Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Our Special Ale) (2007)
(Batch of Our Special Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company in San Francisco, California, United States 🇺🇸
Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable / Honey - Spiced Regular Out of Production|
Score
6.97
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In 1975 Anchor released the first holiday beer in America since Prohibition. Each year since 1975, Anchor Brewing has created a distinctive Christmas Ale. A rich, dark spiced ale, our secret recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. With a heavily guarded, secret recipe, Christmas Ale is sold only from early November to mid-January.
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 on this year’s label, Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), was hand-drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt, who has been creating Anchor’s Christmas Ale labels since 1975.
Anchor Christmas Ale is perfect for cozy nights by the fire, and it pairs well with holiday fare, whether it is a roasted turkey dinner, sweet potato pie, or roasted chestnuts. A beloved tradition for many Anchor fans is to collect multiple years of Christmas Ale. Stored in a dark and cool place, the beer remains intriguing and drinkable for years. Different nuances emerge as the flavor mellows slightly, much like the memories of great holiday seasons past. The beer’s wintry spiced flavors evolve, making vertical tastings a tasty holiday activity. Celebrate the holidays with Anchor Christmas Ale, a tradition since 1975.
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 on this year’s label, Valley Oak (Quercus lobata), was hand-drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt, who has been creating Anchor’s Christmas Ale labels since 1975.
Anchor Christmas Ale is perfect for cozy nights by the fire, and it pairs well with holiday fare, whether it is a roasted turkey dinner, sweet potato pie, or roasted chestnuts. A beloved tradition for many Anchor fans is to collect multiple years of Christmas Ale. Stored in a dark and cool place, the beer remains intriguing and drinkable for years. Different nuances emerge as the flavor mellows slightly, much like the memories of great holiday seasons past. The beer’s wintry spiced flavors evolve, making vertical tastings a tasty holiday activity. Celebrate the holidays with Anchor Christmas Ale, a tradition since 1975.
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6/10
Tried
on 12 Sep 2018
at 09:53
6.2/10
—
Appearance 4
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 7
Bottle (vintage 2007): Deep ruby amber coloured, a bit hazy, small off-white foamy layer; christmas spices, coriander toasted malt and dried fruits in the nose; moderate to solid - relatively dry - bitter-sweet flavour, medium bodied; dry bitter finish, rounded by some toasted malt and spices. Pleasant, well rounded stuff.............
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 May 2009
at 15:56
7.1/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
(2007 vintage at Kaffe Filter, Trondheim, on 2009-02-15) Dark brown with hints of red. Clear. Medium sized tan coloured head. Malts, roastedness, dried plum and spices in aroma. Full bodied and dry palate with medium carbonation. Malts, some dried plum, roastedness, spiciness and hint of chocolate in taste. Malts, roastedness and bitterness in aftertaste.
Tried
on 20 Feb 2009
at 06:27
7.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle from De Bierkoning, 2007 vintage. Deep dark brown to black colour, rich beige head. Aroma of spices, liquorice, roasted malts and some dark fruits. Flavour is very porter-like, but with a good body, some spice and liquorice. Very good considering its ABV. 848316 Re-rate: 2009 version. Deep reddish brown colour, beige head. Aroma of sweet malts, butterscotch and dark fruits, molasses. Flavour is sweet, malty, light butterscotch, fruits, spices, light bitter finish. Definitely different than the 2007 version. Medium bodied. 748315
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Dec 2008
at 11:20
7.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Bouteille 12oz (2007), courtoisie de Hogtownharry. De couleur brune-rouge foncée et claire. Nez épicé (cannelle, léger de clou de girofle et de poivre, notes de coriandre, de gingembre et de muscade), de malt légèrement rôti, léger de sucre brun et de café avec des notes de noix, de houblon herbeux et de fruits confits. Moyennement ronde en bouche avec un pétillement moyen et une texture crémeuse. Léger-moyen goût fruité (cerises, traces d’agrumes sucrées) accompagné d’un léger goût épicé (léger de coriandre, traces de clou de girofle, de muscade et de cannelle) et de petites notes boisées et de réglisse noire lors de l’entrée en bouche auquel se rajoute un goût moyennement amer de malt rôti avec des notes de caramel et de chocolat noir (traces de sucre brun) puis progressivement un moyen goût de café vient se joindre au reste jusqu’en finale où l’on retrouve une amertume asséchante de houblon herbeux (herbes mouillée, feuille de thé des bois et de conifères) avec un léger goût épicé (poivre). Post-goût moyen et sec, moyennement amer de rôti, de houblon herbeux, léger de café et avec des petites notes boisées.
Tried
from Can
on 29 Apr 2008
at 19:41
6.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 5.5
2007 bottle from Whole Foods Charlottesville. Pours reddish-black with a very large head and mad amounts of lacing. Strong cinnamon/coffee aroma. Taste of coffee, raisin and spice (anise?) behind a very thin mouthfeel. Taste is good, but the rest is lacking. 6/4/7/2/11..... 12 ounce bottle from Whole Foods Market Charlottesville, 2008 release. Pours a dark brown color wirh a medium head. Highly splced, slightly tart aroma. Taste is also highly spiced with hop notes, eggnog. Medium bodied. 6/4/6/3/11
Tried
from Bottle
on 26 Feb 2008
at 21:57
8.4/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
2007 bottle. Aroma of spices, malts, coffee, mint, and cinnamon (among other holiday spices). Pour is a deep dark brown color with a medium thick brown head. The flavor just wowed me. Complex, and enjoyable.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Dec 2007
at 14:02
6.8/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
2007 Vintage out of a magnum. Poured a watery, translucent deep brown with purple hues and a foamy, lasting white head, Aroma was mild, spice, yeast, heavy malts and dried/dark fruit. Flavor was similar, dark fruits, heavy malt, also touches of biscuit, grain, and cookie spice. Finish was watery, mild and dry. Drank the 2004 in the same night and this was no where close to the ’04, but this was a well balanced, drinkable holiday beer.
Tried
on 18 Dec 2007
at 16:43
8/10
—
Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
355 ml bottle, vintage 2007, courtesy of Cardinal pub, Stavanger. ABV is 5.5%. BB Sep.09. Very dark reddish bown colour, nearly black. Large and lasting tan head. Nice vinous and sweetish aroma, notes of malts, herbs, oak, spices and caramel. Malty flavour with moderate notes of caramel and herbs, moderate hops and spices in the finish and aftertaste. A very pleasant beer to drink.
Tried
from Bottle
on 18 Nov 2007
at 15:53
7/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7
12 oz. bottle (2007 version). Pour is a clear mahogany with a tan head. Aroma of spice and yeastiness. Hint of dried fruit and berries. Taste is a nice blended spiciness - cinnamon, cardomman, yeast, nuttiness (nutmeg) and some nice soft earthiness. Finish has a hint of bitterness and some licorice. Overall, nice, though a touch thin.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Nov 2007
at 15:58