The Tide And Its Takers - Anchorage Brewing Company

beertunes

Washington

3.91/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to DaftCaskBC for sharing this bottle with me. Poured into flute. Poured a very nice lightly hazy golden yellow color with about an inch of white head that hadgood retention and moderate lacing. The beer had a lot of tiny bubbles streaming, but seemed to be lacking the carbonation levels seen in most Tripels.

The aroma was very, if you're into the funk. The Brett was strong and dominated the scent. Horse blanket, almost bordering on baby diaper. Underneath there was a very light grain scent, and not much of the usual yeast spices and aromas you see in the style. On the tongue, the Brett was still the main feature, the base grains showed up a bit better, and the yeasty spice was a bit more notable, but yeah, this is a very Bretty brew.

The body was on the light side of medium for the style, and was very dry, especially for a Tripel. Drinkability was excellent, if you dig the funk, and would be OK even if you weren't. Overall, a very nice brew. This is the first beer I've had from this brewery, and I look forward to trying more. A must try if you see it.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 19:14:34 | More by beertunes

smakawhat

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass.

What an absolutely gorgeous looking beer from pour. Classic white rock head and uniform with plenty of staying power and tiny white bubbles slowly rising through a glowing neon body of mango tropical yellow and orange. Opaque but not cloudy (slow pour yeast left in bottle on first one). Just fantastic looking.

Nose is a good sense of brett, muting some of the floral and faint citrus character, with a good sense of dense thick malt coming for this style. I am real excited to taste this.

Bringing that brett action for a tripel seems to be unique, but blurs this into saison territory and taking away I think some of the magic. Most noticeable character is that it is a bit wet, but luckily not too watery. Palate has some definite saison character but masking much of a classic sweetness for the style. Malt sweetness is not really coming through, a classic hot pepper brett afterfinish that follows. Kind of hop forward also, but after sometime a nice tart apricot and juice quality comes out.

Overall, it's an interesting take, probably not what I look for in this favorite style of mine, but it's an incredibly well crafted beer. I expect nothing but great things from this place and they just deliver in spades.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2012 01:55:13 | More by smakawhat

champ103

Texas

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a perfectly hazed deep orange color. A two finger white head forms with excellent retention. Sticky lace coats the glass.
S: At first, orange peal, lemon grass, spicy phenols and light funk. A grape sweetness takes over after that with a soft wood/oak aroma.
T: Spicy phenols, light funk, citrus peal and lemon flavors. A grape sweetness that is very nice. Wood flavors, though in the background.
M/D: A medium body that is very effervescent. Very crisp and refreshing. A great body that screams take more sips. So easy and enjoyable to drink. A great sipper, and the bottle will be gone in no time.

The Brett and wood barrel are not that apparent, but very balanced. Grapes seem to make a strong presence in the finish, which is very nice. Really enjoyable and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2012 01:29:03 | More by champ103

Gmann

New York

3.63/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale golden color with some honey highlights. The pure white head is dense and short, leaves a short wall of lacing and settles into a solid ring.

The aroma is sweet and tart. Big tart apple and lemon aroma. Quite funky and tart from the brett and oak. Lots of apple cider characteristics. The brett dominates the aroma.

The taste is sweet and tart. The malt is bready and sweet with some honey notes. Not much flavor from the traditional belgian yeast. Big tart notes from the brett. Noticable oak flavors as well. Definitely funky and sour but its kept in check.

The feel is moderate with tingly carbonation. Starts off with a general sweetness but then the brett turns its sour and quite dry, astringent.

I would like to see more of a belgian flavor to this beer. This could have been any pale ale with brett added to it.

Flavorful brett brew

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2012 01:30:08 | More by Gmann

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.33/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle share in Hoboken, NJ.

A: Pours a clear bright golden yellow in color with some light amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a quarter finger tall white fizzy head that reduces to a very thin layer over the entire surface of the beer with a thicker ring at the edges of the glass. Light lacing is observed.

S: Aromas of citrus/orange, some floral notes, light peppery spiciness, and lots + lots of brett funkiness. A nice complexity to the smell makes this beer very inviting.

T: The taste follows the smell with some light sourness and lots of funkiness - the brett is very present and upfront and really makes this beer a very interesting version of a tripel. There is a definitely citrus/orange present and a nice peppery spice.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate to heavy carbonation. Very dry in the finish.

O: I think of this beer more like a saison than a tripel because of the influences from the brett. This beer is very easy to drink and very enjoyable. The alcohol is completely hidden which could make this one quite dangerous at 9% ABV. I would definitely like to have this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2012 16:49:22 | More by dbrauneis

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

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

laituegonflable

Australia

3.85/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly pale golden colour, mild haze but mostly clear. White, dense head, nice marshmallowy lace. Looks nice.

Smells Bretty. Funky and wild, with some barnyard mixing with citrus tang and an odd peanutty kind of aroma. A little bit too rich/sweet actually, but with some nice notes.

Taste starts with more nutty malt, then gets that organic funky flavour, not quite tart but just nice and organic-tasting yeasts. A hint of soil and grass and a slight mould flavour, in a good way. Spice on the back as well. Could use more acidity to freshen it up and cut through as it's still a little on the rich/sweet side for me.

A bit bitey, but a good bit of substance on the feel. Quite puckering towards the back, however.

Pleasant, but not quite as well harnessed as others in the same ballpark sort of 'genre' that I've tried.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 03:16:31 | More by laituegonflable

ehammond1

California

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle (2011)

Churchill's Pub & Grille
San Marcos, CA

Slightly hazed golden yellow with a quickly forming near-white persistent head that leaves sheets and dots of lace down the glass.

The aroma is Brett-forward, along with notes of green apple, oak, black pepper, and earth. Terrific.

The flavor follows similarly, with the funky Brett leading the way, along with oak, green apple, pepper, and white grape.No alcohol presence.

Medium to full bodied with high carbonation. Near perfect for the style and a joy to drink.

This reminds me a lot of Bitter Monk by Anchorage--good thing, because I love both beers.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2012 17:06:39 | More by ehammond1

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

4.09/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Batch #2. Poured in a snifter, the beer is a very bright, slightly hazed, orange-gold coloring with a thin, whispy film coating of white on the surface. Aromas of roast and earth softening the Belgian yeast characteristics, including cherry sweet and white wine grapes. Slight floral highlights on the nose, too. Flavors are very layered, with an initial blend of char, tobacco, and wood giving rise to a toasted grain backbone with floral and sweet highlights of cherry, some citrus, nutmeg, all-spice, and white wine grape. Very balanced, and very dynamic. Wow. The chardonnay/riesling grape characteristics blend into the aftertaste, with a dry, crisp feel in mouth. Dry, clean finish, with a slightly dry-sweet lingering. This beer, despite an elevated ABV, is a great sipper. Very smooth and very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 02:30:21 | More by GarthDanielson

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

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

LiquidAmber

Washington

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Unibroue tulip glass. Pours a hazy light golden amber with a two finger white head with good retention and lacing, constantly refreshed by active carbonation. Aroma of light fruit, lemon, butter and wild yeast. Flavor of lemon, orange, brett, light malt, slightly vinous. Finishes with a hint of wood, dry tartness and residual yeast. Light to medium bodied with nice sharpness from the carbonation. Closer in style to an American wild ale than a tripel, with a very light touch of Belgian. Not my style, but enjoyable as a interestingly flavored, well made wild yeast influenced ale.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 04:31:27 | More by LiquidAmber

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

claspada

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy, milky straw color with about a medium size off-white foam head which has good retention and leaves some nice spotty lacing.

Aromas begin with lots of light fruity notes; apricot, tart green apple, white grapes, lemon bar and earthy and grassy notes in the background. As it warms I get a lot more of the barrel highlighted by buttery chardonnay and oak. Faint Belgian spicy yeast in the background; much more a wild ale than a Belgian ale that aspect.

The tastes directly follow the nose with lemon, light biscuity malt, tart green apple and light earthiness. Buttery, oaky chardonnay flavors emerge and begin to dominate. Definitely doesn't taste much like a Tripel, but I don't care because I dislike Tripels. Light clove in the finish.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with copious amounts of bubble scrubbing, palate cleansing carbonation. Dry thanks to the Brett and the ample carbonation.

Overall this was a nice beet that I was surprised I enjoyed because of my distaste for tripels. It's also quite tame for a wild ale at this point as well and I can only see this developing nicely over time. Chardonnay barrels are the forefront right now which is perfect for my tastes as I enjoy 95% of wine barrel aged beers. Wish these weren't so pricey but the quality is definitely there; not for your novice beer drinker for sure.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 16:49:13 | More by claspada

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

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

Arbitrator

California

3.63/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

From notes. Batch 1.

A: Pours a murky straw yellow body with rocky off-white head. Good lacing.

S: Lemon, vanilla, soft oak notes (French oak?), mild brett (hay, minerals).

T: I don't pick up much in the way of tripel qualities; this doesn't have the phenolic pepper or broad swatches of fruity esters you'd get from, say, La Fin du Monde. The flavor is tightly concentrated around lemon and vanilla with a touch of pear. They're still nice, just not that developed. The aftertaste is minerally.

M: Effervescent but creamy. It finishes very smooth. Great mouthfeel.

O: I'm happy to have tried it, but it's not something I'll pick up again; at $15, it's not worth the premium over a standard tripel.

Serving type: bottle

11-18-2012 02:02:24 | More by Arbitrator

scottfrie

California

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into Block 15 snifter. Batch 1, bottled Oct 2011.

A: Pours an opaque dark pumpkin color with a finger of rather active bright white head that quickly fizzed away into a thick collar. Patches of thin lace were left down the glass.
S: Huge notes of brett, dry oak, peppery Belgian yeast and golden fruit esters fill my nose. The brett really shines in this one along with some complex spiciness.
T: Again, brett, oak, Belgian yeast flavors and golden fruits are easily noticeable, but I get notes of bitter lemon zest, chalk, vinous white grapes, and peppery spices. Hops impart a bit of citrus rind and orange as well. The finish is woody and vinous, and the aftertaste is lightly bitter and earthy with yeast. Every few sips I get what I think is bubblegum (yeast) as well.
M: Medium-full body, fluffy full carbonation that bubbles up on my palate and a full, clean mouthfeel. This beer is easy to drink and goes down smooth.
O: Tastes just as advertised, and a good advertisement at that: a bretty, chardonnay oak-aged Belgian tripel. Not my favorite of the four Anchorage beers I’ve had, but this beer did not disappoint.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 20:06:46 | More by scottfrie

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased at the Hill Farmstead retail shop. Poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Pours a crystal clear golden pineapple juice like hue with a massive FOUR finger rocky head with a TON of effervescence. Like, too much bubbles man.

S - Very nice soft banana and belgian spice notes with this with a VERY faint brett.

T - Taste is quite nice as well. Good belgian yeast esters with nice light spices and more of the subtle brett. Its a good tripel, but, I'd like to see more funky/brett like I'm used to getting with Anchorage.

M - Mouthfeel isnt bad, WAAAY too carbonated at first, but it dies down quickly. Very, very light alcohol presence.

O - Overall this is a solid beer, not my favourite from Anchorage though. Used to alot more brett with my Anchorage beers

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2012 01:59:35 | More by rudzud

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

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Love me some Anchorage, so looking forward to this new arrival! Anchorage metal band 36 Crazyfists is one of my favorite bands, and I am sipping this while listening to the most appropriate of their albums "The Tide and it's Takers" \m/

Pours a mostly clear dark golden color with a fluffy white head of a finger or more. Nice lace and retention.

The aroma is typical Anchorage funkitude. White wine and oak with some spices and Belgian notes.

Taste of funk, hay and spicy hops. Some oak and dry wine notes, with some fruity notes and faint citrus.

Creaminess, with a nice almost effervescence. Good carbonation for the style.

Probably not my favorite Anchorage brew, but it's still great and they are without a doubt masters of the Brett craft.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2012 04:08:52 | More by EgadBananas

popery

California

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours pale gold with a smallish white head. Slight haze, probably just from some of the lees kicking up. Really nice bretty sour aroma. Lots of light stone fruit - apricots, nectarines, peaches, plums - shot through with funk and sour notes. Grass, pepper, earthy Belgian notes. Lots of oak. Taste starts with more fruity sweetness but quickly dries out and picks up spicy and sour flavors. There's a bit of booze to it. A little too tannic for my taste. The oak is strong. Funky, sour finish. Feel is light, but a bit boozy. A very good beer and an excellent and interesting take on the style. Unfortunately, it's a little too strong for the sourness, and the oak is just a bit much for me. Still, it's always great to try an Anchorage beer. Nothing but hits from that brewery, so far.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 04:29:11 | More by popery

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

jsanford

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours hazy gold with a dense white head that settles to a thick cap, leaving rings of lacing clinging to the glass. Wonderful aromas of yellow apple, lemon zest, light Belgian yeast, and funky Brettanomyces, all wrapped up in a lovely white grape barrel. Taste is similarly funky, with lots of earthy Brettanomyces, citrus-forward hops, ripe pear, and a solid Tripel base of banana and clove. Very nice blend of the traditional Tripel and the funk. Mouthfeel is crisp and feels surprisingly light given the 9% ABV. Body is a touch over medium, and the carbonation is ample. Overall another great Anchorage beer, keep em coming!

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 00:52:36 | More by jsanford