Our Special Ale 2001 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company

Our Special Ale 2001 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 2001 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
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From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.96 | pDev: 14.9%
Reviews:
53
Ratings:
65
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 04, 2020
Added:
Nov 12, 2001
Wants:
  3
Gots:
  3
No description / notes.
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Ratings by TheLongBeachBum:
Photo of TheLongBeachBum
Reviewed by TheLongBeachBum from California

4.42/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
2001 OSA - Sampled 1 Year Old

A Short Stubby “Anchor 12 fl.oz.” bottle contains the OSA offering from 2001, tasted on 11/16/02, nearly 1 Year later.
The Bottle has a very strange label depicting some kind of psychotic foilage, what appears to be a demonic Pineapple suffering an extremely Bad Hair Day, “Washingtonia filifera”. Whatever it is - it needs a damn good trimming. Bring on the Barbers.
After a few German Weißbiers from Edelweiss, this is my nightcap beer tonight. And a damn fine choice, I have to say. Nothing like commending your own decisions, Heh?
I find as a finalé beer, it works rather well. I am intrigued as to what strength this beer is though – as none is advertised as such. I reckon, hazard a guess, its 8 to 10% ABV.
The beer pours a lovely deepish red-brown color; it has mahogany hints with a look of blackcurrant and elderberry fruits. Head is exceptionally smooth looking, a medium tan color comprised of small bubbles, a very refined smoothness, with only the odd crater to dispel the perfect appearance. Nose, F**K, what a Nose!!!!
Pardon my English, but this beer has massive nose - aromas simply assault your senses. The taste reflects this as well, it’s all there. I will try an dissect it; Fresh Coffee, Xmas Cake, Spices, Dark Fruit, Sultanas, Nutmeg, Aged Port, Sherry, Grandma’s Dundee Cake (no icing), Raisins, Figs, Dark Chocolate, Dates, Caramel, Dark Malts, Hard Liquor, Brandy soaked Sponge Fingers. In short – everything you associate with Christmas. Bloody Marvellous!
The finish is of a dark chocolate bitterness, that so reminds me of my childish days of dropping lumps of Cadburys Bourneville Dark Chocolate into Cups of Hot Chocolate and watching them melt.

This beer is Helena Bonham Carter – Dead Sexy, Refined, Educated and Stunningly Beautiful, so much so you want to take it home with you.
I love it.
Nov 16, 2002
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.93 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Jul 04, 2020
 
Rated: 4.07 by wisrarebeer from Wisconsin

Jan 24, 2020
 
Rated: 3.5 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Feb 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by SkinniePost from Wisconsin

Apr 18, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Jan 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by smithj4 from New York

Apr 30, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by spycow from Illinois

Mar 11, 2013
 
Rated: 4.25 by matjack85 from Illinois

Feb 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3.25 by Thunder from Georgia

Feb 08, 2013
 
Rated: 2.75 by t0rin0 from California

Aug 18, 2012
Photo of Sean9689
Reviewed by Sean9689 from Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Bottle shared at Alex's Birthday Bash.

A - Pours a brownish color, off-white head. thin collar.

S - Brown sugar, dark fruit, oak, caramel, burnt sugars. The sweetness is just right for this beer and it reminds me of a Brown Ale more then anything.

T - Similar to the nose. Brown sugars, light dark fruit, and oak.

M - Light to medium body, good carbonation, clean sweet finish.

O - Decent, nothing crazy here. Enjoyed my pour would probably wouldn't seek out again.
Jun 27, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by imperialking from Illinois

Jan 08, 2012
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

4.32/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review dated 2/4/2009.

Bottle at The Bruery, 2001 vintage. Dark amber color with an off-white head. Malty aroma with spices and dark fruits. Taste is malt, brown sugar, dark fruits, spices, and hints of Anchor Steam. Medium-full bodied. The best out of the three I tried (2001, 2002, 2008).
Aug 26, 2011
Photo of DearthVader
Reviewed by DearthVader from California

4.17/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 oz bottle provided generously by amphion1065.

Poured into my Green Man Oversized Snifter

Pours an opaque brown with a small film of tan head forming atop. The head fades very quickly to a very thin crown that leaves no lacing. I pick up some ruby notes when held up to the computer screen.

Smell is of roasted molasses, toffee, plum, cherry, and something that is similar to bourbon. I can't put my finger on it though. Very interesting.

Taste is very nice. Starts with the nice roasted malts. The malts a backed by a heavy dark fruit body and molasses. I seem to pick up something different with every swig. Slight oak notes come out as well as the plum and cherry I found in the nose. Very interesting beer.

Mouthfeel is on the lighter side which kind of blows my mind when I think about this thing being 10 years old. I'm amazed this low ABV beer was able to hold up and throw out so many complexities.

This is the oldest beer I've ever had. I actually don't think my palate was anywhere ready for this. I feel like there are a ton of things in this beer that I missed out on. I still enjoyed it very very much and am extremely happy I got to try it. his was definitely a treat. Thanks again, Jason.
Aug 16, 2011
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

3.03/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

The Third Day of Beermas... It pours a murky black-brown topped by a relatively short-lived half-finger of dirty ecru foam. The nose comprises maple syrup, molasses, brown sugar, light cocoa, cinnamon, and an undercurrent of old fish. Thankfully, the other smells o'erpower the fishiness, but unfortunately not completely. The taste runs very similarly, with the cocoa and molasses taking command, though this does still does not keep that pesky fish from making itself known. The body is a lazy medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sloppy feel. Overall, things continue to improve, but there's a ways to go still.
Dec 18, 2010
Photo of KI9A
Reviewed by KI9A from Illinois

3.97/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Very dark, not much head. No lacing.

S: Molasses, toffee, malt jump out.

T: Some prune/plum, maybe a little dark chocolate. Some spice, can't determine. Nutmeg?

M: Light-medium body. Lightly carbonated.

D: Easy to drink, wanted more, but the other guys we sampled with thought the same! Lvoed the chance to taste it!
May 25, 2009
Photo of hooliganlife
Reviewed by hooliganlife from Missouri

4.12/5  rDev +4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to John for bringing this! He never lets down.

Poured near opaque black with little to no head. appears a bit thin.

light scents of dark fruits and molasses. sweet spice notes as well

flavor was very interesting. quite tart actually overall. think black currant and dark cherries with molasses and various spices.

a bit thin but for such a low ABV, pretty spot on.

this was a treat. much different than the magnum of 2000 that was tasted fall of 2008. this was a 12oz serving so for a beer that is not bottle conditioned, this ages so well!
May 25, 2009
Photo of Floydster
Reviewed by Floydster from California

3.94/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 ounce bottle purchased from the Stuffed Sandwich a few days ago for around seven dollars, split with my dad tonight, poured into an Anchor pint glass, color was more red than the other vintages of this Christmas beer I have had in the past, still a dark brown, surprisingly a nice one inch creamy light tan head that left a few legs, decent retention too, smell consists of cherries, rich dark fruits with lots of fig, also nutmeg, and milk chocolate, caramel, maple syrup, and oddly a hint of booze, taste is both sweet and spicy, does not taste like it is eight years old by any means, held up very nicely with a chewy and sweet aftertaste with chocolate and complex malts, like the flavor and how it all molds together, finish is a little lighter than expected though on the spice front, mouthfeel is mildly spicy, chewy, sweet, and roasty, medium bodied, more on the thinner side, moderate level of carbonation, could drink a few bottles of this, not too heavy and tastes great on a cold night, preferred around room temperature and not too cold, nice and smooth, not my favorite Anchor vintage but certainly above average, as well as being different from the others, would drink again, recommended
Jan 05, 2009
Our Special Ale 2001 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 65 ratings