|
 This
is the thirty-second Our
Special Ale from the brewers at Anchor. Every year since
1975 the brewers at Anchor have brewed a distinctive and unique
“Christmas Ale,” which is available from early November to
mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year—as is the tree
on the label—but the intent with which we offer it remains the same:
joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times,
trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its
seasons, appears born anew.
Each year our
Christmas Ale gets a unique label and a unique recipe for the
Ale itself. Although our recipes must remain a secret, many
enthusiasts save a few bottles from year to year—stored in a cool
dark place—to taste later and compare with other vintages. Properly
refrigerated, the beer remains intriguing and drinkable for years,
with different nuances slowly emerging as the flavor mellows
slightly.
 Liberty
Ale - Once "Our Special Ale"
Liberty Ale
was first introduced on April 18th, 1975 to commemorate the
bicentennial of the famous ride by Paul Revere. Before it became a
permanent year-round product, variations of our Liberty Ale
formula enjoyed brief tenures as Our Special Ale, available at
Christmastime.
Lewis and Clark
Catalog the Spruce Tree
 Lewis
and Clark’s Corps of Discovery spent the winter of 1805-06 near
present-day Astoria, Oregon, a location chosen by a historic vote
(November 24, 1805) of all the expedition’s members—including
Shoshone woman Sacagawea and William Clark’s slave, York. They
called their winter home Fort Clatsop, after the local Indian tribe,
and remained there until March 23, 1806, when they began their
return trip to the United States.
The long, wet
winter provided Meriwether Lewis with plenty of time to observe and
document the native flora and fauna, including what would become
known as the Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), a species
entirely new to science. Lewis described it “as well as my slender
botanicall skil wil enable me…” in his journal on Tuesday, February
4, 1806, ending the day’s entry with the hope of finding a pine cone
from this “immence” tree. Two weeks later he had his cone, making a
detailed drawing and thorough description of it in his journal on
February 18, 1806.
Lewis’s pine cone
drawing was reproduced on Anchor’s 2003 Christmas Ale neck
label—courtesy of the American Philosophical Society—in celebration
of the 200th anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
All of the Anchor Our Special Ale Labels
Since 1975
 Click
this image to zoom.
Questions, complaints or compliments? Email me at:
beergeek@worldclassbeverages.com |
