Anchorage Hits a Home Run

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by GRG1313, Jun 13, 2013.

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  1. GRG1313

    GRG1313 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,974) Jan 15, 2009 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've historically not been an Anchorage Brewing fan. I know....it's sacriligious but I have just not been blown away by most of their brews. Until now.

    I don't read every post on this forum but I've not seen anything on their new Anadromous Black Sour Ale with Brett, Pedio and Lacto.

    I just reviewed fully instead of just "ticking it" as a "had." This is a beer that actually IS what it purports to be - and it's very good; maybe great. I know that the powers that be on this site don't like us to review beer here. So, I refer you to my review (which, while just my opinion, I think is spot on for how I feel about the beer.)

    I write since I'm a bit surprised that there is not more of a "big deal" being made about this beer which is just about as good as it gets for what it is. A black ale that is much more than just "dark, one dimensional beer." This one has complete balance and wonderful integration of flavor, with sufficient sour tones to satisfy we sour fans, yet sufficient other flavors and tones to likely satisfy most beer drinkers. The brett, pedio and lacto aren't dominating like so many beers that list and use these bugs. They are very well integrated and balanced to enhance (not dominate, as I've said) the flavor profile.

    Anyway, it's aged in oak pinot noir barrels and you actually get the oak (manifessed generally by woody vanilla tones) and the pinot noir grape tones in the beer - and very nicely! This is one of the most complex integrated beers I've had in a very long time. Like it or not, it's very well made and a nice experience.

    I'll not even talk about aging or cellaring. It's so good right now that there's nothing to be gained, in my opinion, by cellaring for any appreciable amount of time. Nice brew! Thank you Anchorage.
     
    #1 GRG1313, Jun 13, 2013
    BrewBoone, franklinn, JackHorzempa and 2 others like this.
  2. jmgrub

    jmgrub Initiate (0) Nov 20, 2010 California

    I quite liked the Anadromous as well, but preferred the Darkest Hour. In any event, a great tag team of Anchorage beers in this shipment.
     
    #2 jmgrub, Jun 13, 2013
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  3. DmouthCaliBrewz

    DmouthCaliBrewz Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2013 New Hampshire
    Trader

    This this this I have bought a bunch of their bombers recently and have been absolutely blown away!!!
    The dudes story is pretty cool too.
     
    #3 DmouthCaliBrewz, Jun 13, 2013
  4. stormywaters

    stormywaters Initiate (0) Oct 13, 2011 California

    I have this in the fridge and almost popped it tonight but saved it to share with the old lady. Anchorage just might be my favorite brewery, its like every beer was brewed with me in mind
     
    #4 stormywaters, Jun 13, 2013
    poopinmybutt and DmouthCaliBrewz like this.
  5. GarthDanielson

    GarthDanielson Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2010 Virginia

    The brewery opened right after the wife and I moved from Anchorage back to the lower48...we were pretty bummed, but it has been nice to be able to score their beers here in New England. Great stuff!
     
    #5 GarthDanielson, Jun 13, 2013
  6. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    One shudders to think what would have happened if this brewery were located in rural Vermont.
     
    #6 Orca, Jun 13, 2013
    UnknownKoger, bstyle, beerme411 and 14 others like this.
  7. DmouthCaliBrewz

    DmouthCaliBrewz Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2013 New Hampshire
    Trader

    Overhyped and number 1 on BA?

    #tooreal
     
    #7 DmouthCaliBrewz, Jun 13, 2013
    DelMontiac, Kuemmelbrau and NEO68710 like this.
  8. bifrost17

    bifrost17 Initiate (0) Dec 16, 2011 Washington

    I've only had one Anchorage beer, Deal with the Devil, the M A S S I V E single malt, single hop barley wine they made. Blew my fuckin mind!!!!!
     
    #8 bifrost17, Jun 13, 2013
  9. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,096) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I recently had my first beer from them- The Tide and its Takers, and I was blown away by how good it was. Need to try more of their offerings!
     
    #9 Stevedore, Jun 13, 2013
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  10. jaminjohnson

    jaminjohnson Initiate (0) Jul 3, 2012 Canada (YT)

    Anyone know if gabe is ever going to open his own brewery/brewpub?
     
    #10 jaminjohnson, Jun 13, 2013
  11. bayareahustla

    bayareahustla Zealot (656) Jul 13, 2012 California
    Trader

    Drank some tonight, absoultely fantastic, reminded me a lot of Soco Stout by lagunitas.
     
    #11 bayareahustla, Jun 13, 2013
  12. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    Not only do they brew some great beers, they have the best artwork on their bottles out there right now.
     
    #12 litheum94, Jun 13, 2013
    AptosBeerDrinker likes this.
  13. notchucknorris

    notchucknorris Pooh-Bah (2,230) May 28, 2010 California
    Pooh-Bah

    I've had everything that's hit shelves here so far and I can say that these guys are yet to NOT hit a home run. Bitter Monk was especially tasty.
     
    #13 notchucknorris, Jun 13, 2013
    HuskyinPDX likes this.
  14. Matthewpakula

    Matthewpakula Zealot (549) Mar 12, 2012 Illinois

    Their Love Buzz Saison is out of this world. I'm glad that it makes it down here to Chicago.
     
    #14 Matthewpakula, Jun 13, 2013
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  15. BottleCaps80

    BottleCaps80 Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2013 Iowa

    Every Anchorage beer I've ever had has basically blown me away, especially Love Buzz. I need to keep my eye open around here for this beer, as I would love to try it.
     
    #15 BottleCaps80, Jun 13, 2013
  16. Reswald

    Reswald Zealot (724) Mar 31, 2007 Alaska

    Gabe Fletcher is back from his European adventure and has plenty of new wood, as in eight new foudres of varying capacities. There are two holding 110 barrels, four holding 60 barrels, and two holding 45 barrels. Also, for the first time, Gabe's forest of wooden vessels in expanding beyond his Brett Cave beneath Sleeping Lady. Only four of these new foudres will be going into the cave; the rest are going into a new warehouse, where they will be used exclusively for sour beer. Besides the new foudres, Gabe has received eight 500-liter barrels from the Laphroig Distillery, located on the island of Islay, part of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, which had been used to age whisky for 30 years. Gabe says the first beer that's going in them will be a "big ass Imperial Stout". He's also gotten sixteen 500-liter red wine casks. All told, this represents an additional 617 barrels or 19,133 gallons of additional fermentation space. I'm really looking forward to all the great new brews Gabe will be able to make with these new vessels.
     
    #16 Reswald, Jun 13, 2013
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  17. Kreko7

    Kreko7 Initiate (0) Mar 5, 2013 California

    All of their beers are unique and delicious! Have you had darkest hour yet? Crazy complex stout!
     
    #17 Kreko7, Jun 13, 2013
  18. Bay01

    Bay01 Initiate (0) Nov 19, 2008 Illinois


    Was that bottled?
     
    #18 Bay01, Jun 13, 2013
  19. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,305) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    where are you getting? i have only seen the white IPA around town, which IMO, is also muy fantastico.
     
    #19 spicoli00, Jun 13, 2013
  20. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    All of this is great news; I keep looking for a downside and can't find one, assuming we keep getting this beer in Seattle.

    I do feel compelled to mention the typos/grammatical errors on the bottles. Is Gabe looking for a professional editor? Will work for beer. :slight_smile:
     
    #20 Orca, Jun 13, 2013
    jmgrub likes this.
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