Anchor 41st Annual Christmas Ale

Discussion in 'Beer Releases' started by tfischl, Nov 4, 2015.

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  1. tfischl

    tfischl Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2005 Indiana

    Not sure if this has been posted yet, I always enjoy what they have to offer each year and looking forward to this one!

    Anchor Brewing Releases their 41st Annual Christmas Ale

    November 02, 2015



    San Francisco, CA (November 2, 2015) – Anchor Brewing Company announces the release of the 2015 Anchor Christmas Ale; a rich, complex, and dark spiced seasonal ale that marks the 41st annual release of this Anchor tradition.

    Sold only from early November to mid-January, Christmas Ale’s recipe is different every year, as is the tree on the label, but the intent with which Anchor offers it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. With a heavily guarded secret recipe, Christmas Ale is a highly anticipated seasonal brew, complex and full in flavor with a velvety texture and alluring, yet subtle spiced aroma.

    “This year, we took a less-is-more approach to the Christmas Ale recipe, using fewer ingredients that can really shine through,” said Anchor Brewmaster Mark Carpenter. “With fewer secret spices, this year’s Christmas Ale is a nod to early Christmas Ale recipes when the malt flavors were more pronounced. As a result, the beer has fruity and roasted malt notes accompanied by a Christmas tree aroma and smooth, chocolate-like texture. The 2015 Christmas is one to remember and we are thrilled to continue to entice beer fans with its ever-changing recipe and label, which we think makes the holidays all the more fun!”

    Along with an evolving recipe, Christmas Ale portrays a new label every year. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. The tree depicted on the 2015 Christmas Ale is the Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara), better known as the California Christmas Tree. Native of the Himalayas, it takes its name from the ancient Sanskrit devad?ru, meaning timber of the gods. This coniferous evergreen, with its gracefully droopy branches and blue-green needles, has been a San Francisco favorite for over 150 years. The tree on this year’s label was hand-drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt, who has been creating Christmas Ale labels since 1975. His charming illustration of the Deodar Cedar evokes the radiant beauty of Anchor Brewing’s arboreal neighbors as well as the spirit of the season.

    Christmas Ale is available in 6-packs and impressive gold-foiled magnum bottles, as well as on draught in select bars and restaurants including the Anchor Brewing Taproom and Anchor Beer Garden at The Yard in San Francisco.

    For more information on the history of Anchor Christmas Ale, please watch our Anchor Christmas Ale Video. Find a brew near you using the Anchor Beer Finder, or learn more about Anchor Brewing at www.anchorbrewing.com.

    About Anchor Brewing Company
    Anchor Brewing Company’s roots date back to the California Gold Rush making it one of America’s oldest breweries. Its Anchor Steam® Beer is San Francisco’s original since 1896. In 1965, Fritz Maytag acquired and revived the struggling brewery at a time when mass production of beer dominated and seemed unstoppable. Maytag started a revolution in beer that originated today’s craft beer movement. An undisputed icon, Anchor is America’s first craft brewery where beers are handmade in our traditional copper brewhouse from an all-malt mash. At Anchor, we practice the time-honored art of classical brewing, employing state-of-the-art methods to ensure that our beers are always pure and fresh. We know of no brewery in the world that matches our efforts to combine traditional, natural brewing with such carefully applied, modern methods of sanitation, finishing, packaging and transporting. See what we are brewing today at www.anchorbrewing.com.

    - See more at: http://www.anchorbrewing.com/connect/news/163

    mod edit: link fixed
     
    #1 tfischl, Nov 4, 2015
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 5, 2015
    Joshmistake, thegodfather2701, PatrickCT and 6 others like this.
  2. The_Snow_Bird

    The_Snow_Bird Grand Pooh-Bah (3,557) May 7, 2015 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Christmas tree smell and chocolate texture, sounds good.
     
    #2 The_Snow_Bird, Nov 5, 2015
    frasergrove and 1000lbgrizzly like this.
  3. Silver_Leviathan

    Silver_Leviathan Initiate (0) Aug 5, 2014 Florida

    Top-tier Christmas Beer, every year
     
    #3 Silver_Leviathan, Nov 5, 2015
    1000lbgrizzly likes this.
  4. Jaycase

    Jaycase Grand Pooh-Bah (3,858) Jan 13, 2007 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Among the best beer labels in the business imo

    [​IMG]
     
    #4 Jaycase, Nov 5, 2015
    fehrminator, Gemini6, Johnct and 20 others like this.
  5. Hoos78

    Hoos78 Maven (1,327) Mar 3, 2015 Ohio

    #5 Hoos78, Nov 5, 2015
    ericwo, dcotom, TrojanRB and 4 others like this.
  6. frasergrove

    frasergrove Pooh-Bah (1,539) Apr 11, 2015 California

    I'd love to see a note of chocolate itself! (Or perhaps cocoa)
     
    #6 frasergrove, Nov 5, 2015
    The_Snow_Bird likes this.
  7. wordemupg

    wordemupg Grand Pooh-Bah (3,187) Feb 11, 2009 Canada (AB)
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I love the big magnum bottles of this stuff, they just look awesome.
     
    #7 wordemupg, Nov 5, 2015
    PatrickCT, deanzaZZR, BeerVikingSailor and 3 others like this.
  8. zp6167a

    zp6167a Initiate (0) Apr 19, 2011 District of Columbia

    Look forward to this every year. Never disappoints!
     
    #8 zp6167a, Nov 5, 2015
    ericwo and chrismann65 like this.
  9. chinchill

    chinchill Grand Pooh-Bah (5,541) Feb 29, 2008 South Carolina
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, that label helps make it a nice gift -- and no wrapping required.
     
    #9 chinchill, Nov 5, 2015
  10. Giantspace

    Giantspace Grand Pooh-Bah (3,043) Dec 22, 2011 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Look forward every year all are good but done are great. 2010 was great. This one sound really good.


    Enjoy
     
    #10 Giantspace, Nov 5, 2015
  11. paulys55

    paulys55 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2010 Pennsylvania

    Our Special Ale is one of the few spiced beers I like, just not a big fan of most spiced beers but I do enjoy this one and it holds a special place in my belly.
     
    #11 paulys55, Nov 5, 2015
    BeerVikingSailor likes this.
  12. tobelerone

    tobelerone Grand Pooh-Bah (4,220) Dec 1, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anyone have any experience with vintage Magnums? There is a place I find myself in on occasion that has numerous dust covered magnums of this beer from various years - some VERY old - but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. I suspect that some of these might be pretty awful at this point, like that old bottle of nutmeg from 1997 you forgot about at the back of the pantry.
     
    #12 tobelerone, Nov 5, 2015
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  13. paulys55

    paulys55 Initiate (0) Aug 2, 2010 Pennsylvania

    There are people on here that have done some insane verticals of this so someone should chime in. I would just be worried about how they were stored.
     
    #13 paulys55, Nov 5, 2015
  14. tobelerone

    tobelerone Grand Pooh-Bah (4,220) Dec 1, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The place in question is generally pretty dark, with only a few windows coated with dust and grime so I wouldn't worry too much about light being an issue. Also tends to be fairly cool - the owner wears a coat inside during the winter months.

    A+ and a star to whoever can identify the spot I'm talking about. Big hint, located in Rockland county, NY.
     
    #14 tobelerone, Nov 5, 2015
  15. ONovoMexicano

    ONovoMexicano Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2012 New Mexico

    If you offer beer, you'll get more contestants.
     
    #15 ONovoMexicano, Nov 5, 2015
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  16. vileplume

    vileplume Initiate (0) Sep 27, 2015 Arizona

    Just sits around these parts. I guess there's not much of a christmas vibe in the desert...
     
    #16 vileplume, Nov 5, 2015
  17. AlcahueteJ

    AlcahueteJ Grand Pooh-Bah (3,242) Dec 4, 2004 Massachusetts
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I think I have ~10 years going at the moment, or close to it.

    I'll be totally honest, I notice subtle differences at best between aged Anchor Christmas Ale's, and fresh ones. And my opinion also goes for the year to year differences. Tastes like a very similar beer to me each year, albeit one that I adore and is a welcome reminder of the Christmas season.

    Why do I keep storing them then? Because it's easy enough to stash a few away from a six pack or two each season. I'll report back what I find this year!

    Cheers!
     
    #17 AlcahueteJ, Nov 5, 2015
    paulys55, BeerVikingSailor and thebeers like this.
  18. BeerVikingSailor

    BeerVikingSailor Grand Pooh-Bah (3,667) Nov 19, 2009 Ohio
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I always look forward to this every year....I now have OSA vintages going back to 2008, so with this year, I will have 8 years worth.....they age very well, and I have several of the nice magnums as well; they make great holiday gifts at around $14.99 / magnum.....

    Who else but Anchor would be putting out a delicious holiday ale for 41 years straight??

    Great stuff, get some! Spread the festive holiday spirit with a well made, great tasting beer!

    [​IMG]
     
    #18 BeerVikingSailor, Nov 5, 2015
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  19. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Anyone know the price-per-six-pack this year? Kept me away last year.
     
    #19 steveh, Nov 5, 2015
  20. BeerVikingSailor

    BeerVikingSailor Grand Pooh-Bah (3,667) Nov 19, 2009 Ohio
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If I were you, I would splurge on a few of those magnums.....perhaps ask if they can cut you a deal on a few of them, given they are dusty and all! They hold up great typically!
     
    #20 BeerVikingSailor, Nov 5, 2015
    chrismann65 and tobelerone like this.
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