Our Special Ale 1999 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company

Our Special Ale 1999 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 1999 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
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From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
85
Avg:
3.72 | pDev: 20.7%
Reviews:
31
Ratings:
41
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Oct 27, 2021
Added:
Jan 02, 2002
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
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Ratings by scottum:
Photo of scottum
Reviewed by scottum from Vermont

4.38/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark dark brown with a large tan head. This is a complex brew. Many spices work together to add to the Xmas flavor. I can't believe I was in highschool when this beer was released! I'm glad it's still around! Mouthfeel is lovely. I'll be buying a few cases.
Jul 30, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by smithj4 from New York

Oct 27, 2021
 
Rated: 1.75 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Jan 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by spycow from Illinois

Mar 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.5 by matjack85 from Illinois

Feb 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Thunder from Georgia

Feb 08, 2013
 
Rated: 2 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 18, 2012
 
Rated: 1 by chrispoint from Connecticut

Feb 18, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by imperialking from Illinois

Jan 08, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by HopStoopid120 from Connecticut

Dec 05, 2011
Photo of woosterbill
Reviewed by woosterbill from Kentucky

3.55/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
12oz bottle into a Darkness glass. Thanks to my tasting group for sharing this piece of history.

A: Brown with clear ruby highlights; a thin, brief layer of tan head. Ok.

S: Spicy, piny, herbal and sherried. Smells like Christmas, so I guess that makes sense.

T: Nothing but spice and fruit. Cinnamon stands out pleasantly. Hugely dry, spicy finish. I kind of like it.

M: Light body, moderate carbonation. Not bad.

O: This one held up quite well, but wasn't a terribly tasty beer despite that. I did like it more than most at the tasting, but it was certainly a bit heavy on the mulling spices - a bit like liquid potpourri.

Cheers!
Nov 29, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Nov 27, 2011
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

2.87/5  rDev -22.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

On the first day of Beermas... The daily vertical begins. This entry pours a deeply murky dark brown topped by a mild layer of white foam. The nose comprises chocolate, caramel, buttery biscuits, a hint of hickory, figs, nutmeg, and rye bread. A silent intimation of alcohol hangs in the air above the surface. The taste focuses on the biscuits, adds a touch of char, and melds everything else together in a messy melange of cruelly aged flavors. I wanna say the culprit is oxidation. The body is a languishingly hefty medium, with a mild carbonation and a swampy feel. Overall, the years have not been kind to this bottle. I can still sense something of what the beer once was, but 'tis only a shade. Alas.
Dec 16, 2010
Photo of brokensail
Reviewed by brokensail from California

2.45/5  rDev -34.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5
Thanks to Greg for sharing this "ancient" beer. To put this in a personal historical context, I was in 6th grade when this beer came out.

A: The pour is a slightly hazed rusted amber color with a minimal off-white head on top.

S: The nose is inviting and quite typical for the Anchor Christmas beers. Plenty of spice: cinnamon and clove for the most part. There are also some nice fruits in the form of figs and raisins.

T: There's something very "off" about this beer. A slightly meaty/fishy taste which overpowers the other flavors for the most part. A bit of fruit and sugar is all that saves this one.

M: The body is medium with a fairly decent level of carbonation.

D: It's unfortunate that this one seems to have taken a turn for the worst. I don't quite know what I would suggest to do with this beer.
May 24, 2010
Photo of erosier
Reviewed by erosier from Connecticut

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Found a six pack at a really small local place so I picked it up to try.

It pours a deep dark brown, almost black with a light bodied and very short white head that settles pretty fast and laces the glass well all the way down. The smell is of deep roasted malts and a bit raisiny from ferementing for so long. The taste is of very nice deep roasted malts, hints of cinnamon and other winter spices but I can't put my finger on them because their flavors have blended so well over the years. The aftertaste is a bit harsh due to its cellaring I believe but it was still pretty good. The mouthfeel was very mellow and warming which made for a pretty drinkable beer.
Apr 07, 2008
Photo of Vancer
Reviewed by Vancer from Illinois

4.68/5  rDev +25.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
Thanks to timtheenchanta for the vertical tasting, from 2005 to 1999 – WOW! Year 1999 of the series sent to be in BIF46.

As usual, a deep cola brown capped by a tannish head, sticky rings of laces slide all the way down the diamond encrusted crystal snifter. Nice ring of yeasties on the bottom. This one has MUCH more in the way of sheet lacing.

Citrusy malts, coriander, dark fruits and pine in the aroma. The piney hops have softened greatly years. Smooth and delectable. Full bodied, a little trail of oil is left in the mouth for a lingering finish. Still has thee nice pop of chocolaty malts kicks in the finish, and the amount of dark chocolate and cherries in here is mind boggling!

This one is maturing nicely. Err, really, unbelievable
Feb 11, 2007
Photo of stephendr
Reviewed by stephendr from California

3.37/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
A 1999 vintage bottle opened on 11/25/06 - 50.7 oz. bottle – dark dull brown – light brown head – a ton of sediment – nose of old potpourri , malt , orange zest , brine , and sulfur – taste is soft malts , chocolates , spicy , and nutmeg – soft body – aftertaste semi menthol and chocolate
Nov 26, 2006
Photo of scruffwhor
Reviewed by scruffwhor from Illinois

3.99/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Pours a deep, deep brown hue and lacks-a-daysical retention. Smell is lightly muisty with undescribable spices and herbs mixed with a coffee/toffee roasted malt aroma. The spices get a little better definition. Some cinnamon and nutmeg for sure mixed with nice roasted malts. I also noticed hints of bananas and cloves. Pretty unique tasting beer.

I'm still very impressed with how Anchor's winter warmers stand the test of time. Don't be afraid to give them a try when your local beer store cleans out their cellar.
Jul 16, 2006
Photo of AlexJ
Reviewed by AlexJ from North Carolina

3.93/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Dark mahogany pour with visible crimsom highlights with a thin but persistant khaki head that laces well.

Aroma is dark malts, chocolate, dried fruit, cherry?, with cinnamon, clove, and a hint of pine needle and orange peel.

Flavor is roasty malts, chocolate covered raisins, pine, candied orange peel, baking spices, and faint whisper of coffee, and piney hops in the finish.

Body is medium, very creamy and slick, and far more palatable than the older vintages I've tried. I'm coming to the conclusion that I don't much care for more than 6-7 years on a bottle of this.
Dec 17, 2005
Photo of DrunkMcDermott
Reviewed by DrunkMcDermott from Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Sample taste at Chicago Beer Society vertical tasting, Dec. 1, 2005. As I go further back into the past, I find the beers are getting darker in color. This one continues the line. Taste is nice, with a bit of fruitiness from aging. This one has begun to lose its spiciness. Malts are a deeper brown ale style, in fact, this one comes across with an impression of an English nut brown ale.
Dec 13, 2005
Our Special Ale 1999 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 85 out of 100 with 41 ratings