Uneasy Rhetoric

Every year, Anchor tweaks the recipe for their Christmas Ale and comes up with something different. Every year, the put a tree on the label, and this year the tree is quercus agrifolia, the Coast Live Oak, a magnificent California tree.

The beer is dark brown with mild carbonation. When poured, it develops a significant head compared to the other winters I’ve tried. The smell is, according to my notes “festive.” In other words, it smells like a Christmas party, complete with pine tree.

The “pine” smell carries over into the taste (or perhaps it is chamomile?), which is deep without being bitter. It is also spicy, but mildly so. Anchor does add spices and natural flavors to their beer, so this beer is more complex that ones that depend on various mixtures of hops. There is little aftertaste.

This is a smooth drinking beer with a surprising and uncharacteristic taste. I have been enjoying it thoroughly.

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The list from best to worst:
Sierra Nevada Celebration
Pyramid Snow Cap
Deschutes Jubelale
Anchor Christmas Ale
Bridgeport Ebenezer
Full Sail Wassail
Redhook Winterhook