Anchor Our Special Ale (2005 and later)

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

Aroma is of sweet molasses and barley. It is a nice, rich dark color. Flavor is very coffee-like with hints of barley and molasses. Crisp on the palate and a bit of a bitter finish. Overall not too bad.

Picked up the 2007 version to taste and store a few. Had one this evening and it poured dark brown with a nice red tinge to it. The head of the beer was was tan with a slight velvet red cake red to it. The aroma is of spruce and pumpkin spice. The flavor is a bit on the heavy of the spruce but hints of cinnamon are present with a nice finish of pumpkin spices and a bit of a dry finish. Very good overall but will let the next few age a bit to see how well the flavors meld and mellow over time. 2009 version -(12/15/2009) Pours a dark brown with very deep ruby notes and a dense off-white head. Aroma is very spicy with licorice, raisin, gingerbread, grape, molasses and mild caramel. Flavor has a very strong gingerbread note, molasses, merlot flavor, some mild spruce notes and a mild cinnamon ending. A heavy density with a very smooth oily feeling and great lacing with a mild carbonation to retain the head. Overall a very complex brew that looks to age very well. 8/4/7/5/15

2007 - consumed 3/28/08. Dark garnet brown with a dark khaki head. Molasses, nutmeg and ginger spice scent. Full bodied and mid carbonation. Ginger snap cookie spice flavor and roasted malt tones. A little heavy and think in the finish. A little overpoweringly spiced. Cellar time should help that.

2006 bottle. Dark brown with a medium sized off-hite head. Strongly spiced aroma, strong clove, along with resin, allspice, cardemum, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. Dark dried fruit in the background. Flavour is sweet and spiced. Finishes dry thanks to resin and spice. I’d like to say that the beer is too spiced for my taste, but the mix of spices is so interesting I can’t stop taking another sip and discover more.

2007, bottled. dark ruby with tan head. overwhelming aromas of nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie. slight bit of anise, spruce, and black licorice. medium full body that tingles with a good dry hop to balance the complex flavors.

(2007)Aroma of molasses, prunes and slight licorice. pours a very dark brown with tan foamy head. Licorice again up front, gingerbread. Mid range body. Finish has slight alcohol and is fairly dry. Enjoyable

2006 Fir ’n’ spruce flavoured and aroma ale. Always somewhat different and interesting and carbonated. Pours yellow with off-white head. Full mouthfeel. 2007 dark fruit, nice roasted chestnut dryness, licorice..even better. 2008 on tap at Cole’s, bit sour and chocolately.

2005 tasting notes. Ruby red with a grey massive head. Sweet and spicy aroma with some orangy fruits and perfume. The flavours are spicy but balanced and it finishes a bit dry.