All I want for Christmas

Just a few days ago, Anchor Brewing company released this year's seasonal Christmas Ale. Along with red cups at Starbucks, there are a few microbrew seasonals that really mean "the holidays" have arrived for me: Lump of Coal, Sierra Nevada Celebration and more than any of those, Anchor Christmas.

Anchor holds the highest distinction mostly due to it being different every year. The brewers at Anchor have selected a new label and a new formula for the past 37 years and while there are some general common traits among all the years, each year has its own special characteristics. This year's version reportedly is dark and smells of Christmas spices (sigh). Plus some fans have found that you can store the beer for years and, like a good wine, the beer will age, offering new nuances over time.

I tend to have trouble letting the beer "age". It's that good. If it makes it past March, it's been an exceptional year. In our house, if we can find it at all, we tend to drink it like wine, in fancy glasses, one bottle a night. And as we get closer and closer to the end of our supply, we begin to rationalize why we deserve one that evening (tough day at work, celebrating an achievement) because in the back of your head, you know once the New Year's is upon you, there's little chance of seeing the beer again until the following holiday season.

For the past two years, I was stuck in Tennessee, where it seemed impossible to find good microbrews. After visiting several stores and talking to distributors, it sounded like the closest place to find Anchor Christmas was in Kentucky or Asheville, NC. But after putting out a clarion call on Twitter, a friend in the DC area sent me a care package including several Anchors and a few Lump of Coals. One of the nicest presents I've ever received, just what I asked for. (Remind me to get that guy something nice.)

This year, I'm back in North Carolina, one of the best states for microbrews. I've been casting around Twitter and Anchor Christmas has started appearing in the Carolinas. Yesterday in Winston-Salem, a few days ago in Columbia (SC). Using the Beer Spy app at Tryon Distributing (the local Anchor distributor), magnums have showed up in Hickory. Unfortunately nothing comes up in the Charlotte area (yet). So, there's beer to be had, just we may have to road trip to get to it. But, that's ok, it's worth it.

Maybe you'll come across Anchor Christmas this year wherever you are and you've wondered, should I try this? Yes, take my advice, buy it, enjoy it. Each and every year, even as they change the taste, it never fails. And if I see some around here in the Charlotte area, as Larry Miller would say, you'll be the second to know.