Holiday Libation
Anchor Brewing
34th Anchor Christmas Ale
Welcome to my Beer Blog. I am Bill Phillips, your beer drinking buddy.
I will be critiquing a different beer each blog, I may also discuss a certain Brewery, Brew Master or specific Brewing Style.
I am in the process of starting a homebrew club in the Vail Valley, if your interested in details leave me a message here.
Just in time for the Holiday’s I chose this one of all of the seasonal choices because in my opinion it is Anchor’s best yet. It is their 34th production and is very complex ale. Upon pouring the aroma reminds me of homemade fruitcake in a glass (I am one of the few admitted fruit cake fans). A lovely spiced winter brew this will cellar extremely well.
Beer: 34th Annual Anchor Christmas Ale
Brewery: Anchor Brewing Company
San Francisco CA
www.anchorbrewing.com
Style: Seasonal Winter Warmer
ABV: Varies
Ingredients: Top Secret
BDB Score: B+ (4.25)
Appearance: 4.25
Deep black-amber color with a thick tan head, which left a descent lacing as the foam, dissipated.
Aroma: 4.25
Candied fruits & spice, dominant ginger with a slight presence of malt.
Taste: 4.5
Complex with cocoa, raisins & ginger followed by a tangy finish of underlying orange peel flavor that was not immediately apparent.
Mouth Feel: 4.0
A bit creamy with not much carbonation.
Drinkability: 4.25
Very drinkable considering how complex the aroma & busy the taste but it goes down quite easily.
Bill Phillips is a 20-year Eagle County Resident. He has been attending beer tastings for over 10 years and has recently begun home brewing beer & mead and judging home brew competitions.
The Vail Valley Foundation celebrates at the Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch on Friday, December 5, 2008
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Reader Comments:
We'll see you at the Big Beers Festival this weekend!
What did they serve at the Brewmaster's Dinner Bill? Awesome event. Sorry we couldn't make it this year.
Hey Bill! Let's get a best of the best opinion from this Saturday's Big Beers Tasting.
Can anyone believe The Big Beers Belgians & Barlywines Festival allows Anheuser-Busch to participate in their tasting event? Really?!? Seriously, Really?
Bill is already at the festival. The AB participation is interesting, they are serving some of their experimental beers today at 12:00 and are participating in the experimental panel tomorrow morning. Last nights dinner was awesome, Sam, Adam & Chef Mercer did an incredible job.