Brewery Name and Location: Anchor Brewing - San Francisco, CA
Name of Brew: Anchor Steam
Style of Brew: California Common / Steam Beer
ABV: 4.9%
If you’re wondering what the fuck a “Steam Beer” is allow me to crack a couple of eggs of wisdom on you. The term was coined on the West Coast in the late 1800’s when refrigeration was a luxury. The beer is an American style lager that is brewed with a special strain of lager yeast that works better at warmer temperatures. Brewers back then had to find creative ways to cool the beer down so they used shallow fermenters which is why they needed a quick yeast that worked at warmer temperatures.
Enough with the history lesson. Anchor Steam has a light amber color and pours with a stiff white head that quickly dissipates leaving nice lacing down the glass. The first taste is hard to describe. You get an initial hoppiness, almost like an IPA, but that quickly dissipates into a nice even malty flavor with hints of fruit. The beer is medium bodied with great mouth feel. Anchor Brewing describes the beer with the following:
San Francisco’s famous Anchor Steam®, the classic of American brewing tradition since 1896, is virtually handmade, with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. The deep amber color, thick creamy head, and rich flavor all testify to our traditional brewing methods. Anchor Steam is unique, for our brewing process has evolved over many decades and is like no other in the world.
Anchor Steam is just flat out delicious. In fact I’m enjoying this one so much I’m starting to get a little upset that my local market only carries it in 24 oz. bottles. I wish they at least had sixers at the bare minimum. I’m not going to let that discourage me though, it just means I’ll have to pick up three of the tall bottles tomorrow so that I can properly enjoy my Friday evening. I would have to say that Anchor Steam is a great all around beer that is going to be good at any time with just about anything.
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