Anchor Christmas Ale

[Javelin]

Hey guys, I picked up a six pack of the newest Anchor Christmas/New Year Ale and I have 2 questions:

1) What is the ABV on this? I can't find it anywhere

2) There's some imprinting on the back label..raised lettering. Embossing I guess. My six pack says "3HS" on each bottle. What are these #s/letters for?

Any help would be appreciated.
thanks.

[L.H.H.H.Brown]

Anchor is very secretive about this beer. Don't know the ABV. Have many bottles and none say anything. As for the #'s/letters, I venture to guess it has to do with the batch. Mine says 3NG. My last years says 2NK.

[Kiltlifter]

put me in the beer "cellar" and GAWD hope I turn into something more interesting by next year

:D

tried it cold ... tried it warmed up ... neither one very appealing to me. I'm glad that others are able to enjoy this beer but it just doesn't do anything for me.

[chazwicke]

Mine are hard to read but I think it is 3MM.

[Beaver]

I just found this explanation and remembered this thread:

http://www.anchorbrewing.com/about_us/faq.htm#bottles

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by Kiltlifter
put me in the beer "cellar" and GAWD hope I turn into something more interesting by next year

:D

tried it cold ... tried it warmed up ... neither one very appealing to me. I'm glad that others are able to enjoy this beer but it just doesn't do anything for me.

Kiltlifter....

I gotta agree. I was eager to get it but disappointed when I drank it. There are three languishing in the beer fridge right now.

[Beaver]

Is the Anchor Christmas a good candidate for cellaring? Normally, I've heard good candidates are really hoppy beers or high alcoholic beers. It seems like the Anchor is neither of these.

[chazwicke]

Another Brickskeller tasting that I attended was with Anchor Christmas beers that actually brought in many of the past years batches for a verticle tasting. It was about 7-8 years ago. The Anchor beers will cellar. I did enjoy it this year.

[Beaver]

Thanks Chaz!

Am I incorrect in thinking that only very hoppy or alcoholic beers are good for cellaring? Do all the other spices in the Anchor make up for a lack of hops?

I put one of this year's in my basement closet along with a couple of Celebrations. We'll see how they are next year. My first cellaring experiment. :)

[steveh]

Originally posted by Beaver
Do all the other spices in the Anchor make up for a lack of hops?

That's what they say - I had a '97 Our Special Ale magnum in my fridge since '97 and we capped it on New Year's Eve - it was pretty tasty, spicy, and smooth. Unfortunately, I don't remember how the ale originally tasted 7 years ago, so I can't compare.

S.

[Beaver]

Thanks Steve. I'll probably only wait a year to try it...I'm way too impatient. I think I may throw some Great Divide Hibernation Ale in there as well. Very yummy stuff!

[newportstorm]

"3HS" is a bottling date. Bottled September (S) 8th (H is the 8th letter of the alphabet) 2003 (3). I think. Though after reading Anchor's explanation, it seems the second digit is for the month. But no "H" month is represented - possibly a "N" for November that is just hard to read? In which case the "S" would be the 19th day of the month. Confusing, eh?

I friggin hate having to decipher code when choosing fresh beer. Sierra Nevada does a 4 number code on the front of the bottle. First digit is the year and the last three are the day it was bottled. At least they include a date but a simple, universal method is long overdue.

As far as cellaring the OSA - definitely! I greatly enjoyed a '98 OSA on Christmas Day 2001. Fantastic!

Cheers!

[skahtboi]

Originally posted by Beaver
I think I may throw some Great Divide Hibernation Ale in there as well. Very yummy stuff!

One of my favorites of the dozen or so Winter brews I tried this year.

[Beaver]

I picked up another 6er of the Anchor OSA a couple of days ago. It was on sale for $9. I'll probably "closet" one or two more. :)