Anchor Steam Beer
Anchor Brewing Company

Anchor Steam BeerAnchor Steam Beer
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From:
Anchor Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
California Common / Steam Beer
Ranked #6
ABV:
4.9%
Score:
87
Ranked #17,895
Avg:
3.85 | pDev: 12.73%
Reviews:
2,217
Ratings:
6,460
Status:
Active
Rated:
Tuesday at 05:40 AM
Added:
Jul 08, 2001
Wants:
  263
Gots:
  1,431
Anchor Steam® Beer owes its deep amber color, thick, creamy head, and rich, distinctive flavor to a historic brewing process like none other.

It is a process that combines deep respect for craft brewing tradition with many decades of evolution to arrive at a unique approach: a blend of pale and caramel malts, fermentation with lager yeast at warmer ale temperatures in shallow open-air fermenters, and gentle carbonation in our cellars through an all-natural process called kräusening.
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Ratings by BasementBer:
Photo of BasementBer
Reviewed by BasementBer from Canada (MB)

3.31/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
A great piece of American beer history. Particularly in that this label represents a regional history and a specific time period of industrial manufacturing. To their benefit, Anchor Brewing leaves the story a bit brief and general on the bottle adding to the allure of just how this beer got so cemented in the small-scale brewing milieu.

A: Thick, lasting head with tight bubbles. Consistent lacing around the glass. A light amber (though self described as being a 'deep amber') which doesn't wow me. After 15 minutes, "steam" bubbles still flowing at pace.

S: Initial smell reminds me of Budmilloors, with a slightly more hoppy-sweeter aroma. Smells like cheap beer.

T: Simple, less bitter than I would like, but a seemingly rustic beer cannot afford or be expected to change its recipe to fit modern hop-head cravings. So for this very reason, and the oft reason that this is the only true California Common that gets carried in my neck of the woods, it deserves positive reinforcement.

M: Again, simple. Nothing jumping out here, not even bitterness that speaks dry hopping or freshness. A pale lager taste that barely steps over that base light beer hurdle.

D: Heavy drink-ability in terms of putting back a true bitter beer than most where the hops stands tall and fast. However the staleness of the beer would be hard to go back to if not just looking for "beer" to drink.
Mar 01, 2011
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.39 by Aitor from Spain

Tuesday at 05:40 AM
 
Rated: 4.6 by KeithGreatNorth from Canada (BC)

Dec 04, 2023
Photo of krh
Reviewed by krh from Illinois

3.6/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
First time tasting this. I could see picking this up regularly 15-20 years ago, but my tastes have evolved along with so many modern beer choices. I suppose nostalgia can't keep a beer going forever. So long Anchor!
Nov 25, 2023
Photo of TwentyDimes
Reviewed by TwentyDimes from Massachusetts

3.97/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Opened on Nov 4th. Poured to a shaker.
Clear amber, 2 finger creamy foam slowly reduced to thin, good retention, spot lacing lingered to the end.
Citrus, malt driven, hint of herbal and earth nose. It keeps drawing you back in with it's fragrance and elegance.
Malty caramel palate with touch of grassy hop bitterness, uniquely refreshing, earthy, herbal, bready with hint of spice finish.
Light body but good weight, clean, smooth, engaging, very crushable.
It is sad to see this iconic beer go.
Nov 21, 2023
 
Rated: 3.77 by Iggy88 from Ohio

Nov 07, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by SRV from Oklahoma

Sep 09, 2023
 
Rated: 3.93 by cdub70085 from Connecticut

Aug 27, 2023
 
Rated: 3.99 by siege06nd from Virginia

Aug 26, 2023
 
Rated: 3.84 by heerboth from Pennsylvania

Aug 15, 2023
Photo of highdesertdrinker
Reviewed by highdesertdrinker from Arizona

4.02/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a handsome rich copper gold with a decent pillowy white head. The smell is biscuit and grain with a hint of hop. The taste is some caramel, biscuit, grain, a little bitterness, and a decent malt backbone. It's very balanced, drinkable, and refreshing and had 2 of these after the Diamondbacks baseball game in Phoenix at Hanny's in downtown and sorry to see it go if it is indeed gone.
Aug 14, 2023
 
Rated: 3.71 by LunchMoney from Minnesota

Aug 05, 2023
Photo of calvin_os
Rated by calvin_os from Colorado

3.32/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Had to try it before it was discontinued. Looks great, but lacking in much flavor at all--everything feels muted. Quite crushable though.
Aug 04, 2023
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

3.79/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours red orange with a fluffy white head. Smells of sweet grain with just a tad of smoke. Tastes of caramelized grain, nice profile. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a very good beer.
Aug 03, 2023
Photo of dd53grif
Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan

3.87/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a copper color with a minimal head that lasts quite a while. Aroma is floral notes and roasted malts. Taste is peppery with a slightly bitter finish. Had to try this one while it was still available in the stores.
Aug 01, 2023
Photo of Griffin2
Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia

3.77/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz can dated 5/30/2023 into a Willi Becher pint glass.
L - Pours a dark amber color with a white head.
S - Smells malty and earthy.
T - Tastes of malt and caramel.
F - Medium body and carbonation.
O - Great beer when you plan on having a couple. It will be a shame to see her go.
Jul 30, 2023
 
Rated: 4.17 by jason_nwx from Oregon

Jul 21, 2023
Photo of HappyGuy12345
Reviewed by HappyGuy12345 from New Jersey

4.29/5  rDev +11.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
On tap in San Francisco in a pint glass
Look: Transparent amber with about 1 finger of white head with decent retention.
Smell: Subtle herbs and hops
Taste: Clean and crisp. Hints of malt and caramel.
Mouthfeel: Light-medium-bodied with moderate carbonation.
Overall: I am extremely saddened to hear of Anchor Steam closing down (after 127 years): This is the end of an iconic American beer and brewery. I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to drink this beer on tap when it was still available.
Jul 17, 2023
Photo of nlmartin
Rated by nlmartin from Ohio

3.59/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Malty with earthy hops. Its crushable. A legend has become extinct.
Jul 15, 2023
Photo of 1009
Reviewed by 1009 from Massachusetts

3.64/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
A sad day indeed. We long ago sipped and enjoyed many an Anchor product. Several were taken down during the first few weeks of the covid lockdowns as there really wasn’t much else to do other than try new beer. We never put the beer into words. From memory though, Steam was a fantastic sipping beverage with its profile defining bitter hoppy bite. The history and tradition, you could taste it. A real shame to hear earlier this week about the full closing of the brewery. The Christmas ale was a staple of the holidays for the past number of year. A very sad day. Pour one out for Fritz.
Jul 13, 2023
Anchor Steam Beer from Anchor Brewing Company
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 6460 ratings