Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale 2017. 6.7% abv. Dark brown in color, nearly black, dense, blocks all light. Finger of foamy beige head. Superb retention and excellent thick lace. Nose of cold black coffee, nutmeg, faint plum. Tart berry and toasted buttery nutty aromas emerge as the temp rises to room.

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]

Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale 2016. 6.5% abv. Deep ruby color with a finger of bubbly tan head that gradually falls to a thick sustaining collar. Moderate retention, excellent lace. Nose of anise, allspice, pine, dark fruit, some coriander. 

Front taste of cola, sweet bread, licorice, notes of evergreen on the back end. Aftertaste is dark chocolate, botanicals, caramel, bittersweet herbal hoppy sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, bright, carby, rich, slightly creamy.

This is a wonderful winter beer. The spice and pine are expressed throughout the complex profile of rich sweet, malty, and fruity tastes. Flavors of warm spiced bread, bubbly cola, and molasses are among the myriad of tastes that emerge as the temperature rises to room.

Like many craft beer enthusiasts, I eagerly await this annual holiday favorite, one of the first of its kind going back 42 years. I've been enjoying it for 26 of those years, making it a beloved Christmas tradition for me. With its ever-changing secret recipe, each year's release is an entirely new brew, for better or worse. I can say that they've been mostly better - a joy - and this year ranks among the better recipes. 

I look forward setting up a flight of several consecutive aged years for a truly unique journey., something I've done for the past several years. Until then, I will surely be having the 2016 ale again before the season's supply runs out, and I suggest you do likewise. Strongly recommended. 

From the brewery:

"2016 Anchor Christmas Ale. New tree. New recipe. Same traditions. A deliciously smooth winter warmer with notes of seasonal spices and a malty backbone, our 2016 Christmas Ale marks the 42nd annual release of this celebrated 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.

The 2016 Christmas Ale is a deep mahogany brown with a creamy, tan head and boasts aromas of fruitcake, molasses, and fresh cut wood. The beer tastes of a roasted caramel malt, with notes of spiced chocolate and nuts. And it has a rich, smooth, and velvety mouthfeel. Every year the Anchor brewers look forward to formulating a new Christmas Ale recipe and tasting the fruits of their labors. We are always excited to please beer fans with its ever-changing recipe and label. Cheers from the Anchor brewers!"

[source: anchorbrewing.com]

Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale 2015. 5.5% abv. Black in color. Two fingers of foamy beige head. Outstanding retention and lacing. Nose of pine, caramel, sweet bread, tropical fruit, bright spice. Front taste of warm brown sugar, roasted chocolate malt, nutty on the back end. Aftertaste is botanical herbal, bready, malty, mild bitter herbal hops, dark chocolate on the sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is warm, rich, creamy, sweet finish.

Anchor completely changes the secret recipe of their annual Christmas beer, which offers an exciting time for lovers of winter warmers. When you're about to taste the latest Anchor Christmas Ale, chances are you will either love it or hate it. Regardless of what goes in it, it's always a big beer that swings for the fences, for better or worse. I'm pleased to tell you that I absolutely loved this year's offering. I found myself muttering "This is damnnnn good" as I was carefully tasting I for this review.

Simply put, this is an extraordinary beer, one of the better years of this always-changing series. The aroma is complex with a myriad of malty, bready, spicy, and herbal tones. The taste offers chocolate, notes of evergreen, tall malt and bright spice such as cloves and nutmeg. The mouthfeel is rich and creamy, largely from a lacey head that accompanies you to the end. A world class brew, and another winner in this legendary series. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"This is the forty-first annual Christmas Ale from the brewers at Anchor. 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. Our tree for 2015 is the Deodar Cedar (Cedrus deodara), better known as the California Christmas Tree. Native of the Himalayas, it takes its name from the ancient Sanskrit devadaru, meaning timber of the gods. This coniferous evergreen, with its gracefully droopy branches and blue-green needles, has been a San Francisco favorite for over 150 years."

[source: anchorbrewing.com]

Anchor Brewing Porter. 5.6% abv. Black in color. Two fingers of dense creamy tan head. Outstanding retention and superb lace. Nose of roasted malt, chocolate, caramel on the back end. Front taste of coffee bean, toffee, bittersweet chocolate. Aftertaste of mild caramel, warm sugar, chocolate, distant plum. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, roasty, silky, slightly sweet finish.

This is an outstanding beer, a classic in its category, and one of my favorite porters. The flavor profile is solid with roasted malt, warm bittersweet chocolate, and notes of coffee throughout, from aroma to last sip. The body is a perfect balance between easy drinkability and rich indulgence, while the sweet, silky smooth mouthfeel feels like fine craftsmanship in a glass. You've had this before, and I encourage you to treat yourself to another. Strongly recommended.

From the brewery:

"With deep black color, a thick, creamy head, rich chocolate, toffee and coffee flavors, and full-bodied smoothness, Anchor Porter is the epitome of a handcrafted dark beer. A blend of specially roasted pale, caramel, chocolate, and black malts, along with our top-fermenting yeast, creates complexity without bitterness. The brew is hopped at a high rate, and naturally carbonated. The result is dark in the glass, but surprisingly light on the palate. Anchor Porter became the first modern American porter style beer when it was introduced in 1972. As we celebrate its 40th anniversary, our porter continues to reward those who look beyond its intimidating appearance to discover its smooth, full-bodied drinkability. Anchor Porter is the definitive American Porter."

[source: anchorbrewing.com]

"San Francisco's famous Anchor Porter brand is made in one of the smallest and most traditional breweries in the world by the Brewers of Anchor Steam beer. Our old-fashioned porter is virtually handmade, with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. We use 100% malted barley; generous amounts of fresh, whole hops; entirely natural carbonation; and a simple, natural brewing process that is like no other in the world. The deep black color; the thick, creamy head; and the intensely rich flavor of Anchor Porter, made in San Francisco since 1972, have earned this delicious and unique brew a worldwide reputation for outstanding quality. It is aesthetically pleasing and wholly superior in every respect."

[source: bottle]

I paired the classic Anchor Porter with a Felipe Gregorio 'Fusion' Robusto. I highly recommend it.

Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale 2014. 5.5% abv. Deep amber-red color with two fingers of thick bubbly beige head that lingers long. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of sweet malt and biscuits, with a tart fruity aroma that shines through as the temp drops. Front taste is roasted grain, rich malt, caramel, raisins. Aftertaste has notes of cocoa, toffee, plum, nutmeg. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, creamy, small bubbly, somewhat thick with a good sustain.

This is a great addition to Anchor’s annual tradition of their Christmas Ales - also known as 'Our Special Ale' - which uses a different recipe each year, for better or worse. With a toasty malty flavor profile backed by chocolate, subtle spice, and dark fruit notes, this 40th year is one of those years for the better. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"This is the fortieth annual ‘Our Special Ale’ from the brewers at Anchor. 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."

We enjoyed this year's Anchor Xmas from 12 oz. and magnums. Can't get enough of it!

Nice head and lace brings out the spicy, herbal aromas.

Anchor Brewing Summer Beer. 4.5% abv. 10 IBU. Gold color with thick white frothy head off the pour. Minimal retention. Thin lace. Faint nose of crackers on the pour. Malty wheat is very present up front. Medium mouthfeel due to the wheaty head, a contrast to its thin watery body. Light aftertaste of wheat and hops that does not sustain long. Crisp light session brew. Sweet buttery aroma further down the glass. An ok-good lawnmower beer. Every brewery has a mass-crowd-pleaser, a beer that is approachable by anyone. This is Anchor’s. It’s good, but far from their usual excellence.

From the brewery:

"The crisp, clean flavors of Anchor Summer Beer are refreshingly light, a thirst-quenching American-style filtered wheat beer. Released each year in advance of the summer season, Anchor Summer Beer is an all-malt craft beer, with over 50% of its malt derived from malted wheat. It is fermented with a traditional top-fermenting "ale" yeast, yielding a clean, balanced flavor that highlights the refreshingly light flavor of malted wheat. The head is unusually abundant due to the natural protein deposits of wheat, with a thick consistency similar to meringue. First brewed in the summer of 1984, Anchor Summer Beer is the first American wheat beer in modern times. Anchor Summer Beer is intended to be a lighter beer for those who don’t want to sacrifice historic tradition or character."