Beer Review - Anchor Brewing Our Special Ale 2016

Anchor Brewing Co. - Our Special Ale 2016

Beer Type: Winter Warmer - 6.50% ABV

Appearance: Squat Anchor style bottle with a festive tree on the label. Beer pours a dark brown/red color with not much head.

Smell: Roasted walnuts and slight banana?

First Drink: First up are dark malt flavors. Something a bit spiced as well.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied and crisp carbonation on the tongue.

Last Drink: Bitter finish is coming out more now. A bit like coffee. Still plenty of malt and nutty banana flavors.

Drinkability: Different from previous years? Or my taste is all over? Who's to say for sure?

Notes: I reviewed this beer 3 years ago after I moved into this house I live in! A lot has changed in 3 years but I was surprised by how different this beer is from the 2013 version.

Verdict: 4 out of 5. It's seasonal without being too in your face with the CHRISTMAS flavors. 

Beer Review - Anchor Christmas Ale 2013.

Time for a beer review! But before we get into the Anchor Christmas Ale I wanted to show a photo of my own "christmas brew" which is a batch of hard cider I started a day or two before the holiday. It's been moved over for a secondary ferment now and I really hope it turns out excellent!

Yum! I used English Cider yeast this time around.

Anchor Brewing Company - Our Special Ale 2013 (Anchor Christmas Ale)

Beer Type: Winter Warmer - 5.50% ABV

Appearance: A jaunty (and slightly stunted) 12 brown bottle with a very seasonal/merry snowy tree on the label. Beer pours a dark red/brown/black color with a nice big tan head.

Smell: Cinnamon, candied fruits, ginger, clove, and something odd like cardamon or coriander.           

First Drink: Not as nice as the aroma sadly. Something acrid and a bit bitter up front followed by hints of the flavor in the sniff I just had.  

Mouthfeel: Pretty mild, a little oily maybe, not getting much here.       

Last Drink: Something more "dark fruit" coming through now along with a bit of caramel. Pretty muddled.             

Drinkability: Not in love with this beer.             

Notes: Rarely drink Anchor beers so I can't really compare this to too much of their regular line. Not impressed with this one though.                

Verdict: 3 out of 5. Seems a little muddled or not focused enough.