Anchor Our Special Ale 2007

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

Aged by beerchronic, have not yet learned if that aging process was intentional or forgetful like maxwells honey mead (fail). Tasted election day, may 2nd 2011. Conservatives one, its bleak days... The flavours of the beer held up well. Fake fruits, green marachino cherries (the jarred kind in syrup), fruitcake, bannabread with cranberries and shaved almonds. All kinds of christmas tree, mostly dry brown pine needles. I say it is like slushy snow in jest, in that there is a dirty yeast characteristic. After 5 min, the mouth has thinned out a bit, the tongue gets a bit prickly, might be a bit of accelerated oxidation...otherwise this rules, but I am in a really good mood. As it sits longer, there is a smell of electrical fire mixed with apple crisp. Swedish berry shows up. At the end it was really bitter and not very nice. Oxidation? Numbers reflect first 5 min in glass.

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

not a huge variation from years past or since. the orange peel has become a little more obvious starting in 2007, otherwise, this is old dependable...one of the best winter seasonals out there.

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

Tasted side-by-side with a fresh 2008 version. Frankly, I did not see or taste much difference between the two. Seemed like the same recipe, only this 2007 had larger, looser bubbles in the head, and slightly softer and rounder flavors - perhaps mellowed a bit with age. Same delicious fruitcake-like aromas and flavors.

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

I always look forward to these brews. It's interesting comparing the 2007 to the 2008. Pours a dark illuminating mahogany colour with a creamy white head. Semi malty in the beginning quickly fades into soft roasted nuttiness and generous spices. Taste is rich with cinnamon and nutmeg flavors.

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

Poured out a medium brown brew with red hues, a mid range brown crown of average size with good retention and a little bit of spotty lacing. The aroma here is pretty cool even if it doesn't immediately appeal to you since it is odd. Roasty and fresh, the fruit is both prune like and orangy at the same time, there is also a vegetable aroma that is very squash like, biscuit and smoke. The smoke is there for sure with weak cloves. Something makes me think of chocolate but it is not chocolate.... I'll question this next time. Some how, I give this an 8 even though it is not overly appealing - just unique and complex. The taste is of wet biscuits, a toffee roast, mild piny hops and a slight spice. Main flavor for me is the roasted malts. The mouth feel is quite nice with a very welcoming carbonation, medium to medium full bodied, ends with dark roast on the aftertaste and a bitterness that fades as the beer warms. I think this is a bit too roasted for me but either way it is an interesting beer.

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

Dark amber to copper in body topped off with a medium sized tan colored head leaving light lace throughout. Aroma was much more mild than last years while still showing some spicy and fruity tones. Mouthfeel was medium bodied rich and very smooth. Flavor is caramel malt, some light pepper and cinnnimon and bready yeasts.

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

Bottled (2007 Vintage). Deep ruby brown colour with small beige head. Aroma is raisins, sweet malts, along with spices and some mild notes of yeast. Flavour is bready malts with some spices and raisins as well as yeastyness. Also some dark dry fruits in it. The aftertaste is fruits and quite richly roasted malts.

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

Had this while putting together Christmas gifts on Christmas eve. Poured a nice brown color with creamy head. Aroma was of all kinds of spices nutmeg and dark fruits. Flavor was bready and of dark fruits rasins and tons of spices. Solid beer.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 10 | Overall: 9

What a treat! Even the label on this bottle is appealing. The nose is of nutmeg, allspice and raisins. The ale pours a beautiful dark brown with a thin creamy head. The taste is of more spice, plums, raisins and bread. The finish is spicy and sour. It is best enjoyed in front of the fireplace on a long, cold winter's night. This is truly one my best presents this Christmas.