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

Our Special Ale 2009 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 2009 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
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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.
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Ratings by sweemzander:
Photo of sweemzander
Reviewed by sweemzander from Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
12oz. bottle poured into an imperial pint. No bottled date, but it is an '09.

(A)- Pours a fairly dark brown color with mahogany highlights. Produced a rather frothy light brown head with some good staying power.

(S)- Dense gingerbread with dashes of nutmeg, cinnamon, raisins, and toasted almonds/walnuts. Has a root beer-like nuance that might just be more Dr. Pepper-ish.

(T)- Precisely as the smell dictated, only with a nice dry finish. A bit more molasses & raisin-like than cola. Has just a tiny bit of of coconut.

(M)- Great carbonation level & balance. Less malty than I expected but a pleasant surprise. Complex and not overpowering in any way.

(D)- A much more toasted & nutty approach to a winter warmer as opposed to a big malty profile. A solid beer with many characteristics similar to a good porter. I will continue to look forward to this release each year.
Jan 02, 2010
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