Review – Anchor Steam

Contributed by Jeremy B of the up and coming Ruination Press.

Anchor’s Way! Anchor Steam is what is known as a California Common or Steam Beer and is brewed by the Anchor Brewing Co. of San Francisco, CA. The brewing process is derived from the fact that brewers in the late 1800’s didn’t have regular access to refrigeration and had to improvise. The answer? They used lager yeast that fermented at higher temperatures. Where the word steam comes in to play is debatable. Anchor says that “although there are many theories, no one can say with certainty why the word “steam” came to be associated with the beer.”

What’s truly great is that Anchor survived in the years after prohibition, when many small breweries closed. In 1965 it was in danger of closing and was saved by Frederick Louis Maytag III. Since then the brewery has thrived, incorporating some modern methods of preservation, while maintaining the traditional brewing methods of old.

This American classic pours a very inviting medium amber with a nice thick head that sticks around. The lacing sticks to the glass well, and the bubbles keep coming. The aroma is of a faint caramel and light hops. It goes down smooth with a nice malt flavor with a taste of…bread? I tend to favor the hoppy, more intense brews, but this is an excellent brew when you’re in a lighter mood!

Pairs well with white meats such as chicken, as well as cheeses like a nice Chevre or Brie.
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