Our Special Ale 2007 (Anchor Christmas Ale) - Anchor Brewing Company

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark like cola, and has a cola-licorice scent. Excellent roast-like dryness, with a bit of licorice. Tasty and drinkable. Good ABV for a drinkable winter warmer. Balanced, certainly not sweet, only a drop of cinammon in this one. Medium mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

08-11-2008 02:13:19 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Coffee bean brown that becomes black cherry when backlit with the rising sun. The sandstone colored crown fills almost half the glass after a somewhat spirited pour. It's fluffy, creamy and sticky, which leads to quite an array of finely tattered lace. A splendid look.

The nose fails to distinguish itself... both from past versions of OSA (from what I remember) and from other winter warmers. As the beer warms, more spruce comes through, but it's too little, too late.

For whatever reason, this thirty-third iteration of Our Special Ale tastes less aggressive, more muted than usual. It can't be age because I've reviewed a few vintage versions as much as 7 years past the bottling date. They suffered a little in terms of mouthfeel, but appeared not to have taken a flavor hit.

Although the beer is still pretty good, Anchor could have left the 'Special' out of the name this year. As always, O*A (only kidding) tastes like a brown ale-porter hybrid with a pine needle and juniper berry infusion. If you're not keen on the added 'spices', this was the year to have loaded up. Warming helps enough that I feel pretty good about bumping the drinkabilty score.

The body/mouthfeel seems *slightly* more full (still no more than medium), but that's probably because drinking these at one year is much sooner than I have in the past. The carbonation is just... about... right.

It's hard to say whether Our Special Ale 2007 is more laid back than usual or if my palate just perceived it that way on this particular day. In the end, my feelings about this annual release are unchanged. Good for a single and a review, but that's where it ends.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2008 14:06:07 | More by BuckeyeNation

mikesgroove

South Carolina

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz Bottle poured served at cellar temperature into a Pint Glass

A – Poured a very hazy and cloudy deep brownish amber. The color was almost a nice caramel brown but still had a touch of a golden amber quality to it. A very nice three finger high head of off white foamy and sticky lace formed on the top and sloshed around for a good few minutes before it reluctantly faded down and left behind just a thin film across the top. This was a hardy little film though that just would not go away. Tons and tons of gooey side glass lace then ensued and coated up the glass like crazy leading to a very full appearance and really a nice welcome site.

S – The aroma was very highly spiced, one of the spiciest aromas I have come across in some time. The aroma just absolutely reeked of nutmeg and cinnamon, and to be honest almost overwhelmingly so for the first few whiffs. As it warmed it started to subtly mellow and out and a somewhat piney like blend started to push itself forward. Overall a very different and highly noticeable aroma for a winter ale. I really thought that this was about to become a very big session,

T – The flavor was following the aroma right down the pike. A full on walloping of cinnamon, nutmeg, all spice, pumpkin, everything but the kitchen sink from the first sip. Almost sat me back a bit as I had not tasted anything like this one in a while. There was a very nice overall feeling with it though that is hard to describe but was very nice indeed. As it warmed up and mellowed out some it started to exhibit some other notes most notably piney like hops that started to come out as well as a nice balancing caramel sweetness. This was an excellent development and really started to push through a nice amount of the flavor onto the front while allowing for the dry hoppy finish to assert itself toward the end. A very well balanced brew for starting out as up front as it did.

M – A very nice medium bodied smooth creamy ale. That would be the best way to describe it. Very nice depth and profile to the flavor and the carbonation never really let up or quit on you, really letting you have a nice overall experience with it. The flavors rolled across your tongue with the smoothness of a fine porter and the adequate carbonation really allowed it to pop at the end.

D – This was an n excellent mix between a sessionable and a sipper. The profile and huge tastes here would lend themselves much more to something that should be savored and enjoyed over the long haul to really let all the subtle nuances settled in. However, the really nice carbonation and the low ABV really allow this one to be put down at the rate of a couple at a time.

Overall I have to say I was a bit surprised. I had actually never had an OSA before this evening and was shocked really that I had not. It is such a different style ale to what I was expecting that it kind of set me back but in a good way. I grabbed some more to put down to compare next year, but this was really fine now. I will defiantly put this in the rotation of what to pick up every year around this time. A really nice brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2008 11:23:48 | More by mikesgroove

Thorpe429

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Opened around Christmas 2009. Reviewed from notes.

Pours a reddish brown. Slight head. Nose brings forward some chocolate, anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a touch of pine/spruce. Taste brings forward some more of the pine notes with a bit of bitterness. The spices play a nice role here. Medium mouthfeel with good carbonation and some nice zest from the spices. Drinking quite well, and was my favorite of our mini vertical.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2010 11:55:02 | More by Thorpe429

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

...same as it ever was... All sarcasm aside, the beer is a fine Winter Warmer, although the fresh spices on these fresh beers come across highly agressive and bite-ey. The base beer seems to be a solid Brown Ale base -- showing some rich maltiness, dough, chocolate, mild-roast flavors. There are some Amber-ale toastiness, caramels, esters. Throw in the hopping rates of a solid Pale Ale, giving bold pine, resin, citrus flavors and bittering. Lastly, a hit of allspice, nutmeg, cinamon, and a moderate anise / dark-fruit estery spice rounds out the plethera of flavors. These beers are complex, rich, and enjoyable fresh, but meld together much better, given a year or two.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2007 14:00:51 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap last night at the Pizza Plant,poured from the tap a dep dark chesnut brown with tight formed 1/2 finger tannish colored head.Pleasant aromas and not as spiced as is years past in my opinion some noticable nutmeg and ginger spice but there was a nice earthy element to the nose along with a whiff of leafy hop.Again the winter spice mixture is lighter but noticeable with some nutmeg and orange cardamom(spelling?) notes with a racey ginger flavor hitting a little harder in the middle,slightly roasted with a drying earthiness in the finish.Anchor did well again with their annual holiday season brew,well done.

Serving type: on-tap

11-20-2007 21:05:46 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

The Ninth Day of Beermas... It pours a murky black-brown topped by a finger of light ecru foam. The nose comprises raisins, figs, brown sugar, nutmeg, red apples, red grapes, cinnamon, and rye bread. A slight pall of musk hangs over the proceedings. The taste leans heavily on the fruits, mainly the apple, grape, and fig, while the spices malinger about shabbily. It doesn't seems to work as well as we'd all hoped. The body is a nice medium, with a light carbonation and a slightly grainy feel. Overall, not bad this year, but still not quite to where it ought to be, methinks.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 01:19:19 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.45/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

For the first time since I've been "into"beer, somehow, I actually skipped Anchor Our Special Ale last year...no..way!!! I love this stuff, but I let a winter go by, without tasting it! So, for some kind of penance, I grabbed this years quick as I could (and maybe I'll hunt blue Max for last years....)...and here we go.

I'm pouring this into a dimpled Summit Winter Ale mug, for old times sake, thinking of when I bought it at the old brewery, and when it was my tip jar at the Guthrie, and when that was my favorite winter brew....ah, memories...I'm getting all nostalgic up in here...

Dark mahogany brown color...huge head, toasted tan...
Arousing, and loud aromatics, full of spice...and I haven't gotten anywhere near it...soft, warm, earthy, roasty, redolent with cinnamon and maple and who knows what else...sweet, and gorgeous...I love it...love...it...

Tasting it:...floods the mouth with warmth and deliciousness, cinnamon seems the largest element in the spice component here, but there's more, some other spice that cuts the heat a touch, but I can't identify it...a better tongue than mine, can, perhaps, but ...I delivers a warm, lovely, utterly beautiful flavor I can't otherwise describe...lile cinnamon toast bread dipped in a Tom & Jerry
mix...I like it, though...I really,really like it.

Full-bodied, full-flavored, and long on the tongue and in the memory. Not dazzling or deep, but just this side of delicious.
You can drink, this, and it will please you, it will warm you and you will enjoy being alive. That makes me say "hooray!"

These guys know how to do it! Keep it coming, Anchor, and I'll keep 'em drinking!

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2007 10:49:17 | More by feloniousmonk

WesWes

New York

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a deep, dark brown/black color with a thick frothy tan head that slowly fades to lacing. The aroma is good. It has a solid brown ale scent, roasted and crystal malts, along with a nice array of spices, cinnamin, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. The taste is good. It has a smooth malty flavor that goes down easy and finishes creamy with a blast of spices. The spices are a bit aggressive, but in a good way. The mouthfeel is fine. It is a full bodied beer with adequate carbonation. This is a beer that I look forward to trying every year, much like the Vertical Epic series from Stone. It's smooth and tastey; a fine winter ale.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2007 01:18:58 | More by WesWes

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark brown color with a large tan head. The aroma is full of caramel and chocolate, with some spices thrown in. I also get a little dose of raisins and licorice in the aroma. The flavor is similar. There is a lot of toffee malt and Christmas spices, but the spices seemed to have faded in the five years since the beer was brewed. I also get a little bit of coffee. Thin to medium, slightly watery mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 21:27:29 | More by Mora2000

zeff80

Missouri

3.73/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A - Poured out a nice mahogany color with a bubbly, tan, two-finger head. A couple nice rings of lace.

S - It smelled of spices, including cinamon and nutmeg. There was also a nice malty nose.

T - It tasted of cinamon, nutmeg, and some vanilla. It had some nice maltiness.

M - It was crisp and sharp. A medium-bodied beer.

D - It like this year's version better than the '06. It just seemed blended better.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2007 03:13:19 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.85/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep brown color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma is of vanilla, spices, caramelized malts and some dark fruit, but it’s a little toned down compared to previous releases of this beer.

T: The taste is smoky and malty, with flavors of vanilla, caramel, some spices and a little bit of dark fruit. It seems smokier and less sweet than the other two versions I’ve had. The hops presence is mild but strong enough to provide a decent balance. The after-taste is slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and crisp, medium-to-heavy body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, decent kick, good representation of style, it’s a beer worth drinking a few of, but I think I’ll put a couple away to see if they age as well as the 2005 release that I drank just before this one.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2007 04:08:57 | More by TheManiacalOne

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

2007, This was above average I really enjoyed the flavor of this dark ale. The taste actually reminded me of something from around the holidays. It had a sweet taste with a spice that danced on my tounge. I would love to drink this one at christmas time with family and friends. The color is a deep ruby red that looks very appealing. This brew is really nice.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 01:00:17 | More by Knapp85

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.75/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Had this at old chicago had to squeeze my glass for 5 minutes to warm it up!

Poured a black cherry-tinged chestnut with 2+ fingers of brown head. Great lacing & head retention

S: Juniper, pine, sarsaparillas & cake

T: Medicinal/jagermeister type notes up front. Herbal & piney hops break through as this warms along with brown sugar, cinnamon & dryness. Finished slight dryness, spruce & gingerbread notes, with some great pine & herbal hop kick

MF: Medium bodied, slick & oily with slight over carbonation

Drank pretty easy, this year's vintage is great. I couldn't session on this all night, but I will pick up another 6-12 of these when I get a chance!

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2007 20:25:09 | More by russpowell

Halcyondays

California

4.15/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

12 oz. bottle, 2007 edition,

A: Pours a dark brown, with a thick white head, leaving a foamy layer at the apex of the liquid, little lacing though.

S: A complex smell of malt, spruce, cherry Life Savers, bubblegum, and nutmeg, very inviting and soothing.

T: Taste consists primatily of that sweet malt and spruce flavour, with spice (cinnamon and nutmeg), and molasses.

M: Mouthfeel is a little weak and watery, would like a little more heft, even though it is 5.5%, I won't fault them that much.

D: Another good tasty OSA is present here in the 2007. This is much more like the 2005 than the 2006, though both are great beers. This is good stuff, Anchor consistently puts out one of the best Winter Warmers on the market today.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2007 01:33:19 | More by Halcyondays

Gavage

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Appearance: pours a black color with a two finger velvety head. The head falls to some thick surfacew spots. Nice lacings paints the glass.

Smell: spruce branches, pine, roasted malt sweetness and a boatload of spices.

Taste: the roasted malt base is big here and is balanced with spruce, pine, licorice, clove, pepper, and some alcohol. There is a nice bitterness too.

Mouthfeel: medium-heavy in body. Crisp at the start, smoother towards the finish. Long aftertaste as the spruce and spices stick to the tongue for a while.

Drinkability: this is an enjoyable winter beer to sip slowly when in front of a raging fire. Despite the nice flavors, more than one may provide an overload of the tastebuds.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2007 01:31:50 | More by Gavage

jwc215

New Jersey

3.93/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours (nearly) pitch black with a one-finger tan head that descends to a lasting cover. Broken rings of lacing stick to the glass.

The smell is very spicy - spruce, cinnamon, licorice, nutmeg, etc. Smells like a Christmas potpourri.

The taste is the same spices with molasses and coffee. Bittering hops keep sweetness in check though it remains appropriately sweet and spicy.

It hits full-bodied with lingering spiciness.

A nice one to sip on (sipper because of complex spiciness more than abv) on Christmas night.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2007 14:29:24 | More by jwc215

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours almost opaque. Tan head. Very perfume like nose. Very full. Flavor is smooth with a nice earthy edge. Mild and beautifully bitter tones. Smooth feel on liquid and carbonation. Very nice drinker. Smooth, great character, and easy to drink. What more could you ask for?

Serving type: on-tap

01-01-2008 13:05:45 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured brown, dark brown with a dirty tan head. On the nose was mint, cloves and spice and it smelled great. It tasted of some chocolate, minty all the way through and minty on the way down. It lingers and thats a good thing. this bber was a treat to drink and one of my favorite Warmers for the year.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2008 21:03:08 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.47/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is the one beer I look forward to every year.

Clear, reddish brown color. Wonderful three-finger head that leaves ring lace after every sip.

I always smell spruce trees with this annual offering. This one has more of a pine resin presence than some of the previous versions. Phenomenal.

Dry and creamy; lots of spicy chocolate. This is a rich beer with a reasonably low carbonation. The aftertaste most closely resembles a heavier brown ale.

I love this beer. It is perhaps the best winter beer available, at least this year, 2007.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2007 23:56:42 | More by smcolw

rhoadsrage

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

(Served in a snifter)

A- This beer has a clear but dense brown body with strands of microbubbles streaming to the surface. There is a sticky light tan head that last for most of the beer and stays creamy.

S- The smell is pretty clean with a soft caramel note and a light pot caramel hint. When the beer is much warmer there are notes of creamy wheat and strong banana smells followed by a faint smoky hint to the caramel malt.

T- This beer has a dark roasted malt flavor that is smooth and has a soft bitterness to it. There is a light pot caramel flavor to the malt and a note of brown malt aswell. When the beer really warms there is a taste of banana that comes through and a tartness to the finish. The bitterness also lingers a bit more and it is from black malt more than from hops.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a slight slippery note and no real alcohol heat at all.

D- This beer has some nice roasted malt notes and some nice bitterness but there isn't much depth or a really fresh flavor in the malt.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2007 21:41:39 | More by rhoadsrage

Wasatch

Utah

4.35/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Been sitting on this one for a few months.

Pours a dark brown/black color, nice carbonation, nice one-finger plus creamy tannish head, lots of stick lacing to follow. The nose is malty, slightly licoricy, slight oak, spicy, toffee, and caramel. The taste is very nice, malty, slightly sweet, licoricy/oak, a good dose of toffe/caramel. Medium body, a complex, well-rounded brew. Very Drinkable, I like this one. It's been awhile since I've had a Christmas Ale from Anchor, but they are still tasty. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2008 00:07:05 | More by Wasatch

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.7/5  rDev -7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours with a three fingered, light brown head that goes slowly and leaves a good lace. Nearly black hints of mahogany color. Flavor is spicy all the way, hops stay in the background. Nose is winter spices. Light carbonation and medium bodied. $1.50 for a 12oz bottle from Capitol Convenience.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2008 01:18:50 | More by jdhilt

Jason

Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Damn, I think I forgot about the rest of last years which probably tucked away somewhere deep in my cellar. I’m better off because I still have some 96’, 99’, 02’ & 04’. Lots of mid-sized brown bubbles show an active carbonation and a healthy head. Very dark with brownish garnet hues when put up to the light. Smells of molasses cookies and fruit cake. Very smooth with a spicy character from start to finish. A hint of char and deep caramel malt sweetness in the middle. Quick breath of alcohol and hop bitterness meld with the spicing well. Finishes spicy and a tad dry, I've had it on tap a few times this year and it seems to have more body than the bottle.

Without a doubt a must have every year, it ages very well for the most part and is a great switch up beer during the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2007 02:58:42 | More by Jason

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.55/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

12oz bottle obtained via SS09 from vasdef42. Label is stamped "701" on back. Thanks for the opportunity.

Poured into a Harpoon tulip, formed a 1" mocha head above the cloudy burgundy brown brew. Dense head recedes slowly, with heavy coating lace. Aroma is sweetness, with spices and tannins. Taste starts with earthy maltiness, spices in the middle, and a lightly piney but totally earthy close. Mouthfeel is soft but a bit gassy, and drinkability is alright. Seems that this one has lost a bit with age, but then again, I'm not the world's biggest spiced beer fan either.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 02:09:56 | More by ppoitras