Anchor Aweigh! (July 28th - 30th)

Just double-checked a bottle; back label, upper left under the redemption line: 10.2 ABV.

 

First time trying Liberty Ale since 2016?

I remember it tasting bitter back then, but with the lupulin shift after drinking years of IPAs, this is reading a little more crystal malty than hoppy (although it still is that). Canned 6/22/23.

 

Pool's empty. Too many old people, I guess.
Steam, please.


Soft, yet bitter.

 

For all of you Old Foghorn fans—does anyone remember the Anchor Small Ale? They brewed it from the second runnings of OF. Blew my mind at the time that someone could do that.

Last time I had that was in a bomber from a liquor store on Geary, Inner Richmond SF, maybe 15 years ago. A session ale before session ales were a thing.

 

Small Beer was a treat.

 

Last Anchor West Coast IPA. Cheers!

 

I remember it and as I mentioned in the initial "Bad News at Anchor" thread:

Well, unless you were in the UK (either living in or just visiting...).

 

From the basement
Toasting this storied brewery
Clearly a loss
2015 Old Foghorn
Cheers

 

They cut back a lot of their variety around here and likely widespread over the past year. It was hard to track down Our Special Christmas Ale last November.

After the announcement, there were many runs on the product. I spoke with the Anchor Distributor rep from Glunz Friday and he said many of the stores were cleaned out within a few weeks of the announcement, with people buying cases.

The Glunz rep delivered the Steam keg of which I enjoyed a draft pour, and also a case each of Porter and Steam, but limited sales to one bottle of each per person to allow 24 different people to partake. He also brought a few Our Special Old Ales to share he said out of his personal stash, which was a very nice gesture.

I just think many would have liked to have participated beyond those that have but just couldn't find anything. It took effort on my end to have at least one different offering over the three days. The third of three will appear here momentarily.

 

My third and final selection for the weekend is their porter I first rated here a few month into my craft beer journey.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/28/61/?ba=ChicagoJ#review

Anchor Porter



The one difference I note from my OG review is I wouldn't describe this as sweet, I believe it is leaning sweet but more balanced than my initial meager review notes indicate. I prefer hoppier / bitter offerings such as Old Rasputin, Obsidian and Kalamazoo stouts. Drawing a blank in terms of comparable porters beyond our local God Damn Pigeon Porter which I love.

Anyway, I've enjoyed the thread and everyone's tastings and comments, and would like to thank Frank @FBarber for his great idea and thread! Glad I have a few Steam beers in the fridge, will buy up any further Anchor beers I find through the rest of the year, and hope their employees can purchase the company and continue selling these good to great beers!

 

I remember the Anchor Small Ale. Shared a 22 ounce bottle with friends back in 2001. At that time we got Anchor Old Foghorn in the small 7 ounce bottles. As I recall the Anchor Old Foghorn beers were acquired in Virginia. Never saw them in SW PA.

 

First having a West Coast IPA. Reminds me of IPAs of old before everyone was making one.

 

The day the news broke that Anchor was going to cease operations I rode out to their Potrero Hill location, only to find the taproom closed that day. I wandered the grounds outside and reflected upon the many, many transitions taking place in my life.

News trucks and camera crews had set up for the evening’s broadcast, and every so often a car pulled up or a pedestrian stopped to take a picture of that beautiful, iconic building full of SF and brewing history.
I want to thank Nick, Anchor employee and union member, for entertaining my questions that afternoon, and for his generosity in gifting me the cans of Our Special Ale he had with him.

This year’s OSA pours from the can (a first, perhaps?) as expected, a rich mahogany tan with thin lacing. On the nose and sip I’m getting a lot of eucalyptus and wintergreen mint, with some pine needles and a cool menthol note. There’s a touch of Fernet, too, without being overly medicinal or syrupy. Drinks easily, with a lightness to the body that balances out the layers of flavor. I’m going to miss this one’s annual appearance.

 

The morning the news broke Anchor employees flew their flag upside down. By the time I got there someone took it down.

 

Well I did 4 reviews of Anchor beers in the last 2 days. In the 1990 to 2010 era I drank some Anchor beers, But I don't remember which ones. I know I had Stream & Bock. but I also had 2 or 3 other ones. Some interesting posts in this thread