Anvil Steam
Bluegrass Brewing Co. - East St. Matthew's

Came to the table with minimal head. Nice dark amber look. Slightly chill-hazed,

Smell is cracker malt over floral/pine hops. Lots of Simcoe here.

The Simcoe hops dominate the taste. This is a very hop-forward California Common: 36 IBU, which seems a bit much for this style. But everybody at BBC is going nuts for hops these days: the parents of one of the brewers has even started raising hops! So, hop-lovers should love this CalCom. I think it's a bit off-style.

Mouthfeel is where this brew shines. Rich, round, and slurpy.

Drinkability is reduced for this style by the overt hopping. I know that the style guide says CalComs possess "assertive hop bitterness," but even the brewer at BBC with whom I spoke said that he intentionally added extra hops to this on, because people like hops. Well, not me, not so much. I would have enjoyed a bit more balance.

On-tap at BBC, Louisville, KY (St. Matthews location). Served in a pint glass, the beer pours copper/amber with about an inch white head. Head retention and lacing are both good. It smells like caramel, grain, toasted malt and pine/citrusy hops. Taste is same as the aroma, but the hoppiness is stronger in the taste. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it has a good amount of carbonation which is perfect for this beer. Drinkability is good, it goes down smooth and it's easy to drink, very sessionable. Overall, it really does remind me of Anchor Steam. A pretty good choice out of the many beers available at Bluegrass Brewing Company.