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Anchor Small Beer
Anchor Brewing Company
- From:
- Anchor Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- English Bitter
- ABV:
- 3.3%
- Score:
- 73
- Avg:
- 3.14 | pDev: 17.52%
- Reviews:
- 328
- Ratings:
- 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. "
"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. "
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
4.07/5 rDev +29.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
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, 2021Reviewed by Lone_Freighter from Vermont
4/5 rDev +27.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
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, 2017The 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.
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
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, 2016Taste 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.
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
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, 2016Small 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."
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
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, 2015Reviewed by brother_rebus from Maine
2.94/5 rDev -6.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3
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, 2014Reviewed by ColdOneKev from North Carolina
3.75/5 rDev +19.4%
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, 2014S - 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.
Reviewed by Jeffreysan from Virginia
4/5 rDev +27.4%
4/5 rDev +27.4%
Appearance: Pours a beautiful, clear, deep, amber color with a quarter of a finger of white-colored head that quickly dissolved into a thin lacing of foam that partially covered the top of the beer.
Aroma: Not much in the aroma department, in fact, I don’t get any aromas at all, which is disappointing.
Taste: Lots of flavor, though! Lots of bready, toasted malt flavor up front, imparting flavors of biscuits, whole wheat crackers and English muffins, flowed by some brown sugar-like sweetness, black pepper, and more great toasted malt! Delicious!
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and pretty smooth as there isn’t much in the way of carbonation. With an ABV of 3.3%, there is no alcohol on the palate.
Overall: This is a very, very tasty beer! I love all of the bready malt and smooth mouthfeel. Definitely worth a drink!
Sep 11, 2014Aroma: Not much in the aroma department, in fact, I don’t get any aromas at all, which is disappointing.
Taste: Lots of flavor, though! Lots of bready, toasted malt flavor up front, imparting flavors of biscuits, whole wheat crackers and English muffins, flowed by some brown sugar-like sweetness, black pepper, and more great toasted malt! Delicious!
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and pretty smooth as there isn’t much in the way of carbonation. With an ABV of 3.3%, there is no alcohol on the palate.
Overall: This is a very, very tasty beer! I love all of the bready malt and smooth mouthfeel. Definitely worth a drink!
Anchor Small Beer from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating:
73 out of
100 with
454 ratings
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