This is the thirty-second Our Special Ale from the brewers at Anchor. It is sold only from early November to mid-January. The Ale's recipe is different every year, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew.
Beer Ratings and Reviews:
[1] Review by DC11 from Southern, MN, USA who has tried this beer a couple times. (4/6/2007 8:57:16 PM)
"I held on to a bottle of this since Christmas, and now I thought I'd try it again for this review. The body is a deep brown color, with garnet-like hues around the edges. Respectable tan head that diminished to a relatively thin blanket. OK lacing. The aroma is very inviting, and it actually reminds me of a warm, spiced rum. Allspice, cardamom, nutmeg and clove come to mind, but really it's just an overall rum and gingerbread smell. And the flavor mirrors the aromas quite nicely, but add to that some instant coffee-like bitter notes. All in all, I'm really happy with this offering, and I'm definitely looking forward to what Anchor comes up next year. "
Aroma:
9/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(4)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $1.8 Unit Cost: $2.4 per Pint
[2] Review by Phil B from Gatineau, Canada who has tried this beer once. (2/22/2007 2:02:23 PM)
"Bottle courtesy of Boboski: Poured a deep brown color ale with a ice off-white foamy head with great retention and lacing. Aroma of roasted caramel malt with strange spice mix. Taste is mix between some roasted caramel malt bordering on chocolate with some strange spices which make this beer feel really different. Body is quite full with some medium carbonation. I’m thinking that this beer would probably benefit from some additional alcohol but it was very good nonetheless."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
10/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.9)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[3] Review by staleyiv from Newnan, GA, USA who has tried this beer many times. (1/27/2007 4:18:01 AM)
"Well, I just picked up a sixer of this brew my last beer run and I am looking forward to tasting the differences between this 2006 and the 2005. The aroma is very nice with the spices the first thing you experience and has profiles of nutmeg, cinnamon, maybe some orange spritz, and gingerbread men and is very interesting and nice. The appearance is very dark but a rich and glowing burgundy-red to maybe some brownish overtones when held to the light with a small head on top when poured that is light-brown in color and diminishes to a light lacing that coats the glass nicely. The mouthfeel is nice and rather light-bodied with some nice and spicy complexity as well as pretty decent balance with a palate that is very wet-like but crisp and dry to some extent. The flavor is nice with tons of spices like nutmeg, gingerbread, cinnamon, maybe licorice and maybe some very faint chocolate with an aftertaste that is nice and once again spicy with maybe a tad more licorice and maybe a tad more chocolate malt showcasing themselves with a finish that is bitter to some extent and crisp and dry. Overall, not a bad brew here but I believe the 05' was a bit better but this year's offering would be nice after a few months of cellaring and mellowing out a bit. I like this brew but with all the spice I could not drink many of these in a seating but one or two are very nice and perfect for the Holidays and a cold Winter day. "
Aroma:
8/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
8/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.7)
Sampled: Bottle, Forced Draught Sample Size: 16oz @ $5.25 Unit Cost: $5.25 per Pint
[4] Review by doulos31 from Middletown, DE, USA who has tried this beer once. (1/26/2007 5:36:17 AM)
"I'm trying to be fair. I hate these overly spiced ales. This one, if I look at it clinically, was probably good. Deep brown color with red highlights. Nice head and lacing. Lots of roasted malts, chocolate, and some spices...too many of them for me to even finish the bottle, but if this is your thing, I'll bet this beer would be loved. Rich thick mouthfeel. Not again for me, though."
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
7/10
Mouthfeel:
8/10
Flavor:
7/10
Overall:
7/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.6)
Sampled: Bottle
Value of this beer for its style: Not Sure
[5] Review by captainskoal from Mingo Jct, OH, USA who has tried this beer once. (1/21/2007 6:09:38 PM)
"Poured a dark brown color with a bit of a rubby color in it the flavor was very much of clover ginger and cinnimon same with the aroma the mouthfeel was coating and spicy a very good holiday beer probally one of the best that i have had "
Aroma:
7/10
Appearance:
8/10
Mouthfeel:
7/10
Flavor:
9/10
Overall:
8/10
Final Rating, by Style:
(3.9)
Sampled: Bottle Sample Size: 12oz @ $2 Unit Cost: $2.67 per Pint
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