The Tide And Its Takers - Anchorage Brewing Company

ADZA

Australia

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Been looking forwards to this one as i do love a nice brew aged in chardonay barrels and it pours a hazed golden hue which leaves a creamy two finger head and lacing everywhere very nice looking,the smell is barnhouse funk,sweaty socks,floral hops and fresh mandarins,the mouthfeel is medium bodied,oily and a touch dry with tastes of bready belgian malts,funky barnhouse sour yeast,peaches,floral bitter earthy hops,brett,mandarins and finished with a funky sour dryness and overall its a nice drop with a beautiful touch of Brett to give you that funky sour dryness and with the weather like it is today its definately i could drink more than one bottle of cheers.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 08:04:23 | More by ADZA

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

4.35/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Liam for sharing this one.

Hazy pale blonde colour, ring of white head, lots of lace left behind here. Smell has lots of musty/funky brett up front, lemony and fruity citrus notes come through as well, malt and some buttery oak, yeasty and funky throughout. Big brett and vinious oak on the palate, funky and fruity, lemon, green apple, belgian yeast, some milder spicing for a tripel, a little bit of bitterness on the back end as well. Medium carbonation, medium-full body, nice feel. This is amazing stuff, very enjoyable and something I would love another chance at having.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2012 16:51:31 | More by peensteen

DovaliHops

California

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch 1. Pours a murky golden color with a medium-large white head that disappears quickly. Scent is quite lovely. Tart lemon notes with light floral hops and oak. Nice Belgian yeast with some definite barnyard funk from the Brett. A bit of honey and white wine as well. Taste is initially sweet citrus fruits...lemons and a hint of orange, immediately followed by some tart lemon. Floral hop flavors with some intense french oak flavors as well. There is a ton of brett in the flavor as well. Quite complex. Finishes with some white wine, wild yeast, and bitter hop flavors. Mouthfeel is medium bodied and crisp. Drinkability is very high. Overall, this is a fantastic beer, but I just wish I had bought another bottle. What they did with the Brett in this beer is just fantastic, so I would love to see how it ages. Crossing my fingers I find more.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 06:44:29 | More by DovaliHops

daledeee

Iowa

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked this up since it is a new beer to Iowa. A tripel with Brett aged in barrels. OK you have my interest!!

When I poured it, it wasn't anything special. a bright hazy gold with white head and good lacing.

Nose is brett and funk.

Taste. Just what I thought. This is primo stuff. Brett always gives a beer a special twist. This beer is intensely flavored yet it all balances out. I don't find that often. The taste is brett, malt, apricot, sweet background and some spiciness. Also citrus oil or peel but it is a back ground flavor which is unusual and very appealing. This is really a good tripel in my opinion. A little pricy but I am loving every sip. About $13 for a 750

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 23:19:37 | More by daledeee

sweemzander

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle poured into a tulip. Thanks Matt for sharing!

(A)- Pours a cloudy yellow color. Some good white froth with plenty of lacing left behind once it dissipated.

(S)- Nicely dry with a burst of fruit through a jungle of spiced oak and Brett. Nicely dynamic.

(T)- Wow, this is VERY complex. Again, it is quite Brett forward, but with a lemon-like yeasty biscuit thrown in with some dry fruity oak. My description kind of fails based on how much is going on.

(M)- A lively carbonation level. A great balance and complex element to it. Bitter too, but nicely fruity with really nice dry funk from the Brett.

(O)- This is a really great play in beer styles and combining ingredients together. Best way I can think of is a fruit forward Tripel mixed with Orval.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 20:24:11 | More by sweemzander

brewandbbq

New Hampshire

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

22oz bottle from batch #1, Oct 2011.

Pours hazy straw with an inch of white head. A partial skim coat and a few dots of lacing for the duration of the glass. Carbonation light for the style.

Aromatics lead off with pineapple skins, apples, bubblegum, cloves, and white wine. Hints of oak, cut grass, and musty fruit follow through.

Light bodied with a crisp mouthfeel.

Candied apples, clove-studded bubblegum, wine-soaked biscuits, and wet hay start the palate.
Shades of honey, orange marmalade, and warming alcohol step forward.

Finishes with mild brett, winey oak, and honey-drizzeled apples.

Tasty and complex. It could use a higher carbonation level and the hopping is subdued though. Perhaps batch 2 when it's fresh could be superior.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 01:09:25 | More by brewandbbq

sprucetip

Alaska

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very Pale golden, exceptional clarity, and active with a finger of fluffy foamy white head that stays for a bit and fades to film and ring. Minimal lacing.

At first it hit hard with lemony tartness and mid bretty funk. Appearing later are a more generalized Belgian yeasty character and gentle malty sweetness. It all plays well together.

Has all of the same elements as the nose, including horsey brett, lemony tart also from brett, Beglian yeast and a light malty sweetness blending together beautifully. Very mild hop bitterness is detectable and adds to the pleasure.

Well carbonated, rich full body, way more viscous than it looks, and finishes crisp and tart.

Gabe is an amazing brewer and designer of exquisite beers, and he's helping me learn to like brett. Like all ABC beers I have had so far, the brett element is absolutely a central component of the beer, but yet doesn't dominate it. And while this beer may not be as bold and have as many ingredients as some, the subtle nuance of what is there presents with the synergy and delicate perfection of a polished symphony orchestra. I suspect that something like the finished product is what he had in mind, and that hitting that target is something not a whole lot of brewers can do.

Serving type: bottle

05-16-2012 04:50:14 | More by sprucetip

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle from MasterSki, thanks Alex! 750ml Batch 1 (October 2011) into a tulip.

Golden orange with a voluminous white head. Sticky lace and moderate retention. Nose is floral, citrus, zesty, bretty, light oak sweetness and some grass. Taste is citrus, floral, bretty, citrus zest again. Quite complex. Lightly bitter, effervescent carbonation and medium light body, Delicious and complex, I could have this in my glass on any warm day (or any day of the year, really).

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 21:35:57 | More by liamt07

abrethanson

California

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Quick take as this is the day after from opening.

Appearance - golden yellow with (1) finger head. Looks like I would imagine a tripel / belgium style beer would look.

Smell - really good. fruity, fresh, and a little funkiness.

Taste - outstanding. Tastes pretty much as imagined with the sweet complexity of a tripel and funkiness from the Brett in the back end. Really enjoyed the spices and the dryness. A little citrus built into the body and some surprising hoppiness along with the funkiness.

Overall - Awesome! It provided a refreshingly tasty option to wash down our homemade meal. Would drink this anytime.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 21:17:34 | More by abrethanson

Ralphs66

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Came highly recommended by Vinny at DeCicco's in Brewster NY. I trust Vinny, not only because he looks trustworthy, but he has yet to steer me wrong. Not cheap at $18, but I'm glad I took it on. Looks like a thick Hefe on the pour, but a thinner head. Brett plays a huge part on the nose, with it's funk and citrus. First sip is over the top orange rind, but I know this one'll be a chameleon. VERY complex. Great carbonation, with a clean astringent bite. I like it very much, although I wish it had a little more sweetness.

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 22:08:54 | More by Ralphs66

Metalmonk

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Apparently a collaboration between Anchorage and Dogfish Head, although the Dogfish Head name is hardly made visible on the bottle print. Batch #1, Oct/2011.

A natural, unfiltered looking beer, kinda raw in appearance: super hazy/cloudy pale dirty yellow/gold with a foamy head that leaves gobs of lace on the glass.

Aroma gives off more Chardonnay than tripel, and a whole lot more Brett-y funk than either Chardonnay or tripel. A bit of wood nudges in. Nice fruity layer in the nose, like sniffing a cup of thick, combined, just-squeezed pear and peach nectar.

The spiciness of a tripel comes into the taste, and the Belgian yeast character (Brett, of course) is as assertive on tongue as in the nose. This mingles with the aforementioned pear/peach juice, Chardonnay, and wood. A bit of a green, leafy hop vibe too, and lemon peel. Fragrant, perfume-y, floral vibe overall. Huge waves of Chardonnay coat the mouth in the finish, mingling nicely with lemony hops.

There's such activity and complexity in the taste, I hardly even noticed the feel and probably wouldn't have cared if not reviewing. I mean, it's quite fine, achieving a great balance between fizzy tickle and smooth buttery texture, with the latter winning out just a tad...apparently every aspect of this beer is a winner.

I don't want to see Anchorage back themselves into a corner with all these triple-fermented, white wine barrel-aged beers...except these beers have been incredible so far, so if they turn into a Jolly Pumpkin type brewer (variations on a theme) then hey, no complaints from me. I've recently been won over by several Chardonnays, after not thinking I was ever going to acquire the taste for wine, so this is a real treat, considering big beers are my thing and the tripel is among my favorite styles. So if you're a beer drinker of similar mindset, you're going to want to try this, pronto. As with all the Anchorage stuff. Wow, best newcomer of the last several years, I think...

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2012 00:00:18 | More by Metalmonk

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle opened on 2-7-12.
Batch 1

A - Pours a light, cloudy orange with a fluffy cream-colored head. Great retention.

S - Belgian yeast, bananas and black pepper.

T - Banana, lemons, and some soft funk.

D - Good carbonation, with a light body.

O - Light and nice, another winner for Anchorage. I can't wait to visit the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2012 04:40:55 | More by HuskyinPDX

UCLABrewN84

California

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Batch # 1. October 2011.

Pours a slightly murky honey orange with a 1 inch foamy orange-white head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Foamy rings of lace line the glass on the drink down. Smell is very sour, tart, and funky with some grain, lemon, earth, and Brett aromas. Taste is very much the same along with some wood and white wine aromas. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp and dry mouthfeel. Overall, this is a great and interesting take on a tripel and the best of the Anchorage beers I have tried so far.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2012 07:56:30 | More by UCLABrewN84

notchucknorris

California

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Beautiful hazy apricot color with a huge, foamy white head. Tons of carbonation billowing from the bottom of the glass. Definitely a looker.

S: Spicy aroma with lots of lemon and tart green apple, cinnamon, cedar and a hint of Belgian yeast. Aroma only gets better as it warms.

T: The chardonnay barrel really comes into play here. Lots of vinous character upfront with some brett, chalky yeast and lemon with a touch of Belgian yeast and clove on the finish. Never gets close to the sweetness a lot of other tripels have, which I think is a really nice touch. Really delicious stuff.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 22:10:55 | More by notchucknorris

ngeunit1

California

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a hazy golden-orange color with a finger of frothy white head atop. The head fades down fairly slowly leaving behind some nice lacing.

S - Aroma is a mix of lemon, orange, and other citrus hops with some funky Brett, Belgian yeast spices, some oak, and a touch of tart light fruit.

T - Starts off with some tart lemon zest and other citrus hops alongside some farmhouse funk and Brett flavor with some Belgian yeast spices. Through the middle, some oak comes through with some stronger yeast flavors, coriander, and clove with some mild bitterness. The finish is a mix of tart and funky Brett and yeast flavors, a bit of citrus hops, pepper and other spices, and a touch of oak.

M - Medium bodied with moderate-plus carbonation. Feels smooth with a dry, tart, and lightly spicy finish.

D - Very drinkable. Good complexity added to the beer from the Brett and oak. The balance of flavors is really nice from start to end and the alcohol is very well hidden.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2012 03:22:55 | More by ngeunit1

draheim

Washington

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750mL (batch 1, Oct. 2011) into an Ommegang tulip. Pours a clear golden color w/ a thick, bright white head, lazy carb rising from the bottom. Clumps of sticky lace cling to the glass.

Aroms is a combination of the chardonnay and brett up front. Funky, vinous, oaky, floral. Basically what I was expecting and hoping for. Intensifies as it warms, but remains in balance.

Taste is delicate, flowery. Belgian yeast lends a softness, then right behind it the chardonnay kicks in. 9% ABV completely hidden. Hops provide a nice sharp, but subtly bitter, counterpoint.

Mouthfeel is medium-bodied w/ a dry finish. Possibly hindered by the lackluster carbonation.

Overall, another great beer from Anchorage. Basically exactly what I imagined a brett-fermented, chardonnay-aged tripel would smell and taste like.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2012 04:16:30 | More by draheim

vfgccp

New York

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Golden wheat body. Thin, fine bubbled, white head sits low. Low retention and ok lace.

S - Orange, bread pudding, cranberry tartness, rhubarb pie.

T - Sour apple, bitter brett, cranberry, strawberry rhubarb, honey, gram cracker pie crust.

M - Medium-full frame. Nice carbonation.

O - Great balance and complexity. Delicious.

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2012 21:42:11 | More by vfgccp

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

This beer poured out as a hazy golden color with a very nice white head on top. The retention is good as well as the lacing. The smell of the beer has a really good sweet and citric aroma, incredibly balanced. Really pleasant on the nose. The taste of the beer is really well balanced also, sweet maltiness with a great balance of Brett with a hint of spice as well. The mouthfeel is well carbonated yet soft, there is a slight creaminess to it, really nice. Overall it's very good, the addition of Brett adds a really nice additional element to the beer. Very good stuff.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 02:41:45 | More by Knapp85

FreshHawk

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Cloudy, hazy, pineapple color with orangish hues. Full, thick, creamy, frothy, white head. Very nice retention leaving a nice sticky lace.

S - Brett is definitely in the forefront of the nose. Nice Tripel aroma backing up that Brett. Tropical fruit, banana, sweet malt. Some spices and a touch of floral hops. Not much from the Chardonnay though.

T - Brett is a bit more subdued than in the nose but it gives the beer a nice funk albeit nothing overpowering. Really nice stone and orchard fruit, a touch of banana ester. Some spice but it's quite lightly spiced for the style. Touches of sweet grape and vainilla. Complex but not disjointed.

M - Medium to light body. Above average carbonation. Pretty spritzy and lively for the style.

D - Quite easy to drink and it entices me to keep drinking more. Complex but well balanced. Brett is definitely there, strong, and funky but it isn't overpowering.

Notes: Really nice and interesting Tripel. Solid beer. Brett is definitely there but it doesn't take over the Tripel. Chardonnay provided only a touch of flavor. Definitely worth picking up.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 22:01:55 | More by FreshHawk

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Batch #1 - October/2011. Poured in to Bruery tulip.

A - Slightly hazy golden orange colour. One finger of bright white head.

S - Tart, sour and some funk up front. Plenty of oak along with some lemon zest and bready malt aromas.

T - Bready malts up front with Belgian yeast and lighter clove flavours. The brett notes enter in the middle adding the perfect amount of sour and funk without dominating the beer. The finish has lemon zest and a nice dry tartness. Plenty of oak throughout.

M - Medium body with a massive chew. Creamy. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2012 16:01:11 | More by TheSevenDuffs

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

750 ml bottle was poured into a large Duvel snifter. I got this bottle from volunteering at the Extreme Beer Fest back in February. Batch 1/Oct 2011

Appearance: This beer poured a crazy two finger puffy head that has reduced to half it's size. It is a hazy golden yellow with some clarity and signs of carbonation coming up through the glass.

Smell: bready, tart, sour, vanilla, buttery, oakey, spicy, earthy, yeasty esters, lemon, citrus, and a bit of funkiness too. Tripel meets a sour.

Taste: Awesome. The Brett and the chardonnay barrels blend everything well. Picking up some apple, pear, and Belgian candy too. Alcohol is even hidden well too. A little bitterness in there too.

Mouthfeel: Soft, silky smooth, medium bodied, medium carbonation, and easy to drink even with the presence of Brett in the beer.

Overall: A nice twist on the tripel style that is growing on me. Wish I held onto the bottle a bit longer. Oh well. Still awesome after sitting in the bottle for a year. Now I have to be on the lookout for their other brews too.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 02:40:23 | More by Flounder57

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Quite a memorable take on a barrel-brett-triple

Presentation: 750 ml brown, caged and corked bottle. Screen printed label with a blue and white design of a spiked waves framed by with the details of the brew and face of the brewer. Side paragraph offers a description of the brew, and serving indications, back narrative from SC exposes intent, and hyperbolizes the background. Notes 30 IBUS, bottling Batch #1 Oct 2011, and 9% Alc. by Vol. Served in a tulip glass.

A -Lightly hazy gold pour, rich frothy head, hefty retention, good surface memory and some touches of lacing.

S - Rich nose with plenty of funky brett notes, earthy and spice notes follow…

T - with complex unfolding in the palate. Long brett coating over a complex vinous spicy profile, sense of yeast, touch of wood, sweet fruity notes.

M - Medium body and carbonation, relatively dry finish with a warming edge.

O - Tremendous layered flow, nice treat.

Notes: Not necessarily a big fan of triples, but I'm a big fan of this one.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2012 02:46:01 | More by Daniellobo

quirkzoo

Colorado

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

batch 1, October 2011 bottle date

Pours a bright orange-yellow with 2 fingers of fluffy white head that remain as a thin cap even 6 hours after the initial pour (I slowly worked my way through the whole bottle in an evening.

The smell is brett funk up front lots of hay and oak with a medicinal, herbal quality to it, very "musty basement" in overall aroma. Some bright citrus notes behind that. Smells slightly lactic sour but not overwhelmingly so.

The taste is wonderfully balanced. The brett is definitely the star of the show but it is not overpowering. It is slightly bitter, with some bright citrus to balance it out, just a touch sour.

Mouthfeel is just right, light without being spritzy. The 9% is well hidden, it drinks much more like a 5% gueuze than a tripel.

Overall this is a great beer. If I had to find a fault with it, it would be that from memory I can't really tell the difference between this and the anchorage wit that I had a while back. There is nothing in this beer that screams tripel to me. With that said, if you like brettanomyces, this is like a nice complex gueuze, only not as sour.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 06:04:18 | More by quirkzoo

wedge

North Carolina

4.48/5  rDev +7.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch #1 OCT/2011

Cloudy pale gold topped by a big, pillowy head of froth. Flowery, sweet aromas over yeasty funk...lemon zest, wood, Chardonnay, light phenols, and a dusty tartness. A hint of vanilla bean as it warms. The flavor is initially surprisingly spiced upfront before melding with citrus, cedar, earth, and a white wine dryness. The Brett is, of course, quite noticeable and adds a nice musty/barnyard funk complexity to the mix. Fruity with a bit of grassy hop crispness. Creamy and soft, yet effervescent and quite dry. A slight warmth is growing in my throat, but this is dangerously drinkable. I like this a lot. It's hard to put this up against other tripels because of the Brett/barrel-aged qualities, but it's is a fine beer all around.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 03:40:43 | More by wedge

jjanega08

Minnesota

4.5/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Batch #1
OCT/2011

A= Pours a nice orange color with a two finger thick crispy white head on it that holds great retention and lacing.

S= Funky, lemony, zesty. There seems to be a bit of an oak character and a little white wine. The deeper I dig it seems like the funkier it gets.

T= Very nice funk to it. Loads of funk and a bit of a lemon zest. The lemon zest actually tastes so much like lemon zest I get the oil from the skin of the lemon it tastes like. A touch of oak and chardonnay comes through but not much. Mostly funky goodness.

M= Highly carbonated and jumps off the tongue.

O= This is another home run from Anchorage. I dunno too much about the brewery besides they are making world class beers that are hard to find but avalible for just about anyone with a keen eye. Keep up the great work Gabe and I'll keep buying these. A unique experience and worth every penny.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2012 23:37:28 | More by jjanega08