Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week": Anchor 2008 Christmas Ale

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jan 8, 2009 9:01PM

A long time ago in a Chicagoist far, far away, we compiled a list of 12 favorite Christmas beers. Included on that list at #2 was Anchor's Christmas Ale. Fans of this yearly offering know that no two vintages are alike. From the spices to the label, there's always something to differentiate one year from another.

Skylark was selling (might still be?) the 2008 vintage for $4.50. The first thing that hits you is nutmeg — lots of it — on both the nose and palate. Combined with roasted barley malt, we had the feeling of drinking a very thick, slightly scorched eggnog.

The nutmeg is so prominent on this year's vintage that we had a hard time noticing the warm citrus and coffee flavors underneath. The beer poured very thick, a rich mahogany in color, with a coffee-and-cream head. An ideal beer for the weather that's coming our way later this week.

Anchor's 2008 Christmas Ale kicks off the 2K9 version of Chicagoist's "Beer of the Week." Go out and grab a sixer if there's any left.