Anchor Liberty Ale - Anchor Brewing Company

rickyleepotts

Arizona

3.54/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3

I see this beer on the shelf all the time, but had no idea the history behind it. I just figured it was another beer in their portfolio. But to hear this was originally brewed as a Christmas beer was news to me. Also, a lot of breweries change the recipe every year. Fun to learn that this one was so good they decided to keep it! There are a few beers from Anchor on our list, and I have generally liked everything I have had from them. Their porter is amazing, and their Anchor Steam Beer is their most popular. Excited to see what Liberty Ale has to offer.

In the Glass: The beer is quite cloudy in the glass. It looks more like a pale than an IPA, as I feel an IPA should be more copper in color. The beer also produced a weak head, and it offers a meager lace. But I could smell this as I was pouring it into the glass. Knowing what I know about this brewing company, chance are I will enjoy this beer.

Nose: Whoa. That is a powerful aroma. At first, your nostrils are hit with some earthiness in the hops but you finish with a nice mellow citrus aroma. If you breathe deep, you can almost taste the Cascade hops as you swallow. I hope this tastes as good as it smells!

Flavor: Yep. It does! Very rarely do you find a beer that has a similar aroma and flavor profile. This flavor starts soft, but as you swallow your palate is hit with all the hoppy goodness from the dry hopping method they use here. Also, the carbonation is nice. This carbonation is naturally occurring, and provides a very thin line of bubbles as you drink the beer. Not enough to put down, but enough for me to keep drinking. This beer also gets better as you take a second and third drink.

Mouthfeel: At first, it's boring. Then, as the beer slides across the palate, you are hit with the bubbles and you swallow to a nice flavorful finish. The flavor that remains is the best part of this beer.

Aftertaste: The aftertaste is incredible. I wouldn't say this is an IPA by traditional American IPA standards. (The burp is nice and mellow, with some dryness creeping in.) The aftertaste here reminds me of pine needles, but then as it sits, it becomes dry and while not overwhelming, keeps me begging for more. I took three drinks by the time I got to this part of the review.

Anchor Brewing has impressed me yet again. Plus, the price is right on. I am impressed with Liberty Ale. It makes sense that this beer became so popular. I am a hop head, and while this isn't overwhelming with hops, I do like the profile that the Cascade hop provides. Well done, Anchor.

Liberty Ale - The bottle says: "San Francisco's famous Liberty Ale was first brewed on the 18th of April, 1975 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Paul Revere's historic ride. It is virtually handmade by the brewers of Anchor Steam Beer in one of the smalls and most traditional breweries in the world. Liberty Ale is made with the finest barley, fresh, whole hops, top fermenting yeast, pure water, and the simple natural meths which reflect our exceptional respect for the ancient art of brewing. It is "dry hopped", a classic ale tradition and slowly completes its fermentation in sealed vats in our cellars. This unique process creates Liberty Ale's distinctive bouquet and uncommonly delicate, entirely natural carbonation."

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 20:17:50 | More by rickyleepotts

DRTBrewster

Arizona

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-23-2013 22:31:06 | More by DRTBrewster

barczar

Kentucky

3.8/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Pours a chill hazed medium copper with a pillowy 2 inch cream head that lingers.

Lime zest, lemon, floral hops, and caramel sweetness form the initial aroma. Complex, and different than most. Pine and resin emerge, along with grapefruit, mango, and peach.

Flavor is initially resinous and fairly bitter at the finish. Underpinnings of peaches, lemon, and lime fade to toasted bread and caramel malt mid palate, becoming slightly peppery, herbal, and grassy. Floral notes surface in the aftertaste.

Body is creamy and moderately full, with moderate draconian and a touch of alcohol warmth. There's a bit if hop astringency.

Fairly complex hop flavor profile and aroma. A little too resinous for my liking, but good support from the malt. Bitterness overwhelms in the aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 03:00:01 | More by barczar

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-23-2013 01:08:39 | More by mikeincharleston

bonSreeB

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

05-22-2013 23:32:28 | More by bonSreeB

DStoked

Ohio

3/5  rDev -23.9%

05-22-2013 13:48:13 | More by DStoked

shamrock071521

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-21-2013 21:06:10 | More by shamrock071521

kylemckinnis

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

05-20-2013 22:45:14 | More by kylemckinnis

buckyp

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-20-2013 01:44:39 | More by buckyp

likeemdark

California

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

05-19-2013 19:05:51 | More by likeemdark

Lobstertainment

Ontario (Canada)

5/5  rDev +26.9%

05-18-2013 03:28:26 | More by Lobstertainment

KerryCummins1977

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-18-2013 03:19:12 | More by KerryCummins1977

dfillius

Michigan

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-17-2013 23:32:53 | More by dfillius

BeerAficionadoMCMXC

California

4.65/5  rDev +18%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

It appears a golden color with good head retention. The aroma is belgian-esque with a hoppy and cereal smell. The taste begins with the belgian flavor, a kind of estery citrus perhaps. It is followed by a light and hoppy finish. A well balanced ale as the body remains medium to light. I'd drink six.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 02:21:29 | More by BeerAficionadoMCMXC

JakeDebus

Maryland

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-15-2013 18:08:27 | More by JakeDebus

mralbertson

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +7.9%

05-14-2013 03:33:05 | More by mralbertson

JollyRoger

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +20.6%

05-14-2013 02:25:11 | More by JollyRoger

aty11b

Texas

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-14-2013 01:08:21 | More by aty11b

TheLevi4000

New York

4/5  rDev +1.5%

05-13-2013 00:19:35 | More by TheLevi4000

paulytasker

New York

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-11-2013 16:41:40 | More by paulytasker

ScottieD

Connecticut

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-11-2013 01:24:48 | More by ScottieD

bconsidine

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-10-2013 18:34:01 | More by bconsidine

twenty5

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -11.2%

05-10-2013 14:27:14 | More by twenty5

blknikon

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-07-2013 23:53:52 | More by blknikon

safaricook

Netherlands

3.75/5  rDev -4.8%

05-06-2013 18:35:35 | More by safaricook