Beerly Departed - Search The Crypt's Records

Friday, December 25, 2009

Anchor - Our Special Ale 2009 (Christmas Ale)

Dead Soldier
Where to Dig Up More About This Beer
Our Special Ale 2009 (Chrsitmas Ale)
Anchor Brewing Company
1705 Mariposa Street 
San Francisco, CA USA
Est. 1896
www.anchorbrewing.com

Brain Damage Quotient = 5.5 % ABV
Fluid Oz. = 12.0 

Postmortem Brew Review
Dark brown color.
Malt presence with pine hops aroma.
Spice and sweetness in perfect balance and taste.
Off white, two finger head with lacing that coats the glass magnificently.
Medium bodied flavor.
Soft carbonation. 

Grim Reaper's Eulogy
The Maytag Family is renowned for being innovators.  Everything they touch, from large appliances to fantastic blue cheese and also beer, comes out with a Midas touch.  Of all the Christmas beers retrieved from my mortuary chiller this season, none stood out more than this one.

The Anchor Brewing site has a page dedicated to this, their 35th Christmas beer showing it is no fluke of production.  Many years of hard work has gone into making this brew, and it shows.  These beers are recommended to be cellared and kept for the months to come.  It's a shame I only got one of these 12 oz. bottles.  I will not make that mistake again next year.

Yes, it is spiced, but not overly dry.  There is a touch of sweetness from the malts and along with the hops, they balance out from start to finish.  Just as understated as their washing machine ads and cult like following for blue cheese, this 'sleeper' in a bottle does not draw attention to what's inside.  It lets all of what has been put inside do the talking, just like all of this family's fine efforts.  They know how to pay attention to the details.  Even the label looks hand printed, like a jar of your aunt's preserves.  A Christmas gift from Anchor to us all!

How on earth do they make it so good?  I won't ask.  Nor will they tell; their website lets you know the ingredients are top secret!  Let's not bother asking.  It would be as embarrassing as asking how much a Christmas gift cost.

Do not miss out on this one, friend.

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