Anchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, California) has officially announced that it will begin the Limited Release of its 2020 Christmas Ale in early November.

Back for the 46th year in a row but the “the first release by newly appointed Anchor Brewmaster, Tom Riley,” 2020 Christmas Ale is a Spiced Brown Ale “layered with classic holiday flavors of chocolate, toasted marshmallows and graham crackers.” Coming in at 7% ABV (the highest of any previous Christmas Ale release), 2020 Christmas Ale remains “easy-drinking and approachable for everyone at a holiday gathering or virtual event.”

“In such a challenging year, we wanted our Christmas Ale to be a moment of joy during the holiday season,” says Anchor Brewmaster Tom Riley.  “With a one-of-a-kind label, the highest ABV in history, and a balanced, holiday-inspired flavor profile, we believe that this year’s Christmas Ale stands in a category of its own.  Our Christmas Ale fans will be thrilled with year’s offering and first-timers will be in for a special treat.”

2020 Christmas Ale will officially release in early November and is scheduled to hang around through January 2021 (while supplies last). You can expect to find this Limited Release available in 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, gold-foiled 50.7 oz. magnum bottles and on draft at select craft beer-friendly establishments located in Alabama, Florida, California and throughout the rest of Anchor Brewing’s nationwide distribution area. Prost!

Vital Information for 2020 Christmas Ale from Anchor Brewing Company

Release – Limited; November 2020 – January 2021
Style – Winter Warmer
ABV – 7%
Malts – “Top Secret”
Hops – “Top Secret”
Fun Fact – “Each year a new symbolic hand-drawn tree is chosen for the Christmas Ale label. This year’s label features The Three Graces; three iconic towering sequoias from the Mariposa Grove in California’s Yosemite National Park. This is only the second time in its 46-year history that multiple trees are shown together on the label, a fitting statement to symbolize togetherness and hope in a year when so much time has been spent apart. The Three Graces represent radiance, joy, and flowering – characteristics that we can all hold near during this unprecedented time.”
Suggested Pairings – “Ideal dessert pairings are crème brulee, molten lava cake, pumpkin pie and more. Suggested savory pairings are turkey and a rack of lamb.”
Availability – 6-packs of 12 oz. bottles, 50.7 oz. magnum bottles & draft
Beer Finder – https://www.anchorbrewing.com/connect/beer_finder