Our Special Ale 2009 (Anchor Christmas Ale) - Anchor Brewing Company

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BA SCORE
90
exceptional
-
388 Ratings

rAvg: 4.03
pDev: 10.42%
Reviews: 339
Hads: 49

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Brewed by:
Anchor Brewing Company

California, United States

Style | ABV
Winter Warmer | 5.50% ABV

Availability: Winter. bottle (316), on-tap (23).

Notes:
This beer is retired; no longer brewed.

No notes at this time.

View: Beers (15) | Events (0)

Reviews

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Reviews by SpdKilz:

SpdKilz

Illinois

4/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This has been in my cellar for I'd say a year now. Had one last year but never got around to reviewing it. Here goes!

Appearance - Pours a mahogany color with about two fingers of tan head that recedes at a moderate pace, leaving slight lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell - I remember this being "in your face" pine needles last year. With a year on it, it has seemed to have softened a bit. There is still an obvious and distinct aroma of pine needles, pine sap, dark fruits, brown sugar, and caramel.

Taste - Damn. With a year on this it is freaking great. I remember having this both in the bottle and on tap and it was a bit of an overload for me last year. With a year on it the spices and pine have mellowed a bit, and have allowed the caramel and dark fruits (i.e. read raisins and plums) to make a more strong appearance. Licorice, cinnamon, nutmeg, roasted malts, etc. are all present here. This really is Christmas in a bottle.

Mouthfeel - Medium bodied, decent carbonation.

Drinkability - As with many spiced Christmas beers, this is more of a "one and done" type of brew. I do freaking enjoy every drop of it, though having a few of these in a sitting may be a bit much. It is nice to switch it up between having a SN Celebration and then one of these, and then another Celebration Ale. Glad I kept a couple to age for a year and more pleasant than I remember from last year.

Serving type: bottle

11-22-2010 03:24:41 | More by SpdKilz

More User Reviews:

brheuer

New Jersey

3.5/5 rDev -13.2%

03-24-2013 21:14:21 | More by brheuer

Thunder

Georgia

3/5 rDev -25.6%

02-08-2013 23:45:07 | More by Thunder

Budinetz

Pennsylvania

4.25/5 rDev +5.5%

01-16-2013 20:04:35 | More by Budinetz

JonIrabagon

New York

3.75/5 rDev -6.9%

12-29-2012 05:11:39 | More by JonIrabagon

morebeergood

Massachusetts

4/5 rDev -0.7%

12-26-2012 21:31:16 | More by morebeergood

cliff1066

Virginia

4/5 rDev -0.7%

12-25-2012 07:25:26 | More by cliff1066

wesbray

Alberta (Canada)

3.5/5 rDev -13.2%

12-17-2012 10:38:50 | More by wesbray

mbs11

Massachusetts

4.25/5 rDev +5.5%

12-13-2012 02:52:20 | More by mbs11

Lare453

Florida

4.55/5 rDev +12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got this as an extra in a trade

a cola brown with a small, thin khaki head. No lacing

S amazing!! Big, vibrant dark fruits, plum, strawberry, black cherry, Cabernet grapes, tropical fruits, light spice, cinnamon, ginger

T a light and fruity beginning, the middle is plum, black cherry, the end is cinnamon spiced apple pie with raisins and ginger. The after taste is short, too short for such a delicious beer. The aftertaste flavor is a fading spice and ginger.

M lightest crisp, almost thin, light carbonation

O amazing. With three years of age on it, it is amazing. I ouwld highly recommend drinking this if you ever find one.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2012 03:37:41 | More by Lare453

KAP1356

Pennsylvania

4/5 rDev -0.7%

11-21-2012 12:31:54 | More by KAP1356

duceswild

Maryland

4/5 rDev -0.7%

08-29-2012 02:20:30 | More by duceswild

t0rin0

California

4/5 rDev -0.7%

08-18-2012 14:31:20 | More by t0rin0

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.48/5 rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from 4/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a dark brown with a medium head and medium body. Aroma of dark fruit, sweet and lightly toasted malt and Christmas spices. Flavor is sweet malt and spices up front, middle and finish malty with dark fruit and resinous pine hops, a bit sour. Quite different and tasty. A classic and wonderful Christmas ale.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 00:01:08 | More by LiquidAmber