December 12 - Anchor Brewing Christmas Ale (Our Special Ale)


On the 12th day of Christmas Jonny gave to me, a beer, in a tree! Tonight's beer was made specially for Christmas, Anchor Brewing's Christmas Ale. There was a time when I thought Anchor's flagship beer Anchor Steam was disgusting.. I remember having it and I had to pour it out because it was making me gag.. oh how the times change! My palate can handle just about anything beer-wise now.

Appearance: Pours a very dark nearly dark-as-the--cold-cold-night black, like a nice porter or stout. Nice amount of light tan beige head, foam sticking to the side of the glass.

Aroma: Aroma of fruits, cherry pie, tad bit of cinnamon, wintery goodness, christmas trees, lightly floral, some caramel notes.

Taste: Sweeter and not as bitter and roasted as I was expecting by looking at the beer. Sweet notes of cinnamon, spices, a flavour that I can only describe as "what a Christmas tree would probably taste like" with a bit of evergreen in there. For the mouthfeel, much lighter and more watery than I had expected, expected more of a creamy or fuller body to it. A smidge of molasses, and overall a Christmas tasting beer.

Overall Thoughts: Lighter on the palate than I expected.. I expcted more in-your-face flavours but it has the typical winter ale flavours you see come around this time of year.. cinnamon, quite sweet, a bit of caramel and almost like a gingerbread cookie in a bottle of some sorts.. oh and the taste of Christmas trees.

5.5% ABV

www.anchorbrewing.com/beer/christmas_ale

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