Anchor 1999 Christmas Ale

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by tfischl, Sep 3, 2012.

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  1. tfischl

    tfischl Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2005 Indiana

    I greatly enjoyed a 1999 Anchor Christmas Ale this weekend with a group of my beer geek friends. It was AWESOME! After all those years in my fridge.. the label fell off a long time ago... it was still so much better than I (we) expected. It was malty with a noted spice (clove/nutmeg) nose. Carbonation was very good, beer poured with a nice white head. The flavor was not as intense as a fresh Anchor Xmas ale and still extremely enjoyable with a nice chocolate/malty flavor with hints of vanilla/orange and nutmeg/clove spice. I was surprised it was so drinkable with no oxidation or infection. Congrats to the Anchor Brewers who made this OUTSTANDING Christmas Ale.
     
  2. drh88

    drh88 Pundit (810) Dec 21, 2005 Pennsylvania

    It's extraordinary how this beer ages so well. I had an '04 last year that was sublime.
     
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  3. WassailWilly

    WassailWilly Initiate (0) Sep 8, 2007 New York

    I have a magnum of 2011 kicking at my parents basement
    Nice and cool ,dark and damp gonna let her sit for few years and see what flavors develop
     
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  4. drh88

    drh88 Pundit (810) Dec 21, 2005 Pennsylvania

    I have a 2009 magum I'm cellaring. I have no idea when I'll pull the trigger. It looks cool sitting on my shelf so maybe I'll give it another 10 years or so.
     
  5. UCLABrewN84

    UCLABrewN84 Initiate (0) Mar 18, 2010 California

    Good to hear. I had a bottle from the early 90s a while back and it was pretty putrid.
     
  6. pushkinwow

    pushkinwow Initiate (0) Dec 20, 2006 Canada (ON)

    There is definitely a point at which it goes downhill...had a 95 last year that smelled divine but couldn't deliver after that...
     
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