First taste is dark roasted malt, bittersweet dark cocoa, light woodsy hops, faint pepper on the back end, dry finish. Aftertaste is bitter fruity hops, red berry, cloves, allspice. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, sticky, clingy, round.
This is an excellent winter beer, another solid fall offering from Anchor. Each year, I eagerly await the arrive of certain limited holiday beers, and Anchor's annual "Our Special Ale" (aka Christmas Ale) is among the first to cross my palate. The roasty taste is surely present but subdued, balanced well with the dark fruits and bitter herbal hop profile. The myriad aroma of coffee, chocolate, and fruit is dense and dank, blended well, with no one flavor standing front and center. A superb, well-crafted brew. Grab one or two bottles while they are available. Highly recommended.
From the brewery:
"A smooth and creamy winter warmer with rich flavors of cacao, toffee and roasted nuts, and subtle hints of honey and herbal spice, this year’s brew marks the 43rd annual release of this Anchor tradition.... It is sold only from early November to mid–January. The Ale's recipe is different every year—as is the tree on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times, trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appears born anew. With a heavily guarded, secret recipe, Christmas Ale is a highly anticipated seasonal delight, complex and full in flavor with a velvety texture and alluring, yet subtle, spiced aroma.... Our 2017 Christmas Ale has a strong malt profile that is enhanced with wintry spices. The beer pours a deep, dark, mahogany brown with a creamy, tan head. It has flavors of creamy bittersweet chocolate, coffee, roasted malts and toasted nuts, with a rich, smooth, velvety mouthfeel. The combination of malts, spices, and hops add layers of complexity to the beer and bring this year’s ale to a new level."
[source: anchorbrewing.com]
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