Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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

Pours a slightly opaque dark brown color with a foamy head that had some lasting power. The nose has some honey, fruit, and spice, mainly ginger. There was also a roasty characteristic as well. The flavor is pretty complex. The apple fruity sweetness and roasted coffee and malts work well in combination. There is a touch of hops, but really just for some balance. Not an outstanding body, but all the other aspects of it are pretty good.

pours a dark brown color with a long lasting fluffy head. scent is of roast and fermented fruit. Taste is of coffee beans and roasted malts. There is also a hint of fruits in the aftertaste. Overall, this beer is kind of bland and I would probably not purchase this again.

Bottle. I missed the boat on this one. Pours an amber brown. Flavor is spice, mild hops, sugar, roasty coffee and caramel. Something about this just turned me off.

Can 33 cl. Nice Christmas/Holidays beer here! Very spicy and "stoutie" smell on this one. The smell reminds me a bit of "Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter" actually. Taste of herbs/spices and roasted malts, very good!

2005 bottle, Pours a opaque black with discernible brown/red facets, slight head. Xmas spices noticeable in all stages, on the nose, palate, and finish. Nutmeg, cinnamon and molasses, accompany medium body and hop bitterness, though no flavor, in the finish.

Bouteille 12oz (2007), courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur brune-rouge foncée et claire. Nez épicé (cannelle, léger de clou de girofle et de poivre, notes de coriandre, de gingembre et de muscade), de malt légèrement rôti, léger de sucre brun et de café avec des notes de noix, de houblon herbeux et de fruits confits. Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture crémeuse. Léger-moyen goût fruité (cerises, traces d’agrumes sucrées) accompagné d’un léger goût épicé (léger de coriandre, traces de clou de girofle, de muscade et de cannelle) et de petites notes boisées et de réglisse noire lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût moyennement amer de malt rôti avec des notes de caramel et de chocolat noir (traces de sucre brun) puis progressivement un moyen goût de café vient se joindre au reste jusqu’en finale où l’on retrouve une amertume asséchante de houblon herbeux (herbes mouillée, feuille de thé des bois et de conifères) avec un léger goût épicé (poivre). Post-goût moyen et sec, moyennement amer de rôti, de houblon herbeux, léger de café et avec des petites notes boisées.

2007 A- Pours a deep mahogany color with a 1 finger mocha head which fades fairly quickly. S- Smells sweet and full of spice. Nutmeg, cinnamon and possibly some pumpkiny tones are present. T- Taste is suprisingly mild, coffee, nutmeg as in the nose, slightly bitter hop element. M- Creamy smooth with a good amount of carbonation. D- This is extremely drinkable. I think once its had a chance to lose that little hop edge after a year or two it will be an excellent session beer for christmas.

2007 bottling. Clear mahogany with a fleeting khaki head. This years spices seem to be a sharp ginger, with clove and maybe some coriander with a hint of smoked wood. Smooth medium body as always. Taste is a light roastiness then caramel in the middle, with the mildly strong spices hovering around the edges of the palate. Has a nicely bitter finish. Another nice one. Enjoyed on 4.21.2008