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 dwilson01:
Photo of dwilson01
Reviewed by dwilson01 from California

4.16/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
poured from a bottle into my arrogant bastard pint glass, a nice reddish mocha colored head tops the brew about a finger thick. The dissipation is slow and even leaving thick fingers of lacing on the sides of the glass. The body itself is a dark ember color, hellish red tints show up on the edges when held up to the light.

The scents are very subtle but I get a pine and spice smell right off the bat. The malt imparts some smaller amount of roasted nut to it which balances nicely.

The flavor is just what I expected from the smell plus some added sweetness. I get the holiday spices like crazy in the mid-late taste which remind me of sitting near the fireplace sipping some spiced tea. Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice all combined into one lighten the flavor. The woody pine forest flavor comes through in the fore, fades quite a bit and then comes back in the aftertaste to linger for a while. It tastes like it would if I bit into a chuck of douglas fir tree. The late flavors that I pick up are from the malt, a sweeter molasses and maple syrup come on strong to balance the pine and spice flavors that I love so much.

The mouthfeel is great, smooth and sweet, not too thick and not too thin it's just right.
Nov 21, 2010
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