I’m Thankful for Beer Part 2: Anchor Christmas

Cost Plus World Market, local retailer of the Buffalo Bill’s Pumpkin Ale, let me down today. Not a 6 pack of Pumpkin Ale in the whole store for our Thanksgiving celebration. So why am I thankful? Because Whole Foods almost made me cry. I turned the corner to their beer aisle and there it was, on top of a rather impressive beer-amid: Anchor Christmas Ale 2007 (one level below, Anderson Valley’s Winter Solstice, I’ll be back for you later).

So between helping my wife make apple and pumpkin pies, I managed to crack the 33rd annual version of this wonderful ale. It pours dark, with ruby red hues only noticeable when held up to the light. A light brown head sits atop this dark base and hangs around for just the right amount of time. Smells of dark smoky malts with the yeast following subtly. First taste, those roasted malts along with a noticeable hit of alcohol. This all fades to the bitterness of the malt which lingers, begging you to drink more. The hops, perfectly balanced, hard to pick out above the malt, but you know they are there.

This is why I love Anchor Christmas Ale. I tell everyone, even though it’s different every year, it always conjures the image of a decorated christmas tree, a low fire and a nice pint to be enjoyed in a comfortable chair. I hate pre-Thanksgiving Christmas cheer, but for Anchor, I’m willing to make an exception.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!