Well I for one am extremely happy that 2013 is finally here.
Thankfully, the Mayans were wrong, we wound up not going over the cliff, and I
get to continue my mission in Craft Beer. Today’s review is a bit of a treat,
as we go into the cellar to crack open a well-aged magnum of 2010 Anchor
Christmas Ale.
A quick note here…some of you may be wondering what I’m
talking about when I mention “aging” Craft Beer. You may think I’m crazy to
consider storing beer. After all, don’t Big Beer companies talk about
“freshness dates” and “born on” dates?
Yes, it’s true that certain beer (low alcohol content) are
better served fresh, but it’s also true that some beers take on completely
different flavors when aged. The most important thing to remember, should you
ever decide to store a high ABV beer (10% is recommended), is the actual
storage location. You want to avoid direct sunlight (this kills beer) and you
want to find a cool, dark place to keep these treasures. That’s why they call
it cellaring. Now, let’s get on to the brew.
THE BEER:
Back in 1975, Anchor Brewing began celebrating the Christmas
season by releasing distinctive Christmas Ales every year. These special brews
are available from early November to Mid-January, and can be found at most
Craft Beer establishments. Although the secret recipe is different every year,
you can always count on two things: rich, dark, spicy Ale…and a different tree
adorning the label each year. The tree signifies the joy and celebration of the
newness of life, and is a gentle nod to the Winter Solstice. In 2010, the
highlighted tree was the Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo biloba.
Anchor Brewing does specify that with proper aging, their
Christmas Ales can be enjoyed for many years, as different nuances emerge with
time, as the flavors mellow slightly.
THE STATS:
STYLE: Winter Warmer
ABV: 5.50%
MALT: Top Secret
HOPS: Top Secret
Availability: Limited (Brewed once).
This Beer is no longer brewed and is considered retired
THE BREWERY:
The history of Anchor Brewing can be traced all the way back
to 1849, and to the California gold rush, when German brewer Gottlieb Brekle
purchased an old saloon on Pacific Street for $3,500, transforming it into a
brewery, that 25 years later would be renamed Anchor.
In 1896, German Brewer Ernst F. Baruth and his son-in-law,
Otto Schinkel, bought the old brewery on Pacific and named it Anchor. No one
knows why it was renamed Anchor, but it was probably as a reference to the
booming Port of San Francisco.
In 1965, after years of turmoil, the brewery appeared ready
to close its doors. When a young Stanford grad named Fritz Maytag learned that
his favorite brewery was going out of business, it shook him to the core. He immediately
rushed in to purchase 51% of the brewery for just a few thousand dollars,
rescuing it from bankruptcy, and ensuring that his favorite beverage would
always be available at the Old Spaghetti Factory in San Francisco.
In 2010, after 45 years, Fritz Maytag, announced his
retirement with the sale of Anchor Brewing to Keith Greggor and Tony Foglio.
The new owners plan to preserve and expand the iconic brand’s operations and to
maintain its position as a leader in craft brewing and artisan distilling.
THE WEBSITE:
THE REVIEW:
Okay, first of all, let me say that I was a little weary
when I finally was able to crack this one open. My fear was that it would not have
fared so well after sitting for two years. But I was pretty surprised to see
that it managed to keep quite nicely. The pour was clean, with a pretty good
amount of carbonation…maybe a little too much, and the head was tight and
maintained well throughout the whole bottle. What jumped out immediately once I
got my first sip was just how soda-like the brew was. It felt like I was
drinking a root beer at times. Flavors ranged from chocolate, to coffee, to
toffee…and there was very little bitterness associated with the brew. Overall, this
was a great, well-aged beer, to share with friends. I could definitely see how
it’s a celebration brew.
RATING:
8/10 – Reason to celebrate
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