Anchor Our Special Ale 2010

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

Bottled (2010 vintage, from Alko). Very deep ruby red colour, mediumsized beigeish brown head. Aroma is lots of spices, some mild dark fruits, raisins, toffee/fudge and some herbal notes. Flavour is spices, plum, raisins, mild

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

They clame they use a different recipe every year but for some strange reason it always taste exactly the same, very good but the same. Dark brown brew very tall long last crown. Mild coffee, hints of chocolate, lots of Christmas spice (clove, cinnamon) and hints of raisin . Yummy aroma as always. Malts are heavy sweet and roasted, massive spice with a mild lingering bitterness. Some cherry and plum make their way through. Taste like Christmas. I like this year’s version just like every other year.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

February 2011 Vertical Tasting including '10,'09,'08,'07: All four bottles fared very similar with the exception that the spice influence faded as expected from most recent to oldest. The 2010 had a tangy after taste while nutmeg and ginger were prominent. 2009 showed a vanilla undertone. 2008 was my favorite and had very little spice. 2007 was most aromatic but the taste was severely muted. Not worth aging overall.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

Aroma is strong with woody, evergreen and spicy components, the latter mainly cinnamon. It pours a dark, barely transparent brown with a fairly thick, if not too persistent, head. Flavor is woody and spicy with a malty hint and just a pinch of citrus. Texture is smooth and just a little fizzy, leaving behind a subtle tingle.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Never having had there holiday beer i had higher expectations for spices, it was a fine beer.I enjoyed it,the color and flavor was great.I will recommend this beer,not sure im going to buy it again at those prices.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

This to me is the standard for spiced winter ales. It pours a nice brown with a white head that hangs around and provides nice lacing. The mouthfeel was not to heavy but the spices were noticeable immediately. It tasted of cinnamon and nutmeg along with some carmel notes and some spicy hop notes.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Watery. A perfect ale to drink to the recession. Anchor skimped on everything from hops to grain this year. I am so disappointed. This is the beer that I look forward to each year. This one sucks!!!!!!!!!!!

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 4 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 6

A deep brown ale. The head is small, creamy in texture and light beige in color. Some hang time. An impressive lacing of a thick, soapy ringlet that seems to try ever so slightly to climb up the sides of the glass. The nose is some dark chocolate, light on the nose and a more robust detection of spices, like cinnamon. Thin, lightly carbonated. Cinnamon jumps to the front in the tasting. But really a nice winter warmer.

Aroma: 10 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

I love Anchor: always classy good beers. This year's Special Ale pours a deep mahogany color with a sustained tight near perfect head and some residual lacing. Some carbonation. Spice and herb aromas of spearmint, some clove, pleasant sweet malts, a touch of cinnamon and slight pine hops. Taste is slightly minty with a touch of cocoa and chocolate malts, some spices and very slight hops bitter in the end to offset and mint tingle and sweetness. Extremely nice beer - never disappointing.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 9 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 9

another year, another christmas tree in a bottle, though this may be the smoothest and mellowest in years. similar to past vintages with a unique look, aroma, and blend of spices. orange peel, cinammon, piney goodness. gotta love it.