the Berghoff in Chicago and I imagine this years would be, too. It’s thicker than Guiness, (Guiness is watery) and delivers a remarkably robust flavor. I find it reminds me of gingerbread cookies. Others I introduce it too find other flavors. Everyone agrees, however, that the combination of texture and flavor might well be disastrous in other beers, but in this case, are extraordinary.

Bottle (2008). Pours deep brown with a beige head. Malty sweet aroma with apple, nutmeg, and spices. The flavor is lightly sweet and toasty, with spices, fruit, chocolate, and a hint of burnt wood. Very good.

This beer looks pretty damn good. The beer is pretty much opaque. I like the look of this beer. It has a nice head. The head stays around for a moment . The beer looks very good. Actually, I rated this last Christmas but it seems the website wasn’t taking the rating. Anyways, the beer looks awesome. Very aromatic beer, as well. I don’t remember the beer being this good, but hey I am happy to be surprised in this fashion. The beer has some nice spices cinnamon, and nutmeg ring a few bells. I am mainly smelling cinnamon, which happens to be one of me favorite flavors, ay. Very sweet, and pungent smell. Me likes the sweet smell. Very nice creamy beer, but the flavors are not what I thought. The beer is creamy, but it also tastes watered down. I taste the spices. I wasn’t expecting this little let down. Bittering hop is barely noticeable considering I am drinking this beer at a slightly warmer temperature than usual. Leaves some thick lacing behind. Overall, I am happy with the look and smell. The beer has a seemingly creamy palate, but I think it finishes somewhat watery. The bittering hop is nice, but I wish the spices would dominate in the flavor more than the hops. I like this beer.

Pours Dark dark brown with a good sized foamy brown head. Has a nice medicinal, black liqorice and gingersnap taste. A touch of warming alchohol. Solid.

Bottle, 2008 edition. Pours dark brown/amber with a light brown head. Aroma is piney and ginger. Flavor is hoppy with pine notes, dark fruits.

Bottle: 2008 recipe Very dark Brown with a foamy, beige head. Touch of cinnamon and fruitcake. Brown spirits and very sweet mince pies. Almost watery but very warming. Smooth and sweet finish with something of burnt pastry. I really like this. It has flavou’s similar to those found in HopBack’s Pickled Santa but paired with this darker style of ale it works a charm.

12oz bottle. Real dark mahogany color, almost black, with a tan head. Smells a little like potpourri, just not so powerful. Some spicy, bitter flavor. Pretty good.