Anchor Steam Beer - Anchor Brewing Company

rickyleepotts

Arizona

2.4/5  rDev -38.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

We only have a few more of these "boring" beers in the fridge… and then it's time to go shopping! That is my favorite part, buying new bottles to have in the fridge. Gives me something to look forward to. I like to let Sheryl pick a number to determine the beer we are going to drink. Let me tell you… the beer selection process is pretty crazy!

Anyway, tonight we are drinking a bottle of Anchor Steam Beer from the Anchor Brewing Company. Until tonight, I didn't realize that Anchor owned the trademark on the word "steam". I wonder how that works… I wonder what it costs to buy a trademark. Maybe I should trademark the word "beer"… I'd make millions! Come on people, let's drink.

In the Glass: It has a nice copper color in the glass. It makes me think of those giant cider stills you see in breweries. I call them cider stills because I don't know the correct name for them… but they use them to make cider, I know that much. This beer also provides little head, and a weak lace.

Nose: The nose is pretty boring. Smells like a typical American lager, really. I wonder what makes this a "steam beer"… I mean, I know what makes it a steam beer, but I have never heard of this style before. Maybe because Anchor owns the trademark to the word "steam".

Flavor: The flavor is unexpected. It has some subtle sweetness to it, but then the malts really hit. In the tasting notes they call the mouthfeel "spritzy"… I call it carbonated. It's not overwhelming, though. Provides an easy drinking sensation that reminds me of a polished session beer.

Mouthfeel: There are a lot of bubbles going on here. Not too much, but enough that from my first drink I remember the carbonation.

Aftertaste: The aftertaste, what little aftertaste there is, has a certain malty sweetness to it. The tasting notes said it was lingering… but it's not. It's there and gone again. However, the sweetness stick around and begs for another sip.

Regardless of how they make this beer, I wouldn't consider buying this on a regular basis. I would simply grab a case on the way to the ballgame or pass it around in the parking lot while we tailgate. It's nothing to write home about. I will say, after sparking up a conversation with Anchor Brewing on Twitter, that their porter is one of the best porters on the market. But out of all the Anchor beers I have tried, most of them are middle of the road. Good thing they have that porter to keep me buying their product! Bottoms up, people.

Anchor Steam Beer - The bottle says: "Anchor Steam brand beer is virtually handmade with an exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. The deep amber color, thick creamy head, and the rich flavor all testify to our traditional brewing methods. Anchor Steam Beer derives its unusual name from the 19th century when "steam" seems to have been a nickname for beer brewed on the West Coast of American under primitive conditions and without ice. The word "steam" may have referred to the pressure of nature carbonation developing in the beers. Today the brewing methods of those days are a mystery, and for many decades Anchor alone has used the quaint name "steam" for its unique beer. Today Anchor is one of the smallest and most traditional breweries in the world. San Francisco's famous Anchor Steam brand beer is unique, for our brewing process has evolved over many decades and is like no other in the world."

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2012 04:54:16 | More by rickyleepotts

DeepSouthSipper

Mississippi

3/5  rDev -22.7%

05-24-2013 04:13:36 | More by DeepSouthSipper

planbee

North Carolina

3/5  rDev -22.7%

05-24-2013 01:38:44 | More by planbee

yankhawk

Iowa

2.75/5  rDev -29.1%

05-24-2013 01:30:29 | More by yankhawk

Burkbom23

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Light amber color, crystal clear, good ammount of bubles. A fair whtie head that fades to a fim rather quickly. Initial yeasty aroma followed by a biscuty fresh bread smell. Ready bready malt taste. Feel like im in a bakery with fresh loafs coming out of the oven. Some spice. Lingering maltiness on the palatte after you swallow. Subtle hops in the background even it out a little bit, but certainly tilted towards the malt backbone. Solid medium mouthfeel, good carbination, feels lively in the mouth. Real crisp finish. This would make one hell of a session beer, SO drinkable. Good gateway beer for the BMC crowd also. Awsome lager.

Serving type: bottle

05-24-2013 00:50:03 | More by Burkbom23

Ajbradsher

Alabama

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-24-2013 00:30:15 | More by Ajbradsher

Tacoboomerang

Virginia

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-24-2013 00:26:22 | More by Tacoboomerang

mactrail

California

3.1/5  rDev -20.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The color is the classic dark amber in the mug with a modest head and a little fizz in the mouth. Slight grainy nose. Thin, dirty caramel is the main taste. Overall this is malty, tart, and somewhat murky. It's reminiscent of a Belgian minus the yeast. A touch of hops. Sort of earthy with bitter tones.

On tap at Comstock Saloon in North Beach. I've had it in the bottle in San Francisco as well and I just find this to be uninspired and not very drinkable, regardless of it's glorious history. It was more respected in the 70s when there were so few interesting beers to compare it to.

Serving type: on-tap

05-23-2013 19:55:47 | More by mactrail

Jersh67

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +16%

05-23-2013 19:51:27 | More by Jersh67

jlee922

California

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-23-2013 18:56:44 | More by jlee922

visionaries

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-23-2013 17:34:01 | More by visionaries

JesseMurdock

Hawaii

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-23-2013 06:53:22 | More by JesseMurdock

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-23-2013 01:09:16 | More by mikeincharleston

Stumpy29er

New York

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-23-2013 00:50:18 | More by Stumpy29er

skriv

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-22-2013 21:00:57 | More by skriv

DeekNayvuz

Montana

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

05-22-2013 19:24:50 | More by DeekNayvuz

NJBeer265

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-22-2013 17:23:04 | More by NJBeer265

Bones10

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.1%

05-22-2013 03:16:29 | More by Bones10

Satan70

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

05-21-2013 21:30:49 | More by Satan70

BeerAficionadoMCMXC

California

4.08/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appearance is amber, but who really cares about the color of the beer so much when men can't differentiate between colors very well. My apologies to the women. The smell is impressive though. It's nutty, caramel and has notes of ripe banana esters. The taste has notes of vanilla and some nutty tones, but it is balanced by a hop finish, balanced and appetizing. Mouthfeel is medium to medium full. Overall, this beer is a high quality low alcohol beer and is great for people who love their malty taste and low alcohol percentage. It seems to catch up to all of us in the end.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 07:14:08 | More by BeerAficionadoMCMXC

Crimsonfloods

Florida

3.5/5  rDev -9.8%

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johntfox

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

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seplo

Connecticut

3.25/5  rDev -16.2%

05-21-2013 00:07:00 | More by seplo

hopkrid

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +9.5%

05-21-2013 00:06:06 | More by hopkrid

johntandlich

New York

3.75/5  rDev -3.4%

05-20-2013 22:40:28 | More by johntandlich