Our Special Ale 2012 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company

Our Special Ale 2012 (Anchor Christmas Ale)Our Special Ale 2012 (Anchor Christmas Ale)
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From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Winter Warmer
ABV:
5.5%
Score:
83
Avg:
3.65 | pDev: 14.25%
Reviews:
198
Ratings:
727
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Jul 01, 2019
Added:
Oct 22, 2012
Wants:
  18
Gots:
  73
No description / notes.
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Ratings by jondeelee:
Photo of jondeelee
Reviewed by jondeelee from Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Our Special Ale 2012 opens to a spicy, fruity, sweet nose that is instantly reminiscent of fruitcake and mulled wine. Nutmeg, clove, allspice, candied ginger, and pepper are immediately noticeable, as well as slight hints of coriander. The fruits are, on the one hand, dark and complex, with dates, green maraschino cherries, and figs, and on the other, bring nice orange peel, lemon zest, and pink grapefruit overtones. All of these rest atop thick brown breads, vanilla, molasses, wildflower honey, and a lovely Christmas layer of fresh pine needles. Add to this a slightly alcoholic touch, as of mulled wine or white port, and the result is a tantalizing aroma that would make for a world-class candle scent, and in a beer, is exactly the sort of aroma one would want while opening presents. The aromas do seem to be somewhat lighter than those in previous years’ editions, but here that’s a good thing, since at least one of the previous bottles smelled so strongly of pine needles as to be overwhelming.

On the tongue, the beer begins with a spicy kick, the cloves, nutmeg, candied ginger, allspice, and pepper instantly blasting away at the tastebuds, joined by molasses and thick brown breads, as well as deeply roasted pecans and pine needles. The fruits come in a somewhat distant second, the green maraschino cherries and dates primarily, with touches of raisin next, and the orange and lemon zest second. The effect is less fruitcake here than spicecake, and the spices do unfortunately rather overwhelm everything else, and are even more potent in subsequent mouthfuls. The aftertaste is similarly dominated by spice, with remnants of brown breads, molasses, and lemon zest, and lingers on the tongue for a very long time. Mouthfeel is medium, and carbonation is medium to medium-high, fizzing on the tongue and burning the soft tissues.

Overall, this is good Christmas beer, it’s just unfortunate that the spices were so dominant, as they detracted from what was a very nice fruit and dark bread belly. The beer is by no means unpalatable, but it is strongly spiced enough that it would be difficult to drink too many in a row.
Mar 27, 2013
More User Ratings:
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

3.34/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
From old, undated notes. Poured from the bottle.

Black liquid; purple when held to the light.

Nice khaki head which dissipates but doesn't disappear; heavy lacing.

Strong licorice and wax nose; certainly unique.

Medium mouthfeel.

Wax. This beer tastes like wax. Strange, & not wholly unpleasant, but very odd. One of the most unique beers I've ever tasted but not one of the best.
Jul 01, 2019
 
Rated: 3.83 by TrojanRB from Texas

May 28, 2019
 
Rated: 3.54 by Kurmaraja from California

Dec 10, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by Beerbuddha from Florida

Jan 20, 2018
 
Rated: 3.75 by DanGeo from Michigan

Jan 14, 2018
Photo of OompaMentor
Rated by OompaMentor from Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
11/24/2015 - Brewniversity
Jan 05, 2018
 
Rated: 3.9 by OtisCampbell007 from Tennessee

Dec 28, 2017
 
Rated: 3.93 by Bartpatton from Texas

Nov 24, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by armock from New York

Jul 15, 2017
Photo of q33jeff
Reviewed by q33jeff from New Jersey

3.49/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
**
12/02/2012
AROMA: Toffee, Fruitcake
LOOK: Brownish Black
TASTE: Cloves. A lot of other flavors I like that I cannot identify.
FEEL: Thick for an Ale

Boom Shanka.
**
Jul 24, 2016
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.81/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had again 2012 (good, but undistinguished) in a 2016 side-by-side comparison with 2016 vintage (great, particularly in its softness.)
My 2012 rating compensates upwards using my theory: Special Ale starts deteriorating after 2 or 3 years. (My sub-theory is there is not enough malt backbone and alcohol to preserve it for several years.)
Anyhow, 2012 was a better ale than it is now.
But, 2016 probably will be even better in a year.
May 14, 2016
 
Rated: 3.84 by jcubz from Canada (SK)

Mar 25, 2016
Photo of drpimento
Reviewed by drpimento from Wisconsin

4.03/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A spice beer that is just a tad understated. They also have the carbonation a touch brisk which enhances the bitter and gives the spice an odd aspect. The spices are still definitely there, but the brisk carbonation, bitterness, and slight dryness of beer are qualities not usually associated with spice beers. Still not bad.
Feb 17, 2016
 
Rated: 3.33 by Jmski

Jan 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.47 by DOCRW from Kentucky

Dec 27, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by dataylor21 from Kentucky

Dec 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.63 by mudboneINla from California

Nov 22, 2015
 
Rated: 3.38 by gandres from Philippines

Oct 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by gregcordle from Ohio

Oct 13, 2015
Our Special Ale 2012 (Anchor Christmas Ale) from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 83 out of 100 with 727 ratings