Our Special Ale 2008 (Anchor Christmas Ale) - Anchor Brewing Company

matjack85

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -15.8%

02-12-2013 01:24:45 | More by matjack85

RogerTheShrubber

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

05-18-2013 22:31:59 | More by RogerTheShrubber

bigred89

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

02-25-2013 02:17:00 | More by bigred89

TastyIsBeer

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -35.2%

02-24-2013 21:35:32 | More by TastyIsBeer

BrianCramer

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.6%

02-17-2013 22:49:17 | More by BrianCramer

Thunder

Georgia

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%

02-08-2013 23:38:57 | More by Thunder

Mantooth

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

01-21-2013 02:35:31 | More by Mantooth

cliff1066

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

01-11-2013 05:03:14 | More by cliff1066

westcoastbeerlvr

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%

01-10-2013 18:01:43 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

mbs11

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-13-2012 02:52:26 | More by mbs11

Mcallaghan04

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

12-08-2012 23:24:46 | More by Mcallaghan04

KAP1356

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

11-21-2012 12:33:19 | More by KAP1356

david131

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.6%

11-14-2012 04:22:34 | More by david131

ChanChan

California

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

09-13-2012 15:23:05 | More by ChanChan

hanlonrn

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

07-10-2012 12:22:07 | More by hanlonrn

OldTime

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

04-29-2012 02:47:54 | More by OldTime

Nate

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

03-27-2012 02:30:34 | More by Nate

AndrewMichael

Virginia

3/5  rDev -22.3%

01-27-2012 23:05:00 | More by AndrewMichael

csiewert

Oregon

3/5  rDev -22.3%

01-11-2012 18:48:18 | More by csiewert

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.6%

01-08-2012 21:53:02 | More by imperialking

Stoffel

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-31-2011 22:53:45 | More by Stoffel

scottfrie

California

3.58/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Magnum into snifter. Consumed on Christmas 2011.

A: Pours a very dark ruddy brown with a very thick dark tan head that faded into a long lasting fuzzy film.
S: Scents of clove, cardamom, raisins, ‘tree’, caramel and tangerines.
T: Follows the nose with the usual OSA flavors. I get a hint of chocolate as well. Not as much pine, spruce etc as some of the other years, although it’s not as caramely and sweet either.
M: Medium body, slick chewy mouthfeel with low but bubbly carbonation.
O: Not the best of the years that I’ve had. This beer is still pretty sweet too. A decent drink, no hurry to open it if you have it.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2011 04:06:09 | More by scottfrie

weisserj

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Consumed Christmas night (12/25/2011). 3 year vintage.

Pours dark brown, almost black, into Chimay chalice. 2 finger off-white (beige?) head that does not last too long but instead descends into a small halo of foam. Shocking how little aromas I am able to detect but I’m getting a tiny amount of pine and maybe a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg? Again, it’s very hard to tell and perhaps I’m a bit congested from allergies but it seems extremely mild even when I put a nostril right up to the bottle. Taste is milder than I was expecting after reading all about the Anchor Christmas beers through the years (this is the 34th edition). Malts are in the front and a bit of piney aftertaste in the back. Goes down extremely smooth with no bitter or biting aftertaste. The cinnamon is present but thankfully not overdone-just right. Not boozy-tasting in the slightest but this truly is a winter warmer and can get you feeling very nice after just a few sips. I drank the first half fresh out of the fridge and let the second half mellow a bit in the glass to see if I could get more smells or flavors to stick out. A bit more aroma emerges and now it kind of reminds me of Goose Island Bourbon County Stout.

Is this a go-to ale? Well, not really since it’s now 2011 and the 2008 vintage is probably almost all consumed by now. I like it quite a bit and would definitely pick up another bottle if the opportunity arose.

I had found and purchased two bottles and even though I really like it I’m sticking to my plans to gift the second one to a friend. After all, it is the season of giving!

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2011 01:58:01 | More by weisserj

korguy123

Ontario (Canada)

3.38/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

2008 vintage opened 12/17/2011

A- Super dark brown/black pour with three fingers of light tan head. Slowly the soapy mass deflates leaving a thin ring and bunches of lacing.

S- Nutmeg and ginger, cinnamon with a slight buttery presence. Black coffee and figs with slight rum soaked raisin.

T- Brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and raisins. Slight cardboard tastes.

M- Light to medium bodied, light carbonation, sticky on the lips.

O- Not bad. Definitely Christmas in a bottle.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2011 02:56:17 | More by korguy123

trojankeg

Texas

4/5  rDev +3.6%

12-17-2011 03:48:09 | More by trojankeg