Coaster Critique: Anchor Brewing Our Special Ale

On the twelfth day of Beermas…..

Name: Our Special AleSpecial Pour

Brewed by: Anchor Brewing Company

Style: Winter warmer

ABV: 5.5%

Our special ale pours black, but when held to the light takes on a deep crimson color, with a rocky off white head that slowly settled to a thin rim around the glass.

Smells of roasty malts, ginger, dark fruits and a faint note of orange zest.

Initial sip is sweet, reminds me of molasses, but dries out quickly leaving you with ginger and nutmeg, I don’t get any dark fruits that I was picking up in the nose but there is a touch of citrus. I’m left with a bit of numb tongue from the spices.

Overall a good beer but not one I’d want more than one of, the spices were a bit much for me. I do look forward to this beer every year, I find it interesting that for 39 years Anchor has been brewing this beer and the recipe changes every year.

Cheers!

Chaddah

cap

12 Days of Beermas

Day 1: Harpoon Brewing Co. Winter Warmer

Day 2: Gritty McDuff’s Brewing Company, Christmas Ale

Day 3: Schneider Weisse, Aventinus Eisbock

Day 4: Rogue Ales, Santa’s Private Reserve Ale

Day 5: Shipyard Brewing Company, Mint Chocolate Stout

Day 6: Gouden Carolus, Noel

Day 7: De Struise Brouwers, Tjseeses

Day 8: Friars Brewhouse, Whoopie Pie Porter

Day 9: Slumbrew, Yankee Swap

Day 10: Ridgeway Brewing, Criminally Bad Elf

Day 11: Sierra Nevada, Celebration 2013

Day 12: Anchor Brewing, Our Special Ale

 

Chad Lothian

About Chad Lothian

Chad Lothian lives in Old Town, Maine. He is a craft beer enthusiast and homebrewer. Chad has travelled to brewpubs, breweries and brewfests all over New England.