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Our Special Ale 2010 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company
- From:
- Anchor Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Winter Warmer
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 87
- Avg:
- 3.9 | pDev: 13.08%
- Reviews:
- 355
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 28, 2019
- Added:
- Oct 31, 2010
- Wants:
- 6
- Gots:
- 65
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by chinchill:
Reviewed by chinchill from South Carolina
4.2/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
4.2/5 rDev +7.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
12 oz bottle served in pint glass.
pours a very dark and somewhat hazy and nearly opaque mahogany with a decent cap creamy tan head. Head has good retention.
Enticing aroma of very appealing malts with slight amount of added spice (including, I believe, clove or allspice). Notes of burnt sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
While the aroma is only moderately strong, this beer has a rich and moderately strong flavor. The flavor is an excellent balance of malt, spices (cinnamon & nutmeg? .. and?) and hops, with malt flavor I enjoyed as much or more than nearly any beer I've ever had. I bet other brewers would love to see the secret ingredients list for this beer! A bit (too?) sweet.
M - smooth with excellent carbonation. The body, while certainly not thin, should be a bit fuller IMO. Some grain/powder in the finish.
O - Unique yet exceptionally enjoyable. Only one disappointing thing about this superb beer: it is a one time brew and I probably will be unable to find more of it now that Spring is here.
Mar 30, 2011pours a very dark and somewhat hazy and nearly opaque mahogany with a decent cap creamy tan head. Head has good retention.
Enticing aroma of very appealing malts with slight amount of added spice (including, I believe, clove or allspice). Notes of burnt sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
While the aroma is only moderately strong, this beer has a rich and moderately strong flavor. The flavor is an excellent balance of malt, spices (cinnamon & nutmeg? .. and?) and hops, with malt flavor I enjoyed as much or more than nearly any beer I've ever had. I bet other brewers would love to see the secret ingredients list for this beer! A bit (too?) sweet.
M - smooth with excellent carbonation. The body, while certainly not thin, should be a bit fuller IMO. Some grain/powder in the finish.
O - Unique yet exceptionally enjoyable. Only one disappointing thing about this superb beer: it is a one time brew and I probably will be unable to find more of it now that Spring is here.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon
3.82/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.82/5 rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Magnum shared with friends Thanksgiving 2016.
A very dark reddish brown, mildly hazy, with a dense, beige head with decent retention an lacing, this looks solid. The nose is quite excellent. Warming spices with a woodsy herbaceous angle, there's allspice, a little cinnamon, a hint of clove, some juniper and a little myrrh. The palate is surprisingly full-bodied for the ABV, with a mild caramel backbone on which the spices are carried. Having aged gracefully, the flavor notes are well-integrated, enhancing drinkability (i had nearly half of this magnum). Mildly sweet on the finish with lingering spices, this is very enjoyable.
Nov 27, 2016A very dark reddish brown, mildly hazy, with a dense, beige head with decent retention an lacing, this looks solid. The nose is quite excellent. Warming spices with a woodsy herbaceous angle, there's allspice, a little cinnamon, a hint of clove, some juniper and a little myrrh. The palate is surprisingly full-bodied for the ABV, with a mild caramel backbone on which the spices are carried. Having aged gracefully, the flavor notes are well-integrated, enhancing drinkability (i had nearly half of this magnum). Mildly sweet on the finish with lingering spices, this is very enjoyable.
Reviewed by scottfrie from California
3.18/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.18/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Magnum poured into snifter.
A: Pours a murky woody brown color with a thin cap of fuzzy tan head. Spotty lace was left down the glass.
S: Cola, vanilla, apple juice, cardboard oxidization, and raisin dominate. This smelling tired.
T: Follows the nose with faded flavors of root beer, spice, with hints of light caramel, apple juice, and raisin. Oxidation is lightly musty. Sassafras and wintergreen linger in the aftertaste.
M: Medium body, low carbonation, light and drying mouthfeel, slight sweetness.
O: I prefer this beer fresher as this was a little too mellow for my taste, but still very drinkable. Oxidation present, bitterness is low, and all hops have dropped out.
Feb 21, 2016A: Pours a murky woody brown color with a thin cap of fuzzy tan head. Spotty lace was left down the glass.
S: Cola, vanilla, apple juice, cardboard oxidization, and raisin dominate. This smelling tired.
T: Follows the nose with faded flavors of root beer, spice, with hints of light caramel, apple juice, and raisin. Oxidation is lightly musty. Sassafras and wintergreen linger in the aftertaste.
M: Medium body, low carbonation, light and drying mouthfeel, slight sweetness.
O: I prefer this beer fresher as this was a little too mellow for my taste, but still very drinkable. Oxidation present, bitterness is low, and all hops have dropped out.
Our Special Ale 2010 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
512 ratings
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