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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
10613.56/5.03.56/5.0Winter5.5%94.7Lager 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?  
 The Etruscan (306), Tuscany, Italy
3.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/58/104/515/20

Sep 7, 2009  
Vintage 2007. Dark brown colour. Thin creamy weak light brown head. Aroma is malty with fruity (raisins), spicy (coriander) and caramel notes. Flavor is malty too with fruity (dates, ripe prunes) and light licorice notes, ending in an initially fruity, then roasty finish. Light to medium bodied.

joshuahfl (11), California, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/104/57/102/514/20
Dec 5, 2009  
Pours a deep reddish brown with a one finger tan head. Aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, hints of pine, kind of earthy. Flavors are also earthy with pine, spices, roasted malt, maybe a little coffee. Kind of a thin mouthfeel.


 tarheels86 (755), Washington DC, USA
2.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/55/103/511/20
Dec 5, 2009  
12oz. Pours a cloudy deep red with a one finger dark tan head that has little retention and lacing. Aroma is spice, toffee, apple cider, nutmeg, cinnamon. Taste is spicy, watery, spruce, huge medicinal feel. Lots of cough syrup, Sudafed, Nyquil. Pretty light bodied but syrupy mouthfeel. Sort of gross. I’m surprised that a brewery with as much to live up to as Anchor would actually produce something this bad every year.


 Bierkrug (295), Idar-Oberstein (temp in DC), Germany
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
7/103/56/103/512/20
Dec 5, 2009  
On tap in USA. Dark brown color. Initially large fluffy brown head. Fades fast. Malty molasses and spices. Dry sugar and spice flavor, some coffee. Not a bad beer at all.


 JoeTheYounger (258), California, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/105/57/104/515/20
Dec 5, 2009  
2009 vintage on draft at Father’s Office. Poured dark black with nice thick foamy brown head (very beautiful). Aroma and taste were pretty much the same with cinnamon, nutmeg, and woodiness. Medium carbonation. Overall good, but one is enough for me with this.


 Maddog (243), Kettering, Ohio, USA
3.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/103/57/103/515/20
Dec 5, 2009  
2009 bottle. Not usually a big fan of Christmas beers, but this one is pretty good. The pour is dark amber with aromas of spice. The flavor is caramel malts with spices of nutmeg, clove and cinammon. A tasty Christmas beer that is not overly spicy which is often the problem of beers of this style.


 italianjohn (360), Bensalem, Pennsylvania, USA
3.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/104/57/103/514/20
Dec 4, 2009  
Dark brown pour with a ruby hue ... off white light tan head creamy .... striping type of lacing ... very light malt aroma .... sweet caramel malt, chocolate, like a bubblegum taste little earthy can taste subtle hints of spices and herbs .... very sessionable and medium body


 dogfish120love (263), west hartford, Connecticut, USA
3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
5/103/56/102/514/20
Dec 3, 2009  
Appearance is very dark and reddish brown. I feel like this has been exposed to some extreme conditions it tastes miserable.


jport4087 (89), Pennsylvania, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/514/20
Dec 3, 2009  
Dark brown color with a small tan head. Sweet, spiced aroma of nutmeg, molasses and spices. Flavor of sweet malts, brown sugar, and nutmeg.



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