I'm interested in trying out some California Commons. I've always liked Anchor Steam but with them taking a hiatus, I'm left searching for the style. In Georgia, the California Common does not seem nearly as common as it does in, say, California. Does anyone have a recommendations on California Common styles that might have a wider distribution network to make it to the Deep South?
Zero. We Californans know everyone isn't worthy . Per reddit : "Apart from Anchor Steam, other commercial examples include Skyscraper Brewing Company Lug Nut Lager, Moab Brewery Rocket Bike Lager, Southampton West Coast Steam Beer, Old Dominion Victory Amber, Flying Dog Old Scratch Amber Lager, Schlafly's Pi Common, Linden Street Common Lager, Eagle Steam Beer and Cosmic Brewing Company Plead the Fifth." My fave that is local is Brewyards California Common, but hyperlocal. Good luck.
Are Schlafly beers available to you? Perhaps try Pi Common. As described on BA: “This warm fermented lager is our tribute to the classic Anchor Steam beer that started the craft brewing revolution.” Cheers!
For situations like this it sure would be nice to be able to search the BA beer database by style and location. @Todd Maybe some day?
Locally, Wander used to make one named Uncommon, and they listed it as a 'Washington Uncommon' as style. IIRC, there was some sort of designation issue, and it changed to a Amber/Red ale. It was a tasty brew though.
I've had a half dozen or so of these over the years and liked them all. Supply has been spotty though and darned if I could ever find a regular source. Sure have looked though. You might check on Kentucky Common during your search.
I’ve tried a couple of the California Commons in my pre BA days, they are definitely a little lacking compared to Anchor Steam. The northern California coast with the cool ocean breeze pretty much year round is ideal for this open fermentation style. Not to mention the many decades of perfecting the methods and techniques. Such a shame to witness it’s passing.
Stormbreaker in Portland OR makes one called Steambreaker, which I had last Spring. A quick peak at Untappd makes it look like, in additoion to Portland, it sees distribution to SLC. That's two for Utah.
Folks keep equating Kentucky Common with California, and I don't get it. Outside of the use of the term Common and warmer for a lager fermentation, these beers have very little to do with each other.
Looking back I’ve logged 2 others: Olfactory: Twang Henhouse: got your back Both were good, but these are also regional Bay Area breweries and I don’t think they’re in the regular canning rotation.
I’m not sure when those two were released. However, following Anchor’s closure a number of breweries released tributes to the classic. I’m thinking mostly of the NorCal area, but that’s more because of my own regional biases.
