Anchor Liberty: Neglected Too Long

Make sure you get some Double Liberty if you can still find it fresh. I really enjoyed it.

 

I don't have the time or patience to decipher the bottling date code that Anchor uses

 

It's your call, but it's not that hard to make some sense from it. Their system can be a bit of a pain, but it's easier than a lot of what's out there (illegible, rubbed off, or hidden from view dates... or even more esoteric codes). For me, it's worth the effort. There's no substitute for those beers that have that house flavor.

 

Liberty hits the spot.

 

Those cans gave me plenty good reason to grab some this summer, and I'm glad I did. I'm sure they will make a fine leafraker beer too.

 

Is canned Liberty just an anniversary thing or will it be around moving forward?

 

It'll be moving forward. It's obvious these guys got themselves a brand new canning line.

 

Anchor doesn't do much wrong in my opinion. Some people don't "get it", but I'll always support one of the best breweries from my home state. Cheers!

 

Had Liberty over the Independence Day holiday, as sort of a tribute, and came away really displeased with the yeasty flavoring. Something about whatever strain they are using is off-putting to me.

 

Anchor Liberty Ale is a classic - and 40 years old this year!

All the young beer dudes should take a moment and drink a fresh Liberty (and Steam) and drink in the "DNA" of where craft beer all started from....too often folks tend to chase the "next best thing" and not stop and pause and reflect with a really well made, classic beer - like Liberty Ale

 

There is clearly something wrong with this IPA. I mean, is that light passing thru it?

 

Liberty Ale was one of my first craft beers in '89 and I still love it today. Double Liberty is a worthy addition to the line

 

More info about Liberty Ale



http://www.anchorbrewing.com/beer/liberty_ale

 

Not unlike SNPA, which it preceded, Anchor Liberty seemed like an outrageously hoppy brew in days of yore. It's long since lost that distinction but I still go through a couple of cases each year, and I was stoked to find it in cans for the first time a couple of weeks ago. Still great.

 

I always thought it was a pale ale. not sure its in todays ipa range. decent APA...
SNPA is hoppier to me.

 

Gotta agree there. You see Double Liberty on draft or bottled, gotta get it.

 

For your reading pleasure:

http://www.anchorbrewing.com/blog/ask-bob-brewer-is-liberty-ale-an-apa-or-an-ipa/

An extract from that link: “By today’s definitions this is a classic recipe for an IPA.”

Cheers!

 

yea I seen that. and judging by lets say dale pale ale, its s judgment call. Of course I not had 1 in 20 years what do I know.
Still I have my notes and it say's compared side by side with snpa, snpa won the hop contest.

also: if you read more, you find out its not Fritz words:
also:
quote:
This is a very interesting article, and few are greater admirers of Anchor Brewing and its products than I. However, a few historical observations are in order.

First, APA is a modern term, apparently invented by Michael Jackson, to mean a traditional (top-fermented) pale ale made with Cascade or other American-grown hops that impart a distinctive citric, often grapefruit-like or piney taste. So APA is a variant of pale ale, which is English in origin. All APA and almost all American IPA use the new-style American hops.

So the real question is, what if any is the difference between pale ale and IPA? In truth, there is none. This has been established conclusively by recent beer historians such as Martyn Cornell and Ron Pattinson, but even Michael Jackson’s 1970’s The World Guide To Beer does not distinguish between pale ale and India Pale Ale. He has a chapter on pale ale as such with mention that some was sent to India.

When you read 19th century brewing manuals and other sources, it is evident that pale ale was the generic term. India Pale Ale, or India Ale, or East India Pale Ale, were terms used by pale ale brewers to describe their ale sent to India and elsewhere (e.g. Australia, California). This ale sometimes was more hopped than pale ale sold in England for the domestic market, and sometimes again, more attenuated.

But there were no hard and fast rules in this regard and hopping and attenuation differed from brewer to brewer anyway. The term used in the pub (Jackson said this too) was “bitter” for this beer. Thus, bitter, bitter beer, pale ale, IPA, India Pale Ale, were and are the same class of beer, meaning originally a well-bittered, pale beer (not black like stout). Also, this beer was stored for a time – shipment overseas was a form of storage – to develop its qualities of dryness and to condition it. Dry hopping was optional: many brewers used the process, some did not.

Today, for convenience and assist the judging process, BJCP has its own rules about pale ale and APA and what is English-style and APA. That is all well and good, but historically, there was mild ale (originally pale like bitter but less attenuated (sweeter), also, not stored long; pale ale/IPA/bitter; and the porter/stout family of beers. Another class, strong ale (e.g. Scotch ale, Burton Ale, Stingo) completes the picture.

In this light, Liberty Ale was and is a pale ale: it is dry on the palate, considerably bitter and light-coloured. I am sure Fritz Maytag in the 70’s considered it a pale ale but one given an American twist via the Cascade hops – and he would have been right.

Gary Gillman, Toronto.
:end quote

is dead on.

 

I concur, I had this one recently and it was astounding to me. It may be hard to consider this one an IPA by today's standards of over the top flavor, but it is still an iconic brew. There is definitely something to be said about it's simple and direct approach along with it's crisp, clean flavors. It proves you don't have to punch someone in the mouth with intense flavors to have a great brew. Sometimes simple is better.