Our Special Ale 2010 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company

Our Special Ale 2010 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 2010 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
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From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 13.08%
Reviews:
355
Ratings:
512
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 28, 2019
Added:
Oct 31, 2010
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  65
No description / notes.
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Ratings by chinchill:
Photo of 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
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, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.92 by TrojanRB from Texas

May 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by smithj4 from New York

Feb 06, 2018
 
Rated: 3.5 by Mantooth from North Carolina

Nov 13, 2017
Photo of DefenCorps
Reviewed by DefenCorps from Oregon

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, 2016
 
Rated: 3.75 by Cuervo_PCB from Florida

Aug 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.9 by Beginner2 from Illinois

May 14, 2016
 
Rated: 4 by BEER88 from North Carolina

Feb 29, 2016
Photo of scottfrie
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
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, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by TravisMason from Indiana

Aug 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.04 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Jun 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3.12 by nathanmiller from New York

Jan 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by MA08 from Massachusetts

Dec 26, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by kjyost from Canada (MB)

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 2.4 by bcrail from New Jersey

Dec 08, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by mojohawk21 from Missouri

Nov 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4.2 by shoegueuze from California

Sep 17, 2014
 
Rated: 3.8 by Nbdreher

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by malfunxion from New York

Aug 19, 2014
Our Special Ale 2010 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 512 ratings