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]

Rogue Ales 'Santa's Private Reserve' Red Ale. 5% abv. 65 IBU. Orange-red color. Thin ivory head. Moderate retention, good lacing. Nose of caramel, fruity, malty, sweet citrus, earthy spice. Front taste of toffee, nutmeg, cinnamon, light brown sugar, orange peel. Aftertaste is fruity bitter hops, roasty malt, earthy spice, with a sweet finish. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, thick, sticky, juicy.

This is a wonderful beer. Despite being a seasonal winter/xmas beer, the flavor profile reminds me of the year-round BrewDog 'Dogma' Scotch Ale. Malty with a balanced sweet citrus and plenty of fruit and spice notes. Despite the moderately high IBU count, the hops profile here is set to the backseat by the tall malt and and spice. Hopheads will still enjoy this beer, so long as they know not to expect a hop bomb.

Though this beer is similar in taste and body to a good Scotch ale like Dogma, it's not quite as rich and nutty, which is likely what landed this unique brew as a red. However, it's surely a dessert beer best enjoyed after dinner, ideally relaxing in front of a fire, presumably during the holidays. Well recommended.

From the brewery:

"A double hopped Red Ale, reddish in color with a roasty, malty flavor and a well balanced spruce finish."

[source: rogue.com]

Warsteiner 'Winter Special Edition' Ale. 5.6% abv. Copper color. Thin ivory head that quickly recedes to a bubbly collar. Moderate retention and little lace. Nose of herbal dank spice, nutmeg, cloves. Aroma improves with light caramel as the temp rises. Front taste of light malt, brown sugar, treacle, woodsy back end. Aftertaste of light maple, earthy hops, coriander. Light body. Mouthfeel is cool, thin, slightly sticky.

I tasted this beer on two different days, and arrived at two very different conclusions. At the end of the first tasting, I noted that its aroma was unpleasant at first, becoming slightly better with the change in temp. However, upon a second tasting on a different day, the aroma was more enjoyable. Perhaps I had a bad bottle that first time.

The flavor profile includes dull spice notes that are surely present but never quite impress. Fortunately, the understated spice is elevated by the malty caramel taste. 

From my first tasting, which may have been from a compromised bottle, I thought that this beer was merely adequate compared to other winter/Xmas ales, and I suggested a "pass" on this beer. However, from my second tasting, more of the sweet malt backbone is present, along with an more enjoyable spice profile. It's still not a great beer, but my second (and third) tasting was a marked improvement. Mildly recommended.

NOTE: Photos are from both tastings.

From the brewery: 

"Rich with a warm finish. A seasonal, full-bodied winter beer with a warm and rich copper-red amber color. A satisfying malty taste sensation masterfully balanced with subtle hoppy bitterness. A perfect fit for celebrating the Winter season."

[source: warsteiner.us]

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]

Evil Twin Brewing 'Christmas Eve at a New York City Hotel Room' Imperial Stout. 10% abv. Black in color. Pencil thin tan head. Moderate retention, excellent lace. Nose of dark chocolate. Aroma is bittersweet dark fruit as the temp lowers. Front taste of bitter dark chocolate, plum, sweet black coffee. Aftertaste of dark fruit, raisins, bitter fruity hop sustain. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is hot, thick, clingy, astringent, dry finish.

This is an outstanding beer. Its dark flavor profile of chocolate, dried fruit, and coffee is rich and complex, with a malt backbone that is supported by bitter fruity hops. Another wonderful beer from this imaginative boutique brewery. Highly recommended.

NOTE: Special thanks to Anthony Olivera of the Craft Beer Drinkers of the 559 club for providing the lead photo. Cheers!

From the brewery:

"We have all good intentions to disturb, disorder and enlighten you with unforgettable beer after beer. Because we are so much in love with good taste, all the beers from Evil Twin are prepared in 10 of the best breweries around the world. Exclusively hand picked to please you with delicate, funky, extreme and by all means rare flavors. Maybe not the easiest way, but certainly the most fun!!! One More Thing. A clever man once said: 'Stay thirsty... stay foolish.' That sounds like our vision, just with a tad less attitude."

[source: eviltwin.dk]

I enjoyed Xmas NY Hotel Room on tap at one of my favorite bottle shops, Beer To The People.

Me and my beer buddy Steve enjoyed Xmas NY Hotel Room Imperial Stout on tap at Beer To The People. 

Heater Allen 'Winter Bock' Handcrafted Lager. 6.3% abv. 31 IBU. Dark ruby, nearly black. Thin collar of tan head. Moderate retention, no lace. Nose is hard to discern cold. As the temp rises to room, aromas of red berries and port emerge. Front taste of sweet malt, dark berry, earthy hop background, mild roasty cocoa back end. Aftertaste of milder dark fruit, mellow bittersweet malt, bright red grapes. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, somewhat thick, tangy on the end.

This is a great winter brew, one that flies below the normal flavor profile of bright spices and thick malt. It tastes subdued by design, its flavors reigned in yet still complex and varied. Delicate.

If you like big bold spice in your winter/xmas beers like ample spoonfuls of nutmeg or cloves, you may find this beer too mild. However, if you normally dislike fall/winter spice blends and but still wish to try seasonal offerings, you may be delighted. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"In past years we called our Bock Hugo after Jan's (Rick's wife) grandfather, Hugo Effenberger. This year we decided to change the name and label due to consumer confusion over the old label, which had a picture of Hugo on it. Our Bock is big and malty with just a slight hop presence. Rich caramel notes are balanced with nice roasted flavors on the back palate. We plan on releasing the Winter Bock in January of each year."

[source: heaterallen.com]

This collar of head was all we got, but it stuck around just long enough.

Our beer being served to us by the friendly barkeep. Note the nearly absent head.

My friend Steve and I split this beer at the wonderful bottle shop Beer To The People.

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.

Samuel Adams Winter Lager. 5.6% abv. 22 IBU. Dark copper-red color with thick white head. Good retention and lacing. Aromas of sweet malt, cinnamon, cloves. Front taste of caramel, cloves, citrus peel. Aftertaste of cloves, ginger, citrus-orange peel. The wheat is more present in the aftertaste. Medium body. Mouthfeel is thick, sticky, foamy on the tongue.

This is a great winter beer that uses malt and spice to great effect without being over the top. Nice balance overall. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"German brewers may have been onto something centuries ago when they created bold, rich bock beers for the winter. For our brew, we created a dark wheat bock subtly spiced with fresh ground cinnamon, ginger, and orange peel for a deep smooth flavor that’s perfect on a cold winter’s night. Cheers."

Full Sail 'Wassail' Winter Ale. 7.2% abv. 56 IBU. Dark brown in color, nearly black. A finger of thick head slowly falls to half. Good retention, outstanding lacing. Nose is malty, sweet, spicy, alcohol. Front taste is roasted malt, caramel, chocolate, dark fruit. Aftertaste has a nice long sustain with strong alcohol, ample piercing hops, caramel, vanilla, dark chocolate. Dry finish, a contrast to its sticky mouthfeel. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is thick, sticky, creamy, warm-hot. This is an excellent winter warmer. Fans of winter/xmas beers should seek out this limited edition brew. Highly recommend.

From the brewery:

"This holiday treat is deep mahogany in color, has a full malty body and a pleasantly hoppy finish. LIMITED EDITION ALE - AVAILABLE FOR 90 DAYS ONLY. OCTOBER-DECEMBER. A few unmistakable signs tell us when winter has arrived here in Hood River. The waterfalls in the Gorge start kicking out the jams. The snow report for the backcountry regains its hold over us. And the Wassail starts flowing once again. We’ve brewed Wassail every holiday season since 1988, and it’s now as much a part of the festivities as sharing a roaring fire with our closest family and friends. It's no wonder this multi-medal winning Winter Warmer is one of our favorite beers to brew. Choosing our ingredients for Wassail is like taking time to choose the perfect gift. Each year we carefully select the best hops and malts to brew this special beer. This year’s Wassail is brewed with a range of caramel malts and dark chocolate malts giving it a deep mahogany color and a full malty body. We used a blend of Pacific Northwest hops for a pleasant hoppy aroma and finish creating a deliciously balanced beer that appeals to both hop and malt lovers alike. In other words, a Christmas miracle."

Head retention was good, but the lacing was magnificent, all the way down.