SevenPack Beer Blog » Blog Archive » Anchor Brewing “Our Special Ale” (Christmas Ale) 2008

Anchor Brewing "Our Special Ale" 2008 I have not been in the big/boozy/thick/rich beer mood, so I have been avoiding the winter seasonal beers hitting the store shelves recently (since a fair majority of those beers tend to be big/boozy/thick/rich). With the first snow storm upon Boston and Christmas quickly approaching however, I thought I should delve into a “winter” beer.

Snowy Street For whatever reason the Anchor Brewing winter offering was proclaiming “Dave purchase me!”, so that is what I did and here I sit writing about it. This beer is actually in its 34th year of brewing, and its recipe has changed every one of those 34 years. If you want to check out how this beer has progressed, Ben reviewed the 2005 edition.

The beer pours a dark-rich brown with an off-white head that dissipates, in about a minute, to a very thin, even non-existent, covering. To get the full impact of the beer’s smell, I need to stick my nose deep inside the snifter glass. This allows me to receive the full blast of the holiday bouquet that is this beer. Ginger, allspice, cinnamon, caramel, liquorice and orange peel all make an appearance. All the smells mix well together, though some are a little harder to distinguish then others.

In the mouth the beer is surprisingly light, and a hint watery. The beer goes down quick and smooth. There is a nice toasted malt presence mid-tongue, with a spice bouquet finish. Much like the aroma, the spice finish is well mixed and not overpowering. If anything I notice a hint more ginger then any other aspect.

For someone not looking for a “winter” beer, this one was a pleasant surprise. It was quite light and easy to drink. If you do not like spiced beers, this probably will not suit you, but the spice is not all that overpowering. After a day of shoveling, this beer hit the spot for me.