Our Special Ale
Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, California, United States 🇺🇸
Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable / Honey - Spiced Winter Out of Production|
Score
7.06
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This is our special ale from the brewers at Anchor. It is sold only from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons appears born anew.
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4.5/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 4.5
Flavor 4.5
Texture 4
Overall 4
Magnum shared Feb 2026. Cola brown. Spiced nose. Cola and clove in the mouth. Thin finish. Washed out. 6 4.5 4.5 4 4
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Mar 2026
at 14:21
7/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 7
Overall 7
Old rating - A 355ml bottle, 2018 vintage, 6.9ABV, from Little Leeds Beer House a year ago & stored in my cellar. Pours brown with a white head. Aromas & tastes of caramel, licorice, spices, herbal, pine & malt. Medium body. Spiced malty finish. Very enjoyable
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Jun 2025
at 20:18
7.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7
Draft. Poured a dark reddish brown with medium white head. Aroma was a bit of dark fruits A bit of spice to finish. Pretty decent stuff.
Tried
from Draft
on 20 May 2025
at 00:56
7/10
Magnum! Sweet and toasted malty with notes of caramel and toffee, dried fruit, cocoa accents, medium body, malty lingering spiced finish. Pretty good considering the age here.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Mar 2025
at 05:56
7.6/10
Still getting some of the spice through, rich, sweet, dark. Classic
Tried
from Bottle
on 17 Mar 2025
at 16:44
9/10
RB score 3.55
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Mar 2025
at 03:59
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 6
2005 edition
very piney,and spicy. with a tad bit of sweetness thrown in. very interesting, definetly a sipper. dont think ill have it again.
very piney,and spicy. with a tad bit of sweetness thrown in. very interesting, definetly a sipper. dont think ill have it again.
Tried
on 27 Feb 2025
at 05:31
6.2/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Aroma of malt, dark fruits, spices such as clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, you name it. Flavour is very herbal and sweet. I’m generally not a big fan of spicy winter ales, but this one is alright.
Tried
on 18 Feb 2025
at 05:17
7.9/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Аромат во многом со специами, особенно корица, есть какие то нотки от темного шоколада, возможно немного трав. Цвет почти черный, есть тонкая пенка. Вкус неплохой. Снова наиеки на темный шоколад с какой то ягодой. Уже много специй, включая корицу и присыпку для пироженого, но без сладости и даже с сухостью. Есть травы от хмеля при глотке. В целом приятный зимний эль.
Tried
on 07 Feb 2025
at 06:12
7.9/10
—
Appearance 7
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Not making detailed notes. It's just a spicy Xmas wonderfulness. A little light on carbonation. Still has the evergreen and cinnamon aspects.
Tried
from Bottle
on 05 Jan 2025
at 01:42