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

Our Special Ale 2009 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 2009 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
90
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 10.45%
Reviews:
341
Ratings:
420
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 28, 2019
Added:
Nov 02, 2009
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  30
No description / notes.
View: More Beers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by brewskier:
Photo of brewskier
Reviewed by brewskier from Massachusetts

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3
Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a clear pint glass. Speckled, fairly dark brownish head. Diminshes rapidly without much stickiness. Clear, very dark garnet red is a very attractive brew.

Smells Christmasy indeed, full of pungent aromas of brown bread and a hint of pine and juniper.

Flavor at first strikes me as "odd," amended to "distinctive." A complex interplay of tangy molasses, sweet cherry, mild spices, and subtle woodsy hops. Minor lingering bitter aftertaste. I like it more as I sip and it warms. Warm is also a descriptor for this beer, as it seems nice to quaff next to a fireplace with anything from a nutty cheese or your mother-in-law's fruitcake.

It has a smooth mouthfeel with just enough carbonation to puntuate the sweetness of the beer.

While I enjoy this beer, and it is lighter than expected, I still wouldn't want to have too many of these...pretty much my thought on any winter warmer.
Dec 20, 2009
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.96 by TrojanRB from Texas

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

Apr 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.74 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Feb 04, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by Beginner2 from Illinois

May 14, 2016
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.34/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
If one thing is consistent about this xmas releases from Anchor, they always seem to have that brown in the middle and red at the edge appearance. Off white head 1/2". Aroma smelled like a forest with damp dirt around it. Lots of spice rack in the earth.

A little bit woody, a little bit brown malt, alt like malt feels to it. Some what bitter, but apparently not from any large degree of hopping.

Neat to check out, but not a repeat thing. Didn't really change much with age either.
May 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.77 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Dec 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.02 by mendvicdog from Maryland

Nov 11, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Jun 07, 2015
 
Rated: 4.42 by BDonaldson from Netherlands

Feb 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by nathanmiller from New York

Jan 13, 2015
 
Rated: 4.09 by MA08 from Massachusetts

Dec 26, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by kjyost from Canada (MB)

Dec 14, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by olradetbalder from Sweden

Dec 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.8 by tobelerone from New Jersey

Nov 23, 2014
 
Rated: 3.7 by Nbdreher

Aug 19, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by jimmygord from Illinois

Aug 12, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by _morandi_ from California

Jul 14, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by GClarkage from California

Jul 02, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by senselessinsanity from Illinois

Jun 20, 2014
Our Special Ale 2009 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 420 ratings