Anchor Merry Christmas

Anchor "Our Special Ale" Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2008:

Those who are close to El Presidente and are familiar with his tastes know that he, um, I wait eleven months out of the year to get my hands on Anchor's Holiday Ale. I've been sampling this special brew every year (I'm pretty sure I didn't skip any) since 1997. It is flavorful without being too extreme. It imparts a holiday feeling without tasting too much like nutmeg. Medium body with a grand bitterness that rewards the palate for all those patient months of waiting.

If you've ever doubted my judgment or impartiality, doubt no further, for this less-than-perfect score tells the tale of true loyalty to the spirit of holiday brewing. In comparison to previous Christmas offerings, the 2008 Anchor brew is just a wee bit less miraculous than its predecessors. It's still spectacular, mind you. This bitterness and body hold hands as they walk the line between ale and stout -- totally intriguing and well balanced. The only flaw I find is that perhaps a little more nutmeg or cloves or something would mellow it out just a tad and a little less piney essence would smooth it over ever so slightly.

It's still stylish and intricate and wonderful and I'll still fight anybody who talks trash on it. And I'll still make all of my friends and family have one. And I'll still attack the 2009 version as soon as I see it a year from now.

Just a little less accessible than its forebears, the 2008 vintage has had a lot to live up to. If you've never tried "Our Special Ale", go for it! Remember that the recipe is slightly different every year and you can look forward to its originality each holiday season. With a tradition dating back to 1975, this ceremonial brew is almost as old as El Presidente himself (the beer, however, is much more distinguished). I can only hope to leave a fraction of the legacy that Anchor has left. We all continue to reap the benefits of Anchor's innovative approach to brewing. Enjoy!

Anchor "Our Special Ale" Holiday:

Representation: .95
Accessibility: .90
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: .99

Total Score: 3.84 Flags

Victory Golden Monkey

Victory Golden Monkey

There you are, an adventurer holding a golden idol glowing with an alcoholic energy. The monkey has 4 arms and can do the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" thing while at the same time playing the "you looked at the circle" game. Your sobriety stored in a dusty pouch. You weigh the pouch in your hand. Should be just enough to offset the weight of the idol in an attempt to keep the traps from springing. What will it be? A trap door to a spike-lined pit? Perhaps a giant blade that tries to decapitate you? Rolling boulder? Giant spider?

Okay...so let's not be over dramatic. But Victory gets it right again. This Belgian style tripel ale has the sweet exotic taste of a brew from faraway lands but it's brewed right here in the good old U.S. of A. Downingtown, PA, in fact. It's dynamite if you like tripel ales brewed in the Belgian style.

It might be the worst (but just maybe the best) tailgating beer of all time. Never finish the night with the Golden Monkey if you're already golden yourself. Actually, let's cut the crap and just make the words "Golden Monkey" into a verb; some examples may be: "I really Golden Monkeyed myself into that embarrassing situation" or "What are you doing tonight? I'll probably just watch a movie and Golden Monkey myself to sleep." It's every bit of 9.5% abv with a little extra mystical sump'n sump'n that allows for some out of body experiences. A little too delicious if you ask me.

Victory Golden Monkey:

Representation: .95
Accesibility: .95
Style: 1.0
Personal Preference: 1.0

Total Score: 3.85 Flags

Sierra Nevada "Harvest" Wet Hop Ale

Sierra Nevada “Harvest” Wet Hop Ale

Sierra Nevada weaves a fine tale. The story of the one day turnaround of “wet” hops to make this Harvest Ale gives us beer lovers hope. I try to find the brewers who care about their products and go the extra mile (and then some) to produce something inspired. Sierra Nevada never disappoints. This ale is hoppy in a way that few brews can boast—not so much bitter as tangy. And flowery. And a little sweet. With a nectary-like finish that dries out at the end. Oh, that's delicious.

I gotta warn you... watch your pour doesn't go too fast because the head can be fairly outrageous. Maybe I poured it into the wrong glass, but I think it was appropriate. It's more of a hefeweisse glass but the flowery aroma and sharp zest proved well-suited for the large flute-style glass. Of course you could roll gangsta and drink this brew straight out of the 24oz. Bottle but some of the intricacies of the flavors might be lost if you don't allow this beer to open up and breathe.

I love this smooth, sweet, and bitter gem of a beer. Of course, I couldn't resist anything freshly released from Sierra Nevada. They could produce a Harvest Badger Pee Ale and I'd pick it up with the quickness. Of course BPA may not receive scores this high, but I'd drink it anyway.

Sierra Nevada “Harvest” Wet Hop Ale:

Representation: .99
Accessibility: .95
Style: .95
Personal Preference: .95

Total Score: 3.84 Flags

Devilishly Good T-Shirt

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