Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Our Special Ale) (2004)
(Batch of Our Special Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, California, United States 🇺🇸
Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable / Honey - Spiced Regular Out of Production|
Score
7.18
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This is the thirtieth special ale from the brewers at Anchor. It is available 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. In ancient times, trees symbolized the winter solstice, when the earth with its seasons appears born anew.
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6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle that I found in the back of my cupboard, originally bought at the Utobeer stand in Borough Market, London. Dark murky brown pour with a slight tan head. Aroma of chocolate, malt and dark fruit. Tastes of dark fruit, malty, rather thin and dull maybe due to age. Perfectly acceptable but nothing to get excited about in my opinion.
Tried
from Bottle
on 27 Dec 2009
at 13:17
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8
2004-12, bottle, Göteborg AR: fudge and hops AP: dark amber body, low steady head F: christmas spices, fudge and hops
Tried
from Bottle
on 01 Dec 2009
at 10:25
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
On tap, 2004 keg. Pours with a creamy tan head and a slightly hazed amber brown body. Decent lace. Aroma of dark toffee, caramel, coffee and light spice (very light for an OSA). Flavor of dark fruits, spice, coffee grounds (light) bitter dark caramel and light oxidation papery notes. Rounded fruit notes. Medium bodied, creamy mouth, medium to high bubbles.
Tried
from Draft
on 13 Nov 2009
at 10:30
7.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Rated December 2008. I brought this 2004 vintage, I didnt bring the 03, that was consumed during our 2002 to 2006 vertical Dec. 2008. Pours hazy dark brown with tan edges and 30 second mocha head. The aroma is smooth dark molasses, hints of chocolate, dark gingerbread, rye bread, more molasses only lighter in color and old toffee. The taste is dry dark chocolate moving into molasses and a touch of fruitiness. It ends dry with roasted malts, chocolate and rich ripe aged dark fruitiness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Dec 2008
at 04:02
7.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
courtesy of cicgarcitybrew. Pours dark brown with yellowish - tan head. Aroma is malty and chocolate. Taste, light and dry. malty, chocolate with notes of cocoa powder - caramel and some very faint spices. My favorite of our 2008 vertical tasting. This one aged quite well.
Tried
on 19 Dec 2008
at 16:34
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Rated at Christmas time 2008. Cloudy dark brown with a firm little deep tan head. Intense aroma with plums most prominent - fresh plums and prunes. Nutmeg, cinnamon and clove along with it. Slightly earthy, but overall, aged gracefully. Flavour is dryish with a sweet middle part, fruity and spicy, with toffee and chocolate. Lasting nutmeg and dark caramel aftertaste.
Tried
on 15 Dec 2008
at 18:19
7.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7
Bottle at Akkurat, Stockholm 2 Dec 2008. Dark brown colour with firm, pale brown head. Malty, spicy nose with notes of chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg. Malty, spicy taste with toffee, chocolate and spices. Slightly earthy, dusty cellar notes lurking in the background. Medium body, moderate bitterness. Seems to have aged pretty well, with all the spices and a good roasted, malt character still there. Nice one.
Tried
from Bottle
on 13 Dec 2008
at 10:16
7.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
12 fl oz bottle. Pours dark brown to black with a huge and tan head. Chocolate and roasted malty aroma. Light dark fruity note too. Light wooden ad dark fruity flavoured with a light oxidised note. Lingering fruity and roasted malty finish with a lasting mild spice note.
Tried
from Bottle
on 21 Nov 2008
at 02:54
7/10
—
Appearance 6
Aroma 8
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle courtesy of Unclemattie: Poured a deep dark brown color ale with a nice light brown foamy head with good retention but no lacing. Aroma of big caramel and toffee malt with light spices, which may include spruce. Taste is also dominated by some spices with huge caramel and toffee malt with some moderate sweetness. Full body with average carbonation and no apparent alcohol.
Tried
from Bottle
on 25 Feb 2008
at 14:11
8/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
2004 vintage came out of the cellar in the magnum sized bottle. Head was slightly off white, thick and foamy and lasted throughout the glass. The body was oily looking, nearly opaque deep dark brown and looked a lot more developed than the 2007 vintage. Aroma was yeast, holiday spice, malt and alcohol. Flavor had mellowed nicely with the holiday spice and biscuit flavors and had added a nice chocolate tone to it. Became heavy and oily on the tongue and warmed the cheeks. Really developed body, flavor, finish and aroma in the cellar for 3 years. Wish I had more of this to keep around.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Dec 2007
at 16:48