Anchor Small Beer
Anchor Brewing Company

Anchor Small BeerAnchor Small Beer
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From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
English Bitter
ABV:
3.3%
Score:
73
Avg:
3.14 | pDev: 17.52%
Reviews:
328
Ratings:
454
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 18, 2021
Added:
Nov 11, 2000
Wants:
  23
Gots:
  16
"We believe you will find Anchor Small Beer delicious--similar to what modern brewers call a "bitter"--and we hope you will also enjoy the idea of reviving an ancient brewing tradition, which is something of great importance. "

"We make our Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale from the rich first runnings of an all-malt mash, and Anchor Small Beer is our attempt to duplicate the "small beers" of old by sparging that same mash: sprinkling warm water over the Old Foghorn mash after the first wort has run off, thereby creating a second, lighter brew from the resulting thinner wort. "
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Ratings by brownbeer:
Photo of brownbeer
Reviewed by brownbeer from Missouri

3.4/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a very transparent, light amber color.

The aroma is of faint English hops. It's earthy with a hint of lemon and subtle graininess.

The taste is gone before it hits. Soft grains and tea in the flavor. Clean and inoffensive, it finishes on a nicely crisp, bitter note.Let it warm up and a little more flavor is coaxed out.

I'm on board with low abv beers, like this one, that are priced right. But even in the world of English Bitters, which is where I would catagorize this taste-wise, it still doesn't stand out a whole lot. That being said, it's a worthy beer.
May 07, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of LesDewitt4beer
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

4.07/5  rDev +29.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This is/was one of my favorite beers I've ever had and I would buy it by the case (large bottles). Could this be one of the first "session ales"? Lower ABV, incredibly light and tasty. Lightly crisp, malty with some light biscuit flavor and a hint of citrus zest, very light bodied with a fairly fast finish. I do hope someday Anchor re-introduces this beer.
Nov 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by cp45 from New Jersey

Jan 31, 2020
 
Rated: 3.73 by emerge077 from Illinois

Jun 14, 2019
Photo of Lone_Freighter
Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont

4/5  rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured into an English pint glass, the appearance was a semi-thick dark orange to rust color with a sturdy finger's worth of white foamy head that slid off at a moderate pace. Subsiding amount of lace glossed the sides of the glass.
The aroma had some sweet biscuits/bready malts playing with some grassy to earthy hops. Light clean acceptable "soapiness" came in but wasn't distracting.
The flavor moderated between the biscuits/breadiness to the hops (which weren't bitter, but I get that) to the clean soapiness (which was somewhat expected). Aftertaste was the bready malts and earthy to grassy hops.
The mouthfeel was about medium bodied with a great sessionability about it. Carbonation seemed barely there, but that's expected for the style. ABV felt appropriate.
Overall, as an English Bitter brewed by an American brewer, it's hard to find much else on the market here in the states that's going to be much better. Me, for the style, this is worth your time if you're fan of the style. I understand many people won't get this beer, but if anything, I'll say this: it's a fish n' chips sort of beer.
Aug 02, 2017
Photo of rodbeermunch
Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada

3.22/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I was impressed by the appearance on a second runnings beer like this, came in amber colored, like a 2nd running barleywine, so it had that going for it. Aroma was totally unlike a barleywine though, very muted and absent.

Taste is an easy drinking affair with slight malt evidence beyond the color and mild hopping. Easily sessionable. Has its place and is totally within the enviro green marketing being that they are using second runnings.

Ultimately though, I'd rather have a more assertive session ipa with hop mouthfeel, but I give this props for being one of the few commercial examples of such a thing.
Apr 27, 2016
Photo of Beginner2
Reviewed by Beginner2 from Illinois

3.37/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
In reducing my still-high number of styles without a review, I now add a new tactic: defend those mild-mannered beers that may have been beat-up unfairly.
Small Beer qualifies.
I'm assuming English bitters lack popularity in the U.S. because low-alcohol content and balanced use of hops tend not to sell as much as less-than-balanced use of hops.
But, I like how Small Beer reuses mash from its barleywine, Old Foghorn.
Environmentally and economically wise. (Beer culture is more than a beverage.)
Does Small Beer score well as a great beer?
No, but that also was not its goal.
I've had this twice and my notes indicate DBA (Don't Buy Again.)
Will I?
Well, its mouthfeel is pleasant to my palate; malty, not bubbly, not hoppy.
Maybe it works as a shared mid-day session or with a light lunch or snack.

MJ's 1999 edition gave it 3 of 4 stars and said "Old Foghorn's second runnings are used in the classic fashion to produce a dry, drinkable Small Beer."
Feb 27, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by 31Sam13 from New Hampshire

Mar 14, 2015
 
Rated: 2.75 by brianmandell from California

Feb 21, 2015
 
Rated: 3.51 by BKotch from Texas

Feb 15, 2015
Photo of seedyone
Reviewed by seedyone from New York

4.34/5  rDev +38.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
06/27/13 On tap At Rattle N Hum, NYC. As 'small beers' are, by definition, made from the by-products of other batches, this has quite a substantial taste. Don't see it in the long haul, but there is nothing to shy away from in his glass.
Jan 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.34 by DrBier from Pennsylvania

Jan 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.12 by misternebbie from Pennsylvania

Dec 31, 2014
 
Rated: 3.7 by wethorseblanket from California

Dec 31, 2014
Photo of brother_rebus
Reviewed by brother_rebus from Maine

2.94/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
Its enh. Smooth watery finish. A bit of a woody, sour nose to it. Not terrible. The novelty of it all is nice. I think they know that. The lack of carbonation would be better on tap.
Dec 25, 2014
 
Rated: 3.25 by tdm168 from Pennsylvania

Dec 14, 2014
Photo of ColdOneKev
Reviewed by ColdOneKev from North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +19.4%
A - Clear gold buddy, large fluffy white head. Fades quickly to a thin covering and leaves little lacing.
S - Lightly toasted bread and not too much else.
T - Dough, bread, biscuit, caramel, slight spiciniess/peppery hops.
M - Light body, medium carb.
O - An very nicely flavored beer considering the ABV. Worth trying especially if you're a fan of the Old Foghorn.
Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Kishanti from California

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by TEKNISHE from Pennsylvania

Nov 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3 by bkbergen from Pennsylvania

Nov 15, 2014
Anchor Small Beer from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 73 out of 100 with 454 ratings