Anchor Steam Beer

4.9% ABV

Anchor Brewing Company is one of the oldest breweries in America, first starting their brewing operations in 1896.  The brewery has a long, and unique, history.  Much like the brewery itself, Anchor Steam Beer is a unique style of beer – Steam Beer (which is trademarked, so is known as California Common for non-Anchor brewed beer) is an American style lager that utilizes special lager yeast adapted for warmer fermentation temperatures. 

Anchor Steam Beer pours a bright amber hue, with a yellowish head topping the brilliantly clear beer.  From the first whiff, you know this is definitely a lager.  It has a clean, malty smell that finishes with a slight fruity aroma – it’s not over the top, but it’s apparent at the end. 

The first sip is creamy – it starts with a nice grain bite and ends in the slight taste of hops.  It feels heavier than you’d expect looking at this beer – that clear, bright color is deceptive.  It is definitely malty, but not over the top sweet – it tastes like they added rye to smooth out the sweetness, but this beer is made from all 2-Row Barley.  It finishes dry, almost bitter like the initial grain taste, but the bitterness is subdued, much like the sweetness of the malt.  The finishing notes bring a bright, crisp taste that reminds us of that slight fruity aroma.  Overall, this has a nicely balanced flavor – a medium body with a creamy mouth feel. 

The head really contributes to the taste of the beer – it gives it a full flavored, full bodied kind of feel.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t last as long as we would like it to –more head retention would be great, because it really enhances the flavor of the beer. 

Anchor Steam Beer is a great summer and fall beer that would be an excellent companion to a burger, or fish and chips.  It would probably make an amazing beer-batter too – we’ll have to try that sometime! 

http://www.anchorbrewing.com