Anchor Summer Beer - Anchor Brewing Company

beerguy101

California

3.05/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Light gold color, large foamy head, with a light fruity aroma. A medium bodied wheat beer. Light and refreshing. Does not have the banana and clove taste of most wheat beers. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and dry. Aftertaste is slightly bitter.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2003 17:59:43 | More by beerguy101

LarryKemp

Texas

3.1/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This beer poured a crystal clear, bright yellow with a heathy white head. The head lingered for a long time and left a delightful lace on the glass. The aroma of malt was nice but not overpowering. The taste was the biggest disappointment. There was a sour finish that killed the malt and hop combination. The first couple sips I thought was great but soon the sour aftertaste lingered on the roof of my mouth. The mouthfeel was light and the carbonation tingled my tongue. The sourness spoiled an otherwise great beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2003 16:37:56 | More by LarryKemp

ElGuapo

New Jersey

3.38/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A copper brew with a tiny little white head on top. It dies immediately. Very grainy aroma along with some sweet notes.

There is really not a lot to this one. The flavor was lacking. It was very weak. It was crisp and grainy with a few notes of citrus. Although it was fairly boring, it was definitely not a bad beer. It is a great drinker, and it could make a great keg beer for a barbeque. Just don't expect it to get interesting. I warmed up to it after a few, but it was still just good.

Serving type: on-tap

06-12-2003 08:32:40 | More by ElGuapo

ADR

Pennsylvania

2.8/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear dark gold with a glistening 1/4 inch head of a very white color. Thick ring laces in the glass. Peppery aroma, slight qualities of air freshener. The main initial impression is a leathery malt, slightly sugary but leather-like. Quickly balanced mid mouth by lemony and husky wheat tones and what appears to be decisive hop overtones. Crisp and very tightly balanced beer, however, I just don't like the flavor profile in general. Acidic aftertaste. Interesting, I'll try another when the real summer heat sets in.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2003 11:10:40 | More by ADR

OatmattStout

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A decent beer. It is pale yellow and leaves nice lacing on the glass. Very refreshing with tastes of grainy mailt and dry and hoppy finish. It has a nice wheat smothness to it. Not much to dig into here but a good summer beer non the less. Could drink this one all day at a barbacue.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2003 14:39:51 | More by OatmattStout

GreatPondBrewer

Oregon

3.48/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Not a bad beer from Anchor in the style of an American Summer wheat. Poured a straw yellow with a white head which had some very nice lace around the side of the glass. The smell reminded somewhat of dogfood. It was a little too biscuity for me and not balanced enough. The taste was firm and crisp with a refreshing aftertaste. Easily a good summer beer to drink not sip.

Serving type: bottle

05-30-2003 14:39:30 | More by GreatPondBrewer

Pegasus

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Medium golden color with just a touch of haze, inch-thick snow-white cloud top head retains superbly. Abundant carbonation rises slowly, like a fine mist. Lots of irregular broken lace.

Aroma: Rich, malty aroma with mild citrus hops.

Taste: Begins with a solid malt presence and a tart lemon hop note, midway through the taste a note of metallic bitterness appears that rises to the dry finish and beyond.

Mouth feel: Smooth and pleasant, perhaps a little thinner in body than it should be.

Drinkability/notes: Not as complex as I had expected. Although good by any measure, this beer seems mediocre compared to the other Anchor products. Still, it is quite refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2003 18:47:14 | More by Pegasus

Winter

Wisconsin

4.28/5  rDev +26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a pale hazy golden color with an airy white head. Aroma consists of wheat malt with a lemony citrus. Mouthfeel is medium-bodied but leans toward the thin end. Very clean and refreshing. Taste follows suit with the aroma, but ends with an intriguing buttery salted finish.

Very nice light-flavored wheat beer. An easy drinking and refreshing summer offering. Typically, I'm not a fan of weiss beers, but the "lightness" of flavor in this one, minus the weiss yeast that provides the annoying banana and clove characteristics which are usually found in most yeasty weiss beers made this one enjoyable for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2003 18:39:20 | More by Winter

AudioGilz

Pennsylvania

2.55/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A large whipped egg white head sits atop this pale yellow brew. It is just oh so slightly cloudy and the head stays for a while and comes back with a shakin. A weak aroma of wheat is there, and that's about it for nosing it. Watery mouthfeel dissappoints right away. I mean it should be a little bit watery hence the style, but this was just too thin for my preferences. It's oh so too bland, a smidgeon of wheat flavor in the finish is about all there is to enjoy in the flavor department. I must say it's better than a pale lager from the big 3, so there's a plus. There's a certain refreshing quality to it. I might prefer a beer such as this when it's 95 degrees outside. But it won't be for anything more than a refreshing fluid that happens to be a beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2003 14:55:33 | More by AudioGilz

tar

Bahamas

3.55/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very pale yellow with a thick, foamy, white head composed of large bubbles. The head diminishes slowly with a "puffy" cloudlike appearance. Not a bad looking beer. The aroma is very mild. Like the aroma, the flavor and feel are also light and mild. Goes down smooth, a very drinkable beer on a summer day.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2003 07:35:28 | More by tar

oberon

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured nicely with a clear golden color with huge rocky head,very faint lemony smell but not much in the nose.Kinda citruisy on the palate with some faint smokiness in there,really easy to drink perfect for summer.I probably would by this again on a warm summer day.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2003 06:52:42 | More by oberon

Gusler

Arizona

3/5  rDev -11.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

On the pour a translucent golden color, the head prodigious in size, frothy, bright white and as it desiccates, the lace left behind forms a fine covering sheet upon the glass. Malt dominates the nose, sweet, citrus crisp and clean with the start somewhat sweet and top is skeletal. Finish has a spicy yet mild hop presence, acidity moderate and the aftertaste dry, a good session beer any time of the year.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2003 17:47:46 | More by Gusler

Tballz420

Minnesota

4/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was not a bad beer. A nice pilsner like color, not the cloudy style of the last couple wheat beers ive had. It is definately smooth going down. I was thinking this would be a great beer to have at the side of a camp fire on a nice hot night. Worth trying

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2003 01:15:38 | More by Tballz420

Crotor

California

4.2/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is the first beer to hit me in a while.

It poured with an abundant head which left lacing as the glass was emptied- all to my liking. The light gold color was surprisingly clear considering the wheat content. The wheat was definately present in the aroma, though this was the pure smell of toasted wheat, without any fruit esters. I presume this is a result of the use of an ale yeast. The taste was clean and reserved, though intricate, characterized most strongly by the toastiness of the wheat. Only the slightest hint of hops was necessary to round out the flavor. The total package was light and refeshing without being in the least boring. Exceptionally drinkable, I look forward to imbibing this brew on a hot, midsummer weekend.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2003 16:11:18 | More by Crotor

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.68/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pleasant but light aroma with a flowery mix of pale and wheat malts that was also sweet at times. Big full white head like "whipped egg whites" (as advertised). Light overall flavor, but refreshing. Impressively low amount of wheat flavor considering it's over "65%" wheat malt. Fairly soft mouthfeel and well balanced carbonation. Nice thirst quenching qualities for an ale. This could do very nicely in the summer. Just a little low for wheat flavor, but a good summer ale. It did get a little too bitter as it warmed.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2003 18:55:57 | More by garymuchow

GeoffRizzo

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a very clear gold, slightly cloudy, small but very thick head. Good lace throughout. Initial smell of yeast, perhaps of baked bread. Noticed up front is the taste of malted yeast, just like the label states, with a follow of sour/citrus taste, and a tiny feel of hops left on the palate. Has a bitter, dry feel towards the middle, pretty tasty and this sampled in the middle of winter!

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2003 18:34:15 | More by GeoffRizzo

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.13/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Huge sparkly head, fresh, floral, lively aroma. Strangely unclouded, as I'd expect from a wheat beer. Can Anchor, of all the brewers in the world, be so calculating as to design a "summer wheat" towards the lower end of the common denominators? Would any beer drinker who would be confused by a yeasty brew actually reach for an Anchor, or be aware of the brand?
There's the merest whisper of a hint of cloves, bananas. Some citrus, but not much. I'm getting the feeling that Anchor is trying to make as light a beer as possible, in texture, body, and taste, without completely corrupting their standards, or without doing a lager or a pils.
Ultimately, a dissappointment.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2002 13:41:23 | More by feloniousmonk

Dogbrick

Ohio

2.78/5  rDev -18%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Dark golden color with a medium thick slightly off-white head. Strong floral aroma with a faint spice presence. Wheaty, citrusy flavor up front that tapered somewhat by the end. Slightly dry, bitter finish. Not as bland as a lot of summer ales but still kind of lackluster.

Serving type: bottle

11-13-2002 10:22:07 | More by Dogbrick

BeerAngel

Texas

3.7/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours an ultra-clear very different pale yellow/brown if that makes sense. Has a very large pillowy head that has a tight-bubbled density with staying power. The smell is grassy and slightly wheaty and mild hops. It a crisp and clean initial taste that consists of very light wheat and a bread-like taste and hop bite that starts in the middle and carries to the end. Very complex for a beer this clear IMO, yet it is very well balanced. It has a unique mouthfeel that is malty during, but finishes very thin and slightly dry....kinda odd. But overall a pretty good brew. It wasn't hot when I tried this, so maybe that's what was missing. Enjoyed it nonetheless. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2002 21:10:55 | More by BeerAngel

frank4sail

New Jersey

3.33/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Musty earthy wheat nose. Clear gold color with lots of little bubbles. Creamy white head. Smooth soft musty malt taste. It lacks any real complexity. It is not bad.. just dissapointing. No real hop or yeast character.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2002 12:04:57 | More by frank4sail

TheLongBeachBum

California

2.8/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The label says that, and I quote, "the head on this beer is unusually abundant, with a consistency similar to egg whites". They're not kidding, a Massive head on pour, making it difficult for me to get the 12 fl.oz bottle into a Pint Glass on my first attempt. The head eventually settled to a steady 1/4" but only after leaving the glass with a beautiful lace. An unusual "summer beer / wheat beer". Very golden in color, the nose was very feint on my bottle - as was the taste. Clean and light tasting, just too light. Not much mouthfeel and a weak, barely detectable, short-lived bitterness. A good thirst quencher, and a different type of Summer Beer, or an alternative Wheat Beer - however you view this beer, its not mainstream that's for sure. It's not that it's bad, it is a reasonable beer - but it has an identity crisis. To me Summer Beers are hoppier, and Wheat Beers are far more sturdy with citric tones. This is neither, yet purports to be both. I just expected more "taste" from this beer, it's a bit "wimpy" for a Summer Beer. For me, a dissappointment coming from Anchor.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2002 19:32:23 | More by TheLongBeachBum

RonfromJersey

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Golden yellow body with steady carbonation, topped by a big frothy white bubbly head. Great lacing. Wheat malt in the nose, but not much else, maybe a hint of spiciness. A tad of lemon in the taste, everything is extremely muted. Not an interesting beer, and in the future I would stay with the Steam or Liberty Ale, which are both fine beers for the summertime.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2002 21:38:05 | More by RonfromJersey

ZAP

Minnesota

2.9/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Clear golden with a huge white frothy head....nose is of malted wheat...taste is more reminescent of a pilsener to me...very dry finish....tart, lemon like bite...really nothing outstanding sticks out....maybe just not my style of wheat, but really the best things I can say about it is it's clean and crisp...

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2002 21:54:27 | More by ZAP

jackndan

Illinois

2.75/5  rDev -18.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Anchor Summer: light bodies, hazy golden color. Wheat/light citrus aroma. Very thin bodied, with minor citrus notes, almost absent is weiss/banana taste that makes a good summer beer. Not worth the bother.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2002 11:13:00 | More by jackndan

Wildman

Ohio

3.45/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer poured a light golden color and formed a nice light foamy very white head that faded quickly but left some nice lace. A medium amount of carbonation was present. An aroma of lemon and lightly of hops. The flavor was of hops and citrus. The finish was light and a bit tangy. Not as good as Anchor's other offerings, but alright summer session brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2002 11:48:47 | More by Wildman