Our Special Ale 2002 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company

Our Special Ale 2002 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 2002 (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: 12.44%
Reviews:
126
Ratings:
137
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jun 09, 2022
Added:
Nov 07, 2002
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by SheepNutz:
Photo of SheepNutz
Reviewed by SheepNutz from Kentucky

4.08/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
July 25th, 5 months until Christmas, a good time for my very own personal Christmas in July. 12oz. bottle poured into a tulip-style glass. It pours a deep brown, almost black, with one finger of tan head that dies fairly quickly. There is a little bit of lace on the glass. The smell is full of spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and coriander are all detected in the nose. The taste starts out malty, with a good amount of cinnamon and coffee. The finish brings out the hops, and a little bread taste. The mouthfeel is very thick, it just dances on the tongue. The drinkability is fairly nice. I don't know if I can wait 5 months to break out the 1999 vintage. A big shout out to brewdlyhooked13 for this great bottle of beer!
Jul 26, 2003
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.75 by smithj4 from New York

Jun 09, 2022
Photo of KensWorld
Rated by KensWorld from Florida

3.6/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Past its prime.
Dec 26, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by SkinniePost from Wisconsin

Apr 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by BColton1 from Rhode Island

Mar 16, 2014
 
Rated: 2 by Gonzoillini from Illinois

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

Jul 08, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by JamLand from District of Columbia

Jul 01, 2013
 
Rated: 4 by spycow from Illinois

Mar 11, 2013
 
Rated: 1.75 by matjack85 from Illinois

Feb 12, 2013
 
Rated: 3.5 by imperialking from Illinois

Jan 08, 2012
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.97/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Beer poured from a bottle into a 2002 Anchor Our Special Ale pint glass with a gold rim. Yep, I have a 2002 Anchor OSA glass.

Beer is dark brown / ruby with these woody looking chucks on yeast that came out immediate, not settled at all. Nice tan head, some lacing, moderate carbonation.

Aroma is sweet and strong, mild soy-sauceness but nothing too horrible, malty, mild spiciness, good overall.

Beer is medium in body and has this nice chewy finish to it, I don't drink hte yeast bits but the rest of the beer tastes old, malty, sweet, mild tobacco again, mildly bitter but not dry on the back palate. Nice. I'm excited to try a few more older ones.
Dec 27, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by rab53 from Washington

Nov 20, 2011
Photo of nickd717
Reviewed by nickd717 from California

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Review dated 2/4/2009.

Bottle at The Bruery, 2002 vintage, drank it December 2008, vertical with 2001 and 2008 vintages. Dark amber color with an off-white head. Aroma of roasted malt, nutmeg, ginger, and brown sugar. Taste is the same, malty and spicy, not quite as mellow as the 2001. Medium-full body.
Aug 26, 2011
Photo of TMoney2591
Reviewed by TMoney2591 from Illinois

3.23/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

The Fourth Day of Beermas... It pours a dark ruby-tinted black-brown topped by a minor bit of dirty white foam. The nose comprises cocoa powder, brown sugar, walnuts, and maple syrup. Unfortunately, there is a twinge of fishiness, of staleness weaving its way through everything. The taste holds notes of nutmeg, brown sugar, figs, red apples, cocoa, and a light bi of vinyl. The body is a chunky medium, with a light carbonation and a slightly oily feel. Overall, things are definitely progressing, but there's still a ways to go.
Dec 20, 2010
Photo of lackenhauser
Reviewed by lackenhauser from Maryland

3.65/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Notes on an aged 2002 OSA.

Pours a dark brown, slightly muddy color. Still a decent carbonation level. Slight woodsy and "herbed" aroma-reminds me of a very mild Jagermeister like smell. Decent malt and slightly spiced flavor. Faint hint of treacle and caramel. Some molasses fading into the backround. Again somewhat woody and grainy tasting. Mild lingering sweetness of the lips. Decent enough body. Has aged quite well considering the low abv. Still very drinkable and enjoyable.
Nov 25, 2009
Photo of NorCalYeti
Reviewed by NorCalYeti from California

3.47/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
taste- creamy roasted malts, licorice, bitterness, complexity, prunes

color- deep chestnut

clarity- clear

smell- chocolate, licorice, prunes, spice, roasted flavors

body- medium-full, hop bitterness at the front of the palete

appearance- dark, clean, slight foam ring

overall impression- interesting

notes- amazing how this beer still holds up with six years of age in a 12oz bottle. bottle still characteristic of anchor's beers, carbonation is still present. 28th release of this beer. this review is for a 2002 vintage tasted in 2008

glassware: pint
Oct 17, 2009
Photo of aerozeppl
Reviewed by aerozeppl from New York

4.1/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Bottle given as an extra by ianslee. Thanks!.

A: Super dark brown with no hints of light getting through until held up directly to the light. Impressive 3/4 finger of brownish head. Not bad for a 7 year old bottle. Impressive lacing as well.

S: Little bit of sweetness. Starting to get a touch oxidized. Some spruce is there. Not nearly the christmas tree in a bottle this beer can be fresh. Has that aged flavor as well which is always a plus for me. Quite a bit of malt and a touch of molasses.

T: This really melded together nicely. Wow the christmas tree and the malt have come together well. I have never tasted something like this in a beer before. Little bit of black pepper in there at the end. Leather maybe as well.

M: Glorious. So creamy and good. Reminds me of a cask pour.

D: For a 7 year old 5.5% beer...damn. This has held up like a champ. I have a few more bottles and I will savor them during a nice blizzard in the next 10 years.
Sep 02, 2009
Photo of Floydster
Reviewed by Floydster from California

3.88/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
12 ounce bottle purchased from the Stuffed Sandwich in San Gabriel for around six dollars, consumed 12/27/08 alongside the 2003 vintage, reviewed from notes, both were poured into small snifters, color is a dark brown with slightly red tint, minimal 1/4 inch bubbly light tan head that goes away rather quickly, no lacing, aroma is dark fruit, pepper, slightly oxidized malt, tons of different spices, brown sugar, and caramel, taste was rather spicy, malt in the middle, then pepper, tobacco, and molasses in the finish, mellows out as it warms and sugary caramel comes out, spicy and sweet mouthfeel, thin to medium body, low level of carbonation, could have drank a few more of these, especially on a cold night, not too heavy, spiciness could become overpowering after a while maybe, I like the recipe for this year but it came up short to the 2003 drank right next to it, would drink again though, recommended
Feb 12, 2009
Photo of UnionMade
Reviewed by UnionMade from New York

4.62/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Opaque dark brown, nearly black. Thin topping of beige head. Laces the glass well with a scattered speckling of foam.

Aroma is sweet, with nutmeg readily apparent. Deep and woody, with some gingery, plum-like notes. Mellowed roastiness.

Flavor opens up soft and elegant, with caramelized malt sweetness. Spices are well present, namely nutmeg and ginger, along with some prune fruitiness. Not nearly as much of an oxidized presence as I expected from a seven year old beer. In fact, this almost tastes fresh if not for the mellowed gentleness. Very woodsy, in the best possible sense. The overall flavor is reminiscent of a nice hike in early fall. Foresty, damp soil and pine trees, earthy, soothing and warm enough to still wear a t-shirt. Finishes bittersweet, spicy and soft. This one has aged to develop those kindly laugh-wrinkles around the eyes.
Feb 02, 2009
Our Special Ale 2002 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 137 ratings