Anchor Brewing 2021 Christmas Ale features vintage labels, new flavors
Fans of classic beers and branding will find joy in learning that Anchor Brewing Company’s seminal Christmas Ale (aka Our Special Ale) will return this year with the same authentic design elements of the last 47 years. Earlier in 2021 the 100+ year old San Francisco, CA based brewery announced a total rebrand that had traditionalists up in arms. Even with many new modern beers, 12oz cans, and a more current brand design, it’s refreshing to see Anchor is sticking with the old school hand drawn tree labels for Christmas Ale.
Anchor Brewing made history as one of the first American breweries to release a holiday beer following Prohibition, and has continued the yearly tradition ever since. Each year, Anchor bottles a new, secret recipe paired with a festive hand-drawn label commemorating the winter solstice and the joy of changing seasons.
During Anchor’s seminal 125th anniversary year, the Anchor brew team, led by brewmaster Tom Riley, crafted a Christmas Ale that amplifies notes of rich, bittersweet chocolate with hints of raspberry and light mulling spices such as cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and cardamom. The dark, silky-smooth brew maintains last year’s 7% ABV. The 2021 label showcases a hand-crafted image of the iconic Western Joshua Tree, epitomizing the natural beauty of California’s high desert. A portion of sales from the 47th edition will benefit One Tree Planted, a non-profit dedicated to global reforestation planting millions of trees across 43 countries.
Starting in early November, Anchor’s Christmas Ale will be available in celebratory, gold-foiled 50.7oz magnum bottles and six-packs of 12oz bottles through mid-January 2022. The brew can be found in select stores nationwide and on draught in bars and restaurants, including Anchor’s Public Taps taproom in San Francisco. To find Christmas Ale near you, visit Anchor’s Beer Finder.
About Anchor Brewing Company
Established in San Francisco in 1896, Anchor Brewing Company is America’s first craft brewery, persevering through earthquakes, fires and the Prohibition era. In 1965, Anchor’s new owner Fritz Maytag revived the brewery for a new era, charting a course that was foundational in the craft beer movement.