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 yesyouam:
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Reviewed by yesyouam from New York

4.45/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Anchor Our Special Ale 2009 is a very dark brown ale with a thin, dense mocha colored head that leaves sip lines all the way down the glass. It smells a little sweet, sort of like ginger bread. Other spices are present in the aroma, notably nutmeg. It's smooth and medium bodied with a dry, astringent finish. There's a lot of flavor going on here. The malt is a little sweet and resiny and it melds well with all of the spices. The nutmeg and cinnamon start to create an apple pie flavor, but ginger and juniper take over and provide the spicy, bitter finish. Actually, this doesn't seem as bitter as it has in the past. It's all about the spices.
Nov 28, 2009
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