Anchor Steam Beer | Anchor Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Anchor Brewing Company
California, United States
anchorbrewing.com
Style: California Common / Steam Beer
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 4.90%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
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.
Added by BeerAdvocate on 07-08-2001
Ratings: 5,982 | Reviews: 2,048
3.75/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.61/5 rDev +19.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.25/5 rDev +10.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
3.5/5 rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
3.72/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
4.49/5 rDev +16.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Do any of you know what's so great about this beer? Some may call it "trash" because it lacks aroma, flavor and body, but when I look at this beer's attributes and think about days after fishing, playing adult league softball, and lawnmowing, this one does what one wants it to. No ifs, ands or buts, but most people in their right minds know the refreshing qualities this beer brings out. And I rarely find any beer ""refreshing," but that's often a matter of opinion.
The fact that this beer found it's way into ballparks nationwide and being able to go to many ballparks around the US and I still see this beer alongside some newer craft beer trends tells me that this beer itself will stand the test of time.
And just think you're not supporting a commercial brewer by drinking this beer. It may not be the next Heady Topper but at least most beer historians know enough to say "Thank you Fritz Maytag!"
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look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Do any of you know what's so great about this beer? Some may call it "trash" because it lacks aroma, flavor and body, but when I look at this beer's attributes and think about days after fishing, playing adult league softball, and lawnmowing, this one does what one wants it to. No ifs, ands or buts, but most people in their right minds know the refreshing qualities this beer brings out. And I rarely find any beer ""refreshing," but that's often a matter of opinion.
The fact that this beer found it's way into ballparks nationwide and being able to go to many ballparks around the US and I still see this beer alongside some newer craft beer trends tells me that this beer itself will stand the test of time.
And just think you're not supporting a commercial brewer by drinking this beer. It may not be the next Heady Topper but at least most beer historians know enough to say "Thank you Fritz Maytag!"
908 characters
3.27/5 rDev -15.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.25
4.38/5 rDev +13.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a beautiful clear amber color with a white head. Smells of malts and light caramel. Takes of delicious slightly sweet malts, light citrus notes, and caramel. Medium creamy body with medium carbonation. This is an excellent beer, one the the most refreshing I've ever had.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a beautiful clear amber color with a white head. Smells of malts and light caramel. Takes of delicious slightly sweet malts, light citrus notes, and caramel. Medium creamy body with medium carbonation. This is an excellent beer, one the the most refreshing I've ever had.
277 characters
3.73/5 rDev -3.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
4.18/5 rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.81/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear amber with a 2", tightly-bubbled head. Aroma has bready malts accented by floral and citrus hops. Smells like a darker pilsner. Taste is dry, bready, with subdued citrus hops and a clean, dry finish. A solid brew that deserves its reputation as a classic.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a clear amber with a 2", tightly-bubbled head. Aroma has bready malts accented by floral and citrus hops. Smells like a darker pilsner. Taste is dry, bready, with subdued citrus hops and a clean, dry finish. A solid brew that deserves its reputation as a classic.
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4.68/5 rDev +21.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
3.59/5 rDev -7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.75
3.93/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.
Mildly hazed deep amber color which turns to be clear thereafter, it tops up with rich creamy off-white head that stays with good retention before slowly sinking to a long-lasting bubble sheet atop and leaving lacing wave all around.
So aromatic malty goodness ranging from toasted bread, biscuit, toffee, nutty, maybe a bit buttery, grain, as well as floral, earthy, and lightly citrus hop.
Leading by caramelized sweet malt, then grain and charred nuttiness as well as toasted bread, biscuit, and toffee bring towards the richness and dry up the palate. Citrus comes up from the hop and finish with earthy hop bitterness. Some residual sweetness together with some bitterness is lingering in the aftertaste.
Light to medium body with good lively crisp and very refreshing feel, it is quite smooth through the mouthfeel with a dry and pleasant finish.
Solid malty brew with its prominent notes of biscuit, sweet caramel, and toasted bread.
983 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
12oz bottle poured into a pint glass.
Mildly hazed deep amber color which turns to be clear thereafter, it tops up with rich creamy off-white head that stays with good retention before slowly sinking to a long-lasting bubble sheet atop and leaving lacing wave all around.
So aromatic malty goodness ranging from toasted bread, biscuit, toffee, nutty, maybe a bit buttery, grain, as well as floral, earthy, and lightly citrus hop.
Leading by caramelized sweet malt, then grain and charred nuttiness as well as toasted bread, biscuit, and toffee bring towards the richness and dry up the palate. Citrus comes up from the hop and finish with earthy hop bitterness. Some residual sweetness together with some bitterness is lingering in the aftertaste.
Light to medium body with good lively crisp and very refreshing feel, it is quite smooth through the mouthfeel with a dry and pleasant finish.
Solid malty brew with its prominent notes of biscuit, sweet caramel, and toasted bread.
983 characters
4.05/5 rDev +4.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I will always have fond memories of this beer, as it was one of the pioneers of microbrews. Light, copper color, slightly hazy. Bubbly head with some minimal, streak lacing. Aroma is earthy and herbal, with sweet malt qualities. I'm Caramel malt and spice, hops bitterness in the finish and mild citrus notes. Low in ABV, but high in flavor. Damn fine beer.
365 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
I will always have fond memories of this beer, as it was one of the pioneers of microbrews. Light, copper color, slightly hazy. Bubbly head with some minimal, streak lacing. Aroma is earthy and herbal, with sweet malt qualities. I'm Caramel malt and spice, hops bitterness in the finish and mild citrus notes. Low in ABV, but high in flavor. Damn fine beer.
365 characters
3.54/5 rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.03/5 rDev +4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Look - Pours a clear light amber color, a short off white head, a few spots of lacing.
Aroma - Pilsner-like. Grainy, faint earthy hops, nutty.
Taste - Biscuity malt up front, not very sweet, toasted grain, zesty earthy hop balances the malt with a hint of bitterness. Finish is dry and very lager-like.
Feel - Light to medium body, smooth, crisp, dry.
Overall - Great choice when the weather starts getting warmer. Paired great with fish and chips.
450 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4
Look - Pours a clear light amber color, a short off white head, a few spots of lacing.
Aroma - Pilsner-like. Grainy, faint earthy hops, nutty.
Taste - Biscuity malt up front, not very sweet, toasted grain, zesty earthy hop balances the malt with a hint of bitterness. Finish is dry and very lager-like.
Feel - Light to medium body, smooth, crisp, dry.
Overall - Great choice when the weather starts getting warmer. Paired great with fish and chips.
450 characters
4.28/5 rDev +10.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.83/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Got one at the Londoner, Addison TX today.
Great malty smell.
Good taste also, quite balanced between the hoppiness and the maltiness. However, the longer it's left out there, the more hoppy it became. But overall, a good refreshing beer.
239 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Got one at the Londoner, Addison TX today.
Great malty smell.
Good taste also, quite balanced between the hoppiness and the maltiness. However, the longer it's left out there, the more hoppy it became. But overall, a good refreshing beer.
239 characters
4.56/5 rDev +18.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Anchor Steam Beer from Anchor Brewing Company
3.86
out of 5
based on 5,982 ratings.
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75
Bottle served from neighborhood pub. Founders pint glass brought on request. Had fond memories of Anchor Steam, but cannot remember where or when...?
Nice pfffft opening and full head easily acquired. Aromas were fresh, and crisp, but being in a pub I'm sure they were overtaken. Unique and refreshing I will say.
Deep golden to light amber, slightly hazy. Inviting overall appearance and I can tell this wont last long!
Malty in a great balance between pale and caramel. Not sweet, not tart not heavy, all is just right with this classic. Perfect summer day slammer, waiting on pizzas, and also accompanies the food very well on my 2nd one.
I shall go and put many of these in my fridge, asap. Unique and about as perfect example of beer as can be found.
Exceeded my expectations and fond memories.
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