The San Francisco Treat
Written: Mar 22 '04
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Good complexity; Well- balanced; Easy to find in stores
Cons: High price
The Bottom Line: Anchor Steam is an American classic
|
|
|
| Bryan_Carey's Full Review: Anchor Steam Beer |
California’s Anchor Brewing Company is one of America’s best craft brewing operations. Owned by appliance magnate Fritz Maytag, this company brews many fine malt beverages and it has a distribution base that reaches every state in the union and many foreign countries as well.
Anchor makes a few different styles of beer but the most popular of all is Anchor Steam, a beer that has been brewed since 1896, making it one of America’s oldest craft beers. Let’s take a look at what makes Anchor Steam such a special and memorable brand of brew:
Basic Characteristics of This Beer:
Anchor Steam pours to a light copper/bronze color with a medium amount of foam that isn’t too heavy or too light and lasts for a decent amount of time after it hits your glass. The aroma is slightly burnt, with a floral hoppiness that tempts the drinker to take a sip.
Many flavors are present in a glass of Anchor Steam beer. First, I noticed the taste of caramelized malt with a touch of toffee. Then, I noticed the taste of citrus, bread, diacetyl, toasted malt, and then the bitter finish of crisp, dry hops with a touch of citrus that gradually fades away in the aftertaste.
Anchor brews this beer using two- row barley malt and Northern Brewer hops for a clean and refreshing taste. The alcohol by volume is a little lower than I expected, given its obvious presence in the taste. It measures 4.9 percent by volume and there are 152 calories in a 12 oz. serving.
Food Compatibility:
With this type of taste, many food products could be consumed with this beer. I enjoy mine with salty snacks, but Anchor Steam can also stand up well to other, heavier foods. I think it tastes very good with scalloped or au gratin potatoes, hamburgers, pizza, chicken dishes, and sharp cheeses.
Final Thoughts:
Anchor Brewing Company has been producing great tasting craft beer for more than a century, making it one of the oldest “micro” breweries still in operation. The brewery was on the brink of extinction at one point, when it was rescued by entrepreneur Fritz Maytag.
Anchor Steam is brewed using a unique process known as “steam” brewing. Using this method, beer is brewed using lager yeast at temperature levels normally associated with ales. The excessive carbonation produced from this process made the beer fizz more than normal; hence the term “steam” beer. It is a uniquely American product and the steam name is trademarked and owned by Anchor.
What I love about Anchor Steam is the fact that it is medium bodied and complex and it places an almost equal emphasis on the hop and malt flavors. No one taste dominates in this beer. You get to enjoy the delicious toasted caramel malt taste and the bitter, slightly spicy and citrusy dryness of the hops in the finish. It has far more character and body than a typical lager, yet it is also light enough to be consumed as an everyday beer, compatible with many foods and many occasions.
Anchor products are among the easiest to find among all craft beer products in the United States. Sierra Nevada and Samuel Adams are the only nationally sold craft beers that I see more frequently in stores. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of pubs and restaurants. While Anchor products are usually found in most any good beer store in any state, you will not find Anchor products on draft very much. This is a shame, because the taste of Anchor Steam would make a great companion to a night out in a sports bar, watching your favorite team on the big screen. It is often available in bottles in these places, but not in draft.
The price of Anchor products is a little higher than other beer, and that includes other craft beer. Anchor Steam retails for about $8.99 per six pack, which is at least $1 to $2 more than other nationally sold craft beer. Part of the reason is the distribution of the product and the other part is the California connection (beer brewed and exported from California usually does cost a little more than beer from other states). You have to be willing to cough up some dough, if you enjoy Anchor Steam.
Overall, Anchor Steam is an American classic that is certainly deserving of all the praise it has received over the years. As I sit here sipping on a glass right now, as I write this review, it gives me a great feeling of gratitude toward Fritz Maytag for saving this great brewery from extinction. Beer lovers around the world should rejoice whenever they take a sip of Anchor Steam. It is a truly American product, brewed with wholesome ingredients for an all around great taste. Cheers!
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.