Chesapeake Common Lager
Key Brewing Co.

 

 

 

 

 

California common is an interesting style that I feel I rarely get to try. This one pours a mellow reddish bronze with malty and grainy notes in the nose.

The flavor is completely bereft of hops and instead has a grainy texture and medium crystal malts. The taste is cloying at first but the thin mouthfeel adapts and the finish is relatively refreshing. Definitely a good choice outside in summer for grilling or a ballgame.

How many steam beers have I had? The database says 5 total, out of nearly 2500, out of almost 15 years reviewing. So one every three years? The only one I can remember off hand is, of course, Anchor's--an iconic, important, and wonderfully brewed beer that was aggressive and memorable when I first had it, back in 2004, but now seems woefully underpowered. And it's been a good while since I had a fresh Anchor Steam. My memory of the beer is sure to be suspect--like how when you look back at your high school yearbook and are shocked to discover all your peers once looked like children.

What I'm getting at is, I really don't got a baseline for this review. I do know, however, the Key does a wonderful job with pretty much every style they touch.

This pours as I remember Anchor's pouring: hazy amber with a retentive white head. The aroma is a bit lacking--at least by today's standards. It's bready and malt heavy, very sweet. Aren't steam beers hoppy? The bottom of the can lists an extremely fresh date. I dunno.

The flavor, however, is exquisite. The aroma wasn't uneven; it was old school. And the flavor really ties things together. Floral hops in the very front, lightly sweet and heavily bready malt in the middle, and a wonderful hop bouquet on the finish mixing potpourri and bittersweet lemons against a chewy yeast.

This is, remarkably, true to style but also geared enough toward contemporary tastes to keep everyone happy. I hope steam beers see a revival, and I hope other brewers take notes from Key.

 

 

 

 

 

Beer poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours orange red with a fluffy white head. Smells of some darker roasted grain with slight floral hops. Tastes of dark roasted malt, very slight citrus. Beer is light bodied and very easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, an above average beer.

I normally don't even like this style of beer, but I tried it on draft late one summer afternoon because I wanted something fairly low in ABV (4.8%). Wow, was I pleasantly surprised by this beer! It is absolutely fantastic and has become one that I keep in my regular rotation. It has a pleasing dark golden color with a nice 1 inch-ish head. Smells malty with a hint of hops. Taste is very smooth and balanced with toasty malts, and light hops. Feels medium bodied, easy drinking, and yet somehow packed with flavor. I love it, but if I have one complaint it is price. It is $10.99 per six at my local beer/wine warehouse store, which seems a little high for a lighter brew. I wait for the $1 off each six pack coupons and I load up. If you're looking for a lower ABV beer that actually tastes good, give this one a try.

 

Poured from a 12 oz. can. Has a golden/orange color with a 1/2 inch head. . Smell is full of grains. Taste is toasted malts, grains, light hops, a touch of sweetness. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a decent beer, but less hops than I expect from this style.

 

 

Sample at Industry Night at HomeBrewCon.
Slightly hazy deep yellow color with a small white head.
Lightly fruity faint pilsner malt spicy floral hops not bad.

Draught version reviewed here: Unfortunately (or not) for all past, present and future attempts at this unique style of beer, the standard set by Anchor is undeniable. I had many Anchor Steams on draught in San Francisco in the nineties and they were nothing like this beer. Mouthfeel and color are close, but that's just about it. Taste is more like a Pilsner/Yuengling cross. I actually like this as an easy drinking session that's even better than an easy drinking Yuengling, but just doesn't seem to fit the flavor of a California Common as I would interpret it. Nice attempt, just wish they would reclassify.