Anchor Brewing Company Merry Christmas & Happy New Year (Our Special Ale) (2016) – Christmas / Winter Specialty Spiced Beer at 6.5% ABV (C$3.37 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 355 ml, best before 31-Oct-2018, acquired 13-Dec-2016, reviewed 29-Nov-2021)
Appearance: clear brown with ruby highlights, one finger of rocky tan head, good retention and moderate clingy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: resiny pine, molasses, banana bread, spices. (8/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate bitter. (8/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering mildly spicy finish. (4/5)
I called the 2018 vintage the best I’d had to date when it was still pretty fresh in early 2019, but this one is up there with it despite being more than three years past its BB. Like that one, there’s a pungent resiny pine at the forefront, but this one is (now?) more molasses than chocolate. Despite that, it’s not excessively sweet, and is quite easy-drinking. (16/20)
This will be my 5,140th unique Untappd check-in.
8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
