Anchor Double Liberty IPA

Anchor Double Liberty. A double IPA from Anchor? Whaa-a--a--at? Alright, I'm in. Let's do it. Anchor Brewing, San Francisco, California, 8.2% Alc. by Vol.

Clear, bright golden coloring, vast ivory head. leaving lace.

Bitter, fruity aromatics. Starts with the sweet and the tropical, and then comes the rich and ridiculous. Candied fruit, dipped in brandy. Boozy and truculent. Dried apricots, mixed with liquor.

In the mouth: Big, big, big. Sweet, then bitter. Then bigger, then bigger. Rich, and overly everything. This is not a kindler, gentler double IPA, nor a smooth one. This had got the booze and the hops, but isn't altogether...together. Doesn't quite hang. If you want to be pummeled by hops and booze, go for it. Booze is riding higher and higher now, boom, boom, boom, boom. Tasty, then too much.

Eh, I'm going to say that I didn't love it. There's better double IPAs out there. Go drink them. Anchor, try again.

there's a lot of gobbledygook on the label, in such a small type that I can't read it. Surely it's on the web somewhere? Well, sure there is. 

Anchor Wheat Beer

I've been really getting into the sampler packs lately. A 12 -pack of Anchor Brewing yields me two new bottles for this blog, the classic Steam Beer, and the never-tried wheat beer, plus two I always enjoy, Liberty Ale and Porter. Win, win!

So, here are my very fresh notes on Anchor Wheat Beer:


Anchor Wheat Beer. Made In San Francisco.

Clear, bright amber coloring, snow-white head, starts large, drifts down.

Aroma: lightly floral and citric, wheaty aromatics.

Taste: Snappy hop bite at the fore, followed by nothing but smooth. Much more of a spicy, hop-forward affront than I'd expect from a Wheat Beer. Very light bodied, short finish. The hop kick stays on every subsequent sip. This doesn't taste any typical wheat beer, not even slightly in a heft wizen or a Belgian wit vein.

I feel like reading the label: "We began brewing our first wheat beer at 7:30 a.m. on July 17, 1984. It was a long day--wheat is far less cooperative in the brewhouse than barley--but a momentous one. When we pitched our ale yeast into the cooled wort 10 1/2 hours later , we had created the first craft-brewed wheat beer in America. Within a very short time, our distinctly American, filtered wheat beer, with it's high ration of wheat malt to barley malt, it's subtle hoppiness and it's uniquely San Franciscan label, garnered a small but avid following. It included an up & coming young beer writer named Michael Jackson who praised Anchor's "clean, dry wheat beer, very delicate, but with light honey and apple notes." Today, inspired by Anchor's original wheat and James Stitt's original label, this new release of Anchor Wheat Beer celebrates the rebirth of wheat beer in America."

You know what? Now that you think of it, yeah, I'm getting some of that apple and honey note, sure, why not, Michael Jackson.
I like this. I'll use the remaining bottle to celebrate the arrival of spring, whenever that finally happens.

Anchor Steam

Once again, I dip into a sampler pack, and once again I delve up notes from 11 years ago (just about). I first tapped Anchor Steam at the Blue Nile back in May of 2005, and here are the notes:

Anchor Steam Beer, 4.8 % ABV. 35 IBU.
Anchor Brewing, San Francisco, CA.

I'd had this in bottles before and thought it was just fine enough, but on first tasting it on draft, my eyes and tastebuds blew wide open, and were all the happier for it. Wow,  what a difference freshness makes.

Appearance: clear, bright amber hue, and a frothy, thick off-white head.

Aroma: soft and clean, with hints of fruit, bread, cream, nuts.

On the palate: smooth and fruity, with a small hop contingent, and very, very tasty. Body is light/ medium, texture is good, finish is long and friendly.

The fruity flavor stays on the palate for the greatest portion of this drink, and continues to reward it's consumption. With every sip, the flavor jumps aboard with zeal and vigor, fresh and ready for the task (of refreshment!). Tasty, and tangy, and, again, very giving.

A bright, beautiful hybrid beer that goes down smooth and easily, always accompanied by flavor. A great American brewing accomplishment.

Anchor California Lager

Anchor California Lager.

Clear, pale yellow, slim, white head.

Aroma: simple and clean, cereal grains, light, floral hoppiness.

Taste: small hop presence at the fore, then sweet malt fill in. Exquisite balance in this light-bodied, zesty lager. Supremely drinkable. Light, grainy malt flavor stays just shy of sweet, finishing dry and refreshing.

Excellent lager. Seek it out.

Anchor Porter

Another oldie and goldy. I don't pick this one up much, always in pursuit of the new, but do choose it on draft when I see it. Once more, notes from March, 2003, for Anchor Porter, from a pint poured on tap when I had it among the selections at the Blue Nile, 11 years ago:

Anchor Porter. 5.6 % ABV. 40 IBU.
Anchor Brewing, San Francisco, CA.

Jet-black color, with a tight cocoa/creamy tan head.

Aroma is a roasty delight: coffee, chocolate, nuts. Deep, rich, satisfying.

Terrific initial grit on the palate, a torrent of beautiful bitterness braces the tongue, but it's smooth sailing all the way down. Full body, rewarding flavor, fat malt, and just sweet enough.
Texture smooths out and the large portion of this drink is an easy-going, fully flavored ride.

 While I love bolder and brasher stuff, Anchor Porter just about acheives perfection, and the happiness that ensues when it's flavors flood my mouth and spread my smile out wide confirm that thought.

Here's some ripe gobbledygook from the label: "San Francisco's famous Anchor Porter brand is made in one of the smallest and most traditional breweries in the world by the brewers of Anchor Steam beer. Our old-fashioned porter is virtually handmade, with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. We use 100% malted barley, generous amounts of fresh, whole hops, entirely natural carbonation, and a simple, natural brewing process that is like no other in the world. The deep black color, the thick, creamy head and the intensely rich flavor of Anchor Porter , made in San Francisco since 1972, have earned this delicious and unique brew a worldwide reputation for outstanding quality. It is aesthetically pleasing and wholly superior in every respect."

I'd call that overblown if it wasn't true.

Anchor Liberty Ale

Another from that mixed sampler dropped off by my sales rep. An old favorite that remains strong, but has gotten lost in the shuffle amidst all the new breweries that have eclipsed their offerings over the years. I'm baffled why the distributer doesn't carry kegs of this (only Steam, Porter, and seasonals). If I'm not mistaken, Liberty was the first American-brewed IPA of the modern era, and the first to focus on Cascade hops.

These notes were written way, December of 2002, and here we have another gusher. I gave it a 4.9/5 on BA, a big 18% above the mean. I still like it, but again, too much gushing, I'd need to temper this enthusiasm, if I were writing anew. Man, they should pay me for this one. Here it is, 8 1/2 years later. Where's my check?

--------------

I'd seriously underestimated this beer in the past, for my enthusiasm was markedly greater when I sat down to study it, smell it, and appreciate it's complexities. I'll bet I was drinking it out of a bottle in a noisy, smoky bar.
Thick white head, settles soon. Pale orange color. Fresh aroma, incredible fruit! Peaches, apricots, citrus, with perfect integration--nothing stands over or above anything else. Quite mellow and smooth, this is an ideal session beer, not too powerful in hops or alcohol, but one that rewards the attentive. Fritz Maytag and the boys at Anchor are the ultimate craftsmen and this is a perfect product. Everything is so well-formed and pure, it's amazing. Great balance, flavor, everything!

Anchor Our Special Ale 2010

Anchor Our Special Ale Merry Christmas & Happy New Year 2010.

One beer I definitely have to return to, year after year.

"This is the thirty-sixth "Our Special Ale" from the brewers at Anchor. It is only sold from early November to mid-January. The Ale's recipe is different every year, but the intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since ancient times trees have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with it's seasons, appears born anew."

Deep black appearance, creamy-toned head, stays slim and tight, leaving lace.

Aroma: sweetness and spice, nutmeg, allspice, with caramel and black malt below. Beautiful.

Taste: there's the soft and succulent malt, mixed with spice, no hops at play here. A little peppery heat pops in from time to time. One of the most drinkable and better balanced OSAs of recent years.

Lighter bodied, leaning to medium, spicy, malty flavor lays low on the palate, hangs in there. Still toasty and tasty, my six pack was over with in no time. (Well, not NO time...a couple of days, sheesh, I'm not that bad!)