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

Our Special Ale 2008 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 2008 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
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From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.86 | pDev: 10.62%
Reviews:
400
Ratings:
462
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 04, 2020
Added:
Oct 23, 2008
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  32
No description / notes.
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Ratings by jondeelee:
Photo of jondeelee
Reviewed by jondeelee from Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
The 2008-2009 release has a pleasant aroma, with notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, light cloves, and pine.

These flavors continue into the beer, though nutmeg and pine dominate the palate, along with a sugary current reminiscent of the candied fruits that often accompany Christmas stockings: specifically banana and mango. Hops are kept to a modest level, mostly providing a stabilizing effect to keep the sugars from becoming overwhelming.

Overall, quite a delicious beer; especially considering I'm not overly fond of beers that have added "natural flavors" and "spices," as per the label.
Aug 14, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.97 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Jul 04, 2020
 
Rated: 3.75 by smithj4 from New York

Apr 07, 2018
Photo of KensWorld
Reviewed by KensWorld from Florida

4.27/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This baby has 9 years of age on it yet it still pours like it was new. Plenty of carbonation and 2 finger brown head. Looks almost ruby red. Smell is the classic Anchor Christmas, no off smells at all. Taste is quite different then the other vintage years I’ve had. Lots of herbs, semi sweet mellow malty aftertaste. The feel is extreamly smooth as expected for its age. Somewhat watery and lacking a bite. Overall I lucked out on this one, it has aged perfectly.
Jan 20, 2018
 
Rated: 4 by Beerbuddha from Florida

Jan 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.88 by Piglet_rulz_da_yard from California

Dec 26, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by deereless from Colorado

Dec 24, 2017
Photo of mnj21655
Reviewed by mnj21655 from Massachusetts

3.76/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours very dark brown with ruby accents when held to the light, there is a bit over a finger of light brown head that settles to a thin head but hangs around forever. Aroma is lots of dark fruits (think raisins, dates, prunes) and some dark malt. Taste tempers those dark fruit notes a bit and presents a more rounded flavor profile. Mouthfeel starts medium on body with moderate carbonation but then falls off and turns very thin and aqueous in the finish. Overall this beer held up quite well over the past 8 years. I wouldn't advocate saving these quite that long but this beer is proof that a well brewed beer can evolve over time and still give an enjoyable drinking experience.
Dec 21, 2016
Photo of Stevedore
Reviewed by Stevedore from Oregon

3.32/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
2008 vintage. Served in a snifter glass 8 years later in 2016.

Pours a dark cola brown body, minimal half finger white head, short retention time, no lacing. Smells of dark fruit, a bit of soy sauce, pine, raisin. Nothing special. Flavour is similarly heavy on the raisin, dark fruit, dates, soy sauce, and a touch of pine bitterness. It's definitely malty and didn't do all that well with time. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, a tough one to get down. Overall... not terrible, but I can't imagine it's any better than it was fresh.
Jun 06, 2016
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4
I found this copy in July 2016 at The Beer Temple.
Ritualistic about buying a six pack and saving three and having one each successive December to compare recent vintages, my hypothesis has been: Our Special Ale can be kept for 3 years.
The reviews just below me provide some confirmation that 3 years is enough. Except for a few outliers (BA is famous for its outliers), the average review/rating is much closer in the first three years, but deteriorates thereafter.
For the qualitative test, I opened this 2008. The aromatics of the season are familiar to my run of fourteen successive vintages. The taste is punctuated by the same, but amazingly the bubbles prickle my tongue and I notice less the seasonal spices and the signature malt in the mouth.

So... does age matter ?

Unfortunately, YES!

Always eager to prove my hypothesis wrong, I go get a 2014 copy from the cellar. Same color, same aromatics that remind me faintly of a sack of spices for mulling apple cider. But, 2014 is not prickly on the tongue!

Conclusion: two years old will always better than 8.
After all, "The Terrible Twos" will always beat 8 years old when adults expect you to be good and you prefer not to.... but let's not take the analogy too far.
Our Special Ale, to me, is at its best in its second year.
May 15, 2016
 
Rated: 3.88 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Jun 07, 2015
Photo of stakem
Reviewed by stakem from Pennsylvania

2.41/5  rDev -37.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.25
A magnum bottle (because Anchor knows that bad decisions are best served in a 1.5 liter format) poured into a 20oz thistle. The beer is dark chestnut to mahogany in color with a khaki cap. Ok, at least it looks good.

The aroma consists of soy sauce, pine needles and some mild fruity tinges like raison. The more I think about, this smells of christmas wreath and crushed dreams. Hey, there is some chocolate too.

The taste also includes soy sauce, chocolate, roasty almost smoked molasses and fruity hints of raison rubbed against a green air freshener and lost in your couch cushions. Some minerals and meaty dog food make for an earthy aftertaste.

This is medium bodied, modestly carbonated and overall a train wreck. I know "its a thing" to cellar and drink this beer with age but holy hell you wont catch me drinking this beer ever again unless its a freshy...and even then ill be hesitant.
Jan 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by Nbdreher

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by _morandi_ from California

Jul 14, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Sparky44 from Illinois

Jul 05, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by senselessinsanity from Illinois

Jun 20, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by afsdan from Colorado

Apr 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by SkinniePost from Wisconsin

Apr 18, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Feb 25, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Jan 29, 2014
Our Special Ale 2008 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 462 ratings