Our Special Ale 2005 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company

Our Special Ale 2005 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 2005 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
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From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.8%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 12.47%
Reviews:
240
Ratings:
279
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 18, 2021
Added:
Nov 04, 2005
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  8
No description / notes.
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Rated: 3.98 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by smithj4 from New York

Oct 13, 2021
 
Rated: 3.06 by KensWorld from Florida

Dec 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.85 by Beginner2 from Illinois

May 15, 2016
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Deep, dark amber brown in color, with a massive, dense, and persistent tan head, and thick, utterly glass-coating lacing.

Aroma: Deep notes of coffee, figs, dark roasted malts, bitter cocoa, dark plums, raisins, vanilla, wood, and somehow spicy alcohol.

Taste: Begins with a wave of dark malt, soon followed by wood and vanilla. As the taste progresses, warming spicy alcohol presents. Later in the taste, bitter cocoa, and dark fruits present. Christmas spices, ginger, nutmeg and vanilla are present also. Late in the taste, tea-like hop notes appear. Finishes with a long, mild herbal bitterness.

Mouth feel: Very soft and full, quite pleasant.

Drinkability/notes: A venerable example, which has more than withstood the test of time. Might we all, in old age, be infused with fire and grace.

Presentation: Packaged in the ubiquitous Anchor twelve-ounce brown glass bottle with a twist-off crown (as Anchor did for a brief time), served in a New Belgium Brewing chalice.
Dec 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.25 by JayKay412 from Pennsylvania

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 3.85 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Jun 07, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by JAHMUR from Connecticut

Oct 16, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by ralerwen from Illinois

Apr 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by dannyfayy from Pennsylvania

Apr 21, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by SkinniePost from Wisconsin

Apr 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

Jan 29, 2014
Photo of mfnmbvp
Reviewed by mfnmbvp from Illinois

3.95/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
12 oz. bottle, with a more than obvious vintage date, and a code on the label 5OU. I'm cracking open a little piece of history here today, in the spirit of the Christmas season. Anchor Brewing Co.'s Christmas ale, vintage 2005. This bottle is eight years old this year, making this the oldest beer I've ever drank. I have no idea what to expect.

Poured into a clear balloon snifter.

A - Pours a thick viscous ruddy caramel color; nearly opaque in the glass with some caramel coloring around the edges when held to the light. Conjures about a quarter finger of light brown foam. Forms a ring of bubbles around the glass. Produces a nice thick finger of mocha foam when given a good swirl. Looks excellent.

S - Smell is of sweet caramel malt, earthy tea leaves, toffee, molasses, brown sugar, dark fruits - raisins, black cherries, currants, figs, hint of faded herbal spice, vanilla, and some woody earth character.

T - Taste follows the nose: smooth creamy caramel, toffee, notes of chocolate / cocoa, earthy tea leaves, wood, twigs, some vanilla, some vinous grape / cherry / berry notes, and some raisin / fig presence.

M - Feel is smooth and creamy, but still retains a bit of crisp carbonation to it, even after all this time. Light-bodied, and slightly watery. Some dark chocolatey roast notes lingering on the palate.

Overall, I'd say this was an excellent winter warmer that has thoroughly stood the test of time well. Definitely excites me to try out the other vintages to see what they hold. Definitely worth seeking out.

Anchor Brewing Our Special Ale 2005 ---4/5.
Dec 24, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by BillRoth from Maryland

Dec 18, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by Doomcifer from Rhode Island

Nov 15, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by birchstick from Colorado

Nov 06, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by WOLFGANG from South Carolina

Jul 08, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by dgherm from Pennsylvania

Jul 05, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by JamLand from District of Columbia

Jul 01, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by spycow from Illinois

Mar 11, 2013
Our Special Ale 2005 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 279 ratings