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

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed on-tap at Cole's with Mike. A sipper, too extreme to be great drinkable. dark with red highlights and with a little head. A bit barleywinish, with chocolate,pinish, licorice, a little cherry and some sourness, though above average mouthfeel.

Serving type: on-tap

12-10-2008 04:16:29 | More by northyorksammy

BuckeyeNation

Iowa

3.53/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Wet pine cone brown with burnt orange accents. An enthusiastic pour generated half a pint glass full of golden sandstone colored foam that looks especially firm and creamy. Delicate rings of feathery lace wrap up the appearance on a good note.

It's impossible to remember the previous version when it comes time to review the next, but this 2008 seems more chocolate malty and less spruce-like than I remember. It could also stand to have more power, although there's still some foam between nose and beer.

This 34th iteration of Anchor Our Special Ale tastes more subtle than in years past. There isn't as much dark maltiness and the Christmas tree vibe is softer as well. I've had them aged much longer than 1+ years, so that can't be it.

The beer tastes like a decent (though far from special) American porter with a hint of hop bitterness and a few handfuls of spruce tips. Warming brings a bit more boldness, though not enough for the next highest taste score to be a consideration.

It's doubtful that any of the brewery's year-to-year changes include using less malt. It sure does taste and feel that way, however. The mouthfeel is on the thin side and the carbonation is right where it should be.

I'm pretty sure that the differences noted with Anchor Our Special Ale 2008 are due to the beer itself and not due to my palate. This series has never blown me away, but it's still well worth a look every winter. Gotta keep the tradition alive.

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 13:50:06 | More by BuckeyeNation

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.45/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

G: Poured into a pint glass.

A: Fairly dark with some reddish hints. Good head.

S: Plenty of spices, although maybe a little too much. Nutmeg, cinnamon, and plenty of other things to remind you of Christmas.

T: Just like the nose, but maybe a tad bit too much. I've never aged this one, but maybe I'd like it more with a couple years on it after the spices have died down just a bit.

M: The spices come through and feel better than they taste. A fairly full body.

D: Not one I would have multiples of, though a fairly-enjoyable brew for the holiday season. Looking forward to possibly aging a few of these, or possibly picking some older ones up from a local shop that's got a pretty good vertical going.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2009 22:50:51 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

2008 vintage which makes this approximately 2.5 years old at this time.

Pours a semi-clear crimson red color with a 2 inch light beige head that settles to a small cap. There is a complex lattice work of lacing on the glass on the drink down. The smell on this beer is very complex. Overall, it smells like an arts and crafts store around Christmas time. There is an earthy smell, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, allspice. Very much like mulling spices used to make apple cider. Absolutely fantastic. Unfortunately the taste is not as great as the smell. The same tastes as present as what I get from the aroma but in a watered down way. Almost as if a bag of mulling spices was left to steep in a generic ale. Carbonation levels are somewhat low which could be a factor due to the age of this beer. The mouthfeel is slightly flat and watery but it's not too far gone to be unenjoyable. Overall, this is a good beer still with perhaps slight signs of aging. I really liked the 2009 version of this beer and I know that each year the recipe changes. I bet the 2008 version fresh was pretty awesome. I have one more of these in my cellar so I am curious as to how further aging will affect this beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2011 03:11:37 | More by UCLABrewN84

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.85/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

After having several of the "Our Special Ales" over the past few years, the common thread seems to be the malt profile that lands the beer somewhere between a Brown Ale and a Strong Ale. The gravities seem consistent, the sweetness even, and the hops don't seem to vary much either.

What changes are the spices. This beer is as bold in the spice additions as any I've had thus far. The beer is chocked full of cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice. A hoppy citrus-orange flavor comes through brilliantly, although being a bit distracted by the spices. While the malt profile resides on one side, the spices are on the other, begging time to work it's magic on this one.

The beer has a bite- partly because of the spice bitterness, partly because of hops, but also from an alcoholic and carbonic sharpness.

Always an enjoyable beer, but I'm looking forward to trying the '08 for Christmas '09.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2008 03:20:55 | More by BEERchitect

oberon

North Carolina

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I always look forward to this annual brew,I waited til CHRISTmas eve to get it this year.Poured into a nonic a deep cola color with some reddish tint,a thick,frothy light mocha colored head atop that never totally settles.Vanilla was the main component in the nose,with light clove and roast as well.Flavors start out with the vanilla and clove spice,with a hint of nutmeg then the big heavily roasted malt flavors hit into the finish with some drying earthy notes as well.Again another well made OSA,the roasty/earthy finish is big,bigger than other years,to me its a robust spiced American porter basically.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 18:14:12 | More by oberon

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served in a snifter at ChurchKey.

Having had a magnum of the '09 (a fuckin' magnum!), I was jazzed to see this on-tap as part of CK's Anchor-centric festivities. It pours an opaque, very dark black-brown with a finger or so of ecru foam. The smell is of pine needles, spruce tips, molasses, brown sugar, and even some mint. Apparently the guys over at Anchor ventured into the Canadian wilderness and bottled the essence of a camping experience there. The taste is very similar, though with less pine and the addition of some nuttiness, namely cashew and walnut. Odd, but not objectionable. It's got a medium body with pretty light carbonation. As winter warmers go, this guy is kinda weak, but is still fairly tasty, just slightly better than the '09. Worth a shot, but I'd never shell out for a magnum of the stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2010 06:27:14 | More by TMoney2591

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Tawny brown color, with crimson highlights, huge, rocky, cream & cocoa-toned head.

Lovely spice in the nose, nutmeg and cinnamon...cardamom? Ginger?
Not sure, but I like it.

Taste: bright and spicy, leads to grainy malt, then softly dries. Bit thin this time. I want the body more solid than this. But it's nice and warm and spicy, ...cookie dough, gingerbread...tasty, but needs, as I said, a fuller body.

Not loving this one as much as past years. Liking it, though.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2008 10:10:52 | More by feloniousmonk

drabmuh

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was fortunate to see this on draft at a local beer bar, not a lot of this left since the 2009 is crowding it out. Beer was served in a standard pint glass. Beer is dark brown to black, no haze at the corners where there is a reddish tinge to the beer. Brown tight head forms made up of small bubbles. Lacing is high and the carbonation is strong enough to prop the head up for the duration. Looks great.

I guess it was the dark color of the beer but I expected to get some roast in the nose and got a lot of malt sweetness. Interesting and surprising (perhaps my ignorance). Overall a pleasant albeit unexpected aroma.

Beer is smooth and has a sweetness to it. There is no roast character and the bitterness is subdued. The odd thing about this beer is that it seems slightly sour to me. Not overly so, just a kind of secondary flavor that pops up out of no where and lingers until the beer is cleared. Drinkability is high and I am enjoying this beer. I would order it again (if that were possible).

Serving type: on-tap

12-17-2009 21:19:00 | More by drabmuh

zeff80

Missouri

4.2/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a clear, copper/auburn color with a small, foamy, bubbly, off -white head. It left minimal lace.

S - It smelled of tons of spices. Nutmeg and cinnamon dominate and aroma that screams Christmas!

T - It tasted of a good deal of nutmeg with a hints of cinnamon. It had a smooth caramel maltiness.

M - It was crisp and sharp with a dry finish. A medium-bodied beer.

D - I really liked this year's version. It was like "drinking" Christmas.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2008 12:06:21 | More by zeff80

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.65/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

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

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

S: The aroma is very spicy, much more so than previous years, with mint, ginger, clove, vanilla, roasted malts and a faint touch of hops.

T: The taste is likewise quite spicy with strong flavors of clove, ginger and mint up front, which is the biggest difference from the prior three releases. There are also flavors of vanilla and caramel in the background, a hearty malt character and a mild hops presence. 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, I've had '05, '06 & '07 and didn't notice much difference among them, but the spicy flavors in this year's release are much stronger. Overall, it's a good beer to drink for a while if you're in the mood for the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2009 05:11:19 | More by TheManiacalOne

Halcyondays

California

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12 oz. bottle,

A: Pours a very dark brown with a full tan head, good retention, light lacing.

S: Strong nose of sweet cherry, sarsparilla, cinnamon, candied ginger.

T: Cinnamon hits right off the bat. The beer gets sweeter and the malt comes out as the spice leaves for a moment. Dark brown sugar and nutmeg come in for a second. The beer finishes herbal, with a light hop note, pine, wintergreen, mild spearmint, definitely has the taste of the season.

M: Solid, carbonation is light enough to really allow the full flavour to come out. Medium-bodied, oily finish with a spicy, long-lasting aftertaste.

D: Another good OSA. I have yet to be really wowed by these, the 2005 came close, but every year it is quite good, and the flavours they come up with at Anchor are unique to them, the mix of woody, herbal notes and spice put them in a league of their own. This'll be a series I get every fall/winter they continue to make it.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2008 21:25:05 | More by Halcyondays

emerge077

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Deep garnet color in the light, dark brown or reddish black when sitting in the tulip glass. Puffy crest of tan foam that rises above the rim slightly in a rounded peak. Generous lace rings around inside the glass. Swirling brings the fluffy foam right back again.

A very interesting nose, banana bread, nutmeg, spruce tips, and unidentified aromatic spice. Flavor has some earthy hop character, nutty malt, maybe a small bit of dried orange peel. Feels a little thin after awhile, but the bubbles carry it along. It's good and I enjoy it, but I can't help thinking that it's tasted better in the past.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2008 00:29:36 | More by emerge077

jwc215

New Jersey

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours dark brown with some dark ruby hues and a lasting tan head. Strands of lacing stick to the glass.

The smell is of the usual Christmas joy aroma of past years - perhaps a bit pinier. Cinnamon, (nutmeg?, ginger?) - tough to pinpoint exact spicings as they meld together to be of a winter potpourri with a dark malty background.

The taste is of chocolate/dark maltiness supporting the variety of winter spicing. Pine mixes in to add to the wintery delight and gives a nice balance. Semi-sweet with an earthy, drying finish.

It is full-bodied, but not syrupy or too thick.

A wonderful winter sipper that is spicy, but not overly so. Alcohol gives a tad of warmth but doesn't interfere in flavor or drinkability. The spices and piney notes interact well with the roasty dark maltiness. Another year - another winner!

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2008 23:27:22 | More by jwc215

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.1/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I've been drinking this every year since at least 2001, althought I haven't been able to review every version this brew sits as a classic in the Christmas seasonals repotoire. Pours a rustic deep mahogany brown forms a thick tan head forming a dimpled doughnut like appearance as it rises above the rim of my imperial pint glass. Chunky sporadic bands of lacing form on the sides after each sip, great looking brew from Anchor. Smells of fresh cut pine needles with a big earthy component accompanying some Christmas spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, etc. Mild roasted malt and chocolate notes transcend on my palate with a touch of citrus, possibly orange peel in the background, this stuff is decadent. Bitterness seems to arrive from light herbal hops and waves of those same spices noted in the aroma definitely nutmeg and cinnamon maybe even a touch of anise. Excellent tea like quality, mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with a soft but ample carbonation nothing bears down to heavily on my palate. Drinkability is great like a christmas tree in a bottle definitely smooth with spruce tips, spices, and warming alcohol. There's no abv listed but I suspect since it's not available in West Virginia that it must be higher than 6%, go seek some out and save some for the holidays. It will definitely pair well with festive foods from that time of year, and I've aged bottles in the past with excellent results so keep it longer if you can.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2008 19:13:07 | More by WVbeergeek

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a pretty dark brown that shows very little light. Slightly lighter tan head. Nose is slight maple syrup. Flavor is pretty thick. Noticeable tones from whatever tree they were using on this one. Mild bitter side on an overall earthy sweet edge. Feel is smooth on liquid. Carbonation actually nips a bit hard on the tongue, which knocks it down a notch. Overall a nice one, as is usual with this annual release.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2009 05:35:42 | More by RblWthACoz

barleywinefiend

Washington

3.63/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Spikes. Poured a deep, dep amber with a reddish tint. Nose was sicy. Cinnamons, cloves and nutmeg. Taste was medium bodied, with a zing of spice, nutmeg, cinnamon but not as thick as I expected. Mouthfeel was good. Drinkability is good with a nice and managble ABV. Worth a shot.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2008 05:48:31 | More by barleywinefiend

smcolw

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I look forward to this every year. My expectations have been tempered with the recent offerings--always good, not always special. I know its unfair to compare one year to another, especially at this level of quality.

This is a blow away head; five fingers minimum, recedes slowly in frothy and lumpy way. The liquid is deep brown where light shines through. Chunky lace on the glass.

Classic Christmas Ale aroma: lots of spruce. Mellow and attractive. I keep bringing it up to my nose.

Dark chocolate notes with a thick, creamy body. Light hop in the finish, but the aftertaste is mostly pine and cocoa.

Here's another beautiful Christmas ale from Anchor. Lovely.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2008 23:49:00 | More by smcolw

Wasatch

Utah

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | 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, another tasty brew from Anchor.

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2009 21:57:45 | More by Wasatch

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a snifter)

A- This beer pours a black body with a big sticky tan head that last in the form of a big cloud that glides around the glass. This beer is dense but has a few tiny bubbles sticking to the base of the glass that are visible.

S- This beer has a smell of peaches and very faint smoke that lead to some roasted qualities but they are all well blended together. There is a nice pine needle and caramel aroma to the finish.

T- This beer starts with a tart yet bright cranberry quality that gives way to a smooth black malt flavor with some roasted almost smoky hints. The finish has a nice dry spice flavor that is light and only gives way to a soft bitter hop hint after the sip is finished.

M- This beer has a medium mouthfeel with a creamy texture that turns a bit watery after the head is gone. There is no alcohol heat noted.

D- This beer is a bit bigger and darker than typical for OSA and I have to say it is one of my favorites in this series. It has some mysterious flavor that blend well together so you don't get just one loud flavor but lots of soft notes. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2009 22:37:48 | More by rhoadsrage

Billolick

New York

4.22/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A classic of the U.S. micro world and an old friend still doing quite well....Pours the expected darkest of dark amber, long lasting dark tan head, then gobs of splattered lace all over the glass. Spiced up nose, pine, nutmeg, spruce. Delicious, complex, winter sipper. More nutmeg, dark malty goodness, molasses, with a hint of dry dark chocolate. A welcome and comfortable part of the start of every winter season. This stuff likely will find its way into several thanksgiving dishes this year. (Just like last year) can remember

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2008 01:33:53 | More by Billolick

weeare138

Pennsylvania

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appears a deep dark chestnut with a dark tan head that fizzles into a mild cap and collar. Plenty of scattered lacing is left around the glass.
Smell is of mollasses, bourbon, orange blossom honey, curaçao, oak, cedar, cinnamon, and brown sugar.
Taste is of the mentioned aromas, with a touch of bitter chocolate, grand marnier, pine like hops, molasses, and juniper berries.
Mouthfeel is sticky, oily, ...kinda smoked salmon thing lingering on the tongue.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2009 05:07:57 | More by weeare138

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Always a beer I look forward to. The grandaddy of all X-mas beers (at least in this country). On tap at Max's the other day.

The beer pours the expected dark brown color with some red hilights. This is the way OSA has looked for a number of years now. However, this beer has very good head retention and lacing, and just looks attractive. As is always the case, the aromas in this beer are otherworldly, and IMHO, are it's best feature. There is just so much going on... clove, allspice, nutmeg, brown sugar, molasses, perhaps even a hint of ginger. There are also dark fruits in the nose, with the beer reminding me more of beery equivalent of a fruit cake. The flavors on the palate generally replicate the nose, except there is also some chocolate and vanilla, along with the fruit and spice. There's just enough hops to keep the beer from becoming heavy, but otherwise there is a creamy mouthfeel in this year's version that I don't recall from previous years. Some prior years have seemed just a bit thin on the palate, but I can't say that this year. According to the beer menu at Max's, this year's version is 7%, which I think gives it a fuller mouthfeel. Drinkabilty is pretty good, though with all the spice, there's no way you're going to pound down several of these at a sitting.

I would hesitate to call this the best OSA I've ever tried (I've had quite a few and who can remember them all at this point), but it's a damn good one. Well done Anchor. Season's greetings.

Serving type: on-tap

11-17-2008 19:27:11 | More by johnmichaelsen

glid02

Georgia

4.05/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Got this from a friend.

Pours a dark brown color with dark amber highlights. Head is one-finger of tan foam that recedes into a patchy layer of bubbles on top and a thick ring around the glass. Lacing is decent.

Smells mostly of spices, with hints of vanilla thrown in there. The vanilla picks up steam as the beer warms.

Tastes very good. Spice flavors, nutmeg, brown sugar and others, quickly give way to a spicy vanilla flavor, then nothing. A bitterness manages to sneak up on me and some faint molasses comes through at the end.

Mouthfeel is good, although it's a bit on the thin side.

Drinkability is good. I finished one off pretty fast and could go for another.

Overall this is a very good beer, it reminds me of a pumpkin ale with more robust malt. If this was just a little thicker it'd be very good, but as it stands now it's just good. Still worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2008 04:13:42 | More by glid02

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

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

Purchased at the UTOBEER stall in the Borough Market, London; BB 09/2010, served cool in a straight pint glass.

A: very dark brown in colour, coming with an ever-growing light tan frothy head fed by constant streams of lively carbonation (bottle-conditioned, this one?).
S: the aroma consists of strong notes of (lots of) fat black or brown prunes, broken black sugar blocs, toasted fruits, mixed spices (ginger candy, licorice and nutmeg for sure), milder hints of dark malts... a touch more sour than desirable, but I suspect it's what was meant to be? The overall balance falls on the dried stone-fruit & soothingly spicy side, not as assertively hoppy as the other vintages I've tried. However, as the froth ebbs away, the sweetness somehow overpowers the other elements and comes one-dimensionally dominating.
T: a light-bodied swallow of sour-sweet brown prunes (semi-smoked) and dark malts leads towards a clean palate of sour black prunes, mild spices, then finishing rather quietly and light-flavoured in the end, leaving but a touch of herbal bitterness. The spices do not lend a huge influence on the overall taste & balance, and the malts & hops taste somewhat much weaker than the previous vintages.
M&D: the mouthfeel is generally light, softly-carbonated, but not very smooth, due to the unbalanced flavour profile and light body, I think. Well, this vintage is tasted very close to its suggested expiry date, so maybe this fact might explain why it is not as good as its forbearers?

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2010 20:09:31 | More by wl0307