Why we picked it: Anchor Steam is a staple in the 24 Days of Beer.
About Anchor Steam's Christmas Ale: 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.
The annual search for the perfect tree for our Christmas Ale label usually takes us far afield. This one began and ended with the search for a parking space near the Brewery! Getting out of the car, we couldn't help but notice the way the late-afternoon sun danced amid the branches of two lovely Deodars just half a block from Anchor's front door.
Our longtime label artist Jim Stitt—who has been drawing trees for us since 1975—loved "our" Deodars and, like us, was amused that they were about as local as local gets! His charming illustration evokes the radiant beauty of our arboreal neighbors as well as the spirit of the season. Cheers from the Anchor brewers!
Beer Advocate Score: 85
First Brew - 1975
First Bottling - 1975
Availability - Nov.-Feb.
Malt - Top Secret
Hops - Top Secret
Dry Hops - Top Secret
ABV: varies
Case Cost: $44 ($12 a six pack)
*website: http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beer/christmas_ale
This day is just filled with anticipation. Will it be the pine crunching disaster of 2012 or the pleasant surprise of 2014? So tempting to just crack it open now and take a sip just to find out. I shall resist. Until at least noon.
ReplyDeleteEh I liked last year's better. This one's more Christmas ale less pine. You can actually taste the xmas spices and such which isn't bad but last year's was just better. B-
ReplyDeleteAlways love some Anchor Steam. At AT&T park in San Fran they have like 10 different ones on tap. Pairs well with the ghiradeli Sunday (in left field) and the crab melts.
ReplyDeleteAlways love some Anchor Steam. At AT&T park in San Fran they have like 10 different ones on tap. Pairs well with the ghiradeli Sunday (in left field) and the crab melts.
ReplyDeleteIf memory serves u think it's little better than last years. It kind of goes through 3 different distinct flavor notes with every sip. I kind of like this years.
ReplyDeleteSo I wrote the first post at the beginning of this years Anchor Steam adventure. With every sip I feel as if I am getting more and more pine notes and it's moving towards off putting for me.
DeleteMine was extremely carbonated for some reason and it kinda took away from the beer's flavor. I think I liked last years concoction better but maybe it is the heavy carbonation's fault. Good but could have been better.
ReplyDelete"I'll have another"
ReplyDeleteAlways a treat, familiar taste, still enjoy it. "Years" ago one of the first beers I had that had spices In it. Liked it then, still like the adventure! Modeled my 7 spice ale after it when I used to homebrew.
The spices seem muted this year, pours very nice, creamy head on the glass. I agree with previous posters that this isn't their best.
I was introduced to this beer during on of the last couple of 24DOB's and like this one for the same reason I liked it before. This beer just has character that you don't typically find. And I am impressed with the fact that they are willing to monkey with the recipe...every year. I was looking forward thi this and was not disappointed.
ReplyDeleteOn a somewhat related note, I want to take the advent of the mid point of this year's 24DOB to say thank you again to all who put this together. Each year you broaden my exposure to beers and styles that I would likely never have tried otherwise. Cheers!
Definitely a fan of Anchor Steams line up but was worried this was going to taste like a pine tree since last time I had it was in 2012 like Bill called out and it was awful. This years is much better.
ReplyDeleteAlways look forward to the Anchor Steam, but I found this year's version is kind of uninteresting. I pick up a little bit of spice on the finish and it is getting better as it goes along. Still, I think last year was a but better. I'll give it 3.5 out of 5.
ReplyDeleteAwful as always. Seriously. Last year was clearly the aberration in that it was actually drinkable and sort of interesting. I give this the clear edge over pinetastic version 2012 or 2013 but this is just a dull flavorless winter ale. Except that I kept getting some weird aftertaste. Sort of like something that would be emitted from the engine of my 12 year old Corolla. I kept taking sips and sniffing and trying to figure out what it was but I never could. So a beer that alternates between bland and bad is never a good thing. I do think it's good we drink this every year. And I have to admit, they do radically change their stupid top secret recipe every year. No two of these are ever the same. They all suck in their own special way.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe that we have reached the mid way point of another 24 Days of Beer/Christmas. I enjoyed this beer despite its blandness. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad either.
ReplyDeleteI just got home from a holiday event and the last thing I had was Brewer's Art St. Festivus. That was mighty tasty. Due to the "top secret" recipe of the Anchor Steam Christmas Ale, I didn't know what to expect, but as soon as I poured it I thought I was in for another version of the St. Festivus - in a good way. This brew is different every year by design, so I'm not going to compare it to previous years except for the label, which is still very cool. I like this year's version. I'm reminded of the "dark fruit" character of a Belgian Dubbel, but it's very drinkable. Instead of uninteresting, boring, or bland, I think a better way to describe it is "balanced". This feels like a Holiday beer in a very good way.
ReplyDeleteMeh...
ReplyDeleteHard not to compare it to years past even if I know it is unfair as the recipe changes. This beer does represent anchor steam for Christmas tho. I have to believe that people did put a bit of effort into this one...tried a few small batches before production...maybe not.
2012 was so horrific we had to skip a year. Brought it back last year (amid great skepticism) cuz my vendor was raving about it. It was awesome. I went out and got a few 1.5L bottles from Costco and drank quite a bit of it thru the month of December. I even got a keg of it and added it to my draft lineup.
This year...it's a good beer but generally unremarkable. Great color and a nice creamy head...looked promising. The foam disappated rapidly and there is almost no lacing. Nose and flavor...disappointing. I just think it misses the mark.
I'll wait til next year before I have another
This one was rather average for me. It was easily drinkable, but unremarkable. I drank it, but do not really remember anything great or bad about it. Grade 7.5 of 10, C+
ReplyDeleteVery "synthetic" on the tongue. The nose was delicious spiciness though which made that upfront, chemical-like oiliness very unwelcome. Not as good as last years. Not Anchors best. I agree with the no lacing and the colour looks good. The nose was inviting too. Failed where it mattered most, on the palate.
ReplyDeleteLove the fact that everyone remembers eating pine needles in 2012. I approach this beer with trepidation each year and this time it was middle of the road, which given 2012 isn't a bad place
ReplyDeleteI always respect anchor steam because it was one of the first mass distributed micro beers I remember having in my highly impressionable college days of the late 90s, so every one I have comes with some extra padding of nostalgia to boost its rating. 3.75 / 5 for me.
ReplyDeleteNot so hot on this brew. Starting to learn what I've always suspected, I'm not a huge fan of Xmas flavored in my beer.
ReplyDeleteD+