It has been said time and time again that the United States is on a slant and all the fruits and nuts have rolled down to California. Having lived in the Golden State my entire life I would have to say that this is a fair statement. Now being a collection of oddly assorted fruits and nuts, this poor state can’t seem to agree on anything, has a horrid government, poor economy, and if you care to go into business you better head to Nevada because there is a reason why there is a big red star on the California state flag; this social state will tax you to within an inch of your life! But things weren’t always this way and thanks to Anchor Steam Beer we still have a savory glimpse into the California that once was, the one where a man could make his own destiny and a beer was not merely constrained to being a lager or an ale!
This interesting little Cali concoction is as I stated, neither a lager or an ale but a style all uniquely it’s own and uniquely Californian. This type of beer is known as a California Commons since the term Steam Beer is specifically trademarked by Anchor Brewing company. Now before we jump into Bren’s Beer-o-meter I think a little history lesson on what this beer is and why it’s so special is needed. So in short the beer was born out of necessity. It came into being in the late 1800’s during California’s gold rush and was an attempt to meet the general population’s demand for a lager with the technology available at the time. Unfortunately the ability to perform cold fermentation was not an option in the wild west towns of late nineteenth century California, so the enterprising and crafty brewers of San Fransisco decided to use bottom fermenting lager yeast but at higher, ale fermenting temperatures, thus producing a light, carbonated ale hybrid that met the common mans’ lager desire. As for how the beer got its name ” Steam”, there are many stories that either reference the steam let off in the brewing process since it was brewed at higher temperatures, or that due to the higher temperature’s, companies that brewed this beer pumped it through their roofs to catch the cool San Fransisco sea breeze, thus releasing steam off the top of the brewery. Any way you look at it, it doesn’t really matter how it got it’s name, it just matters how it stacks up in Bren’s Beer-o-Meter. So now that you have been speed schooled in the history of this California treasure lets see how the Brenmeister grades this beer.
1. Taste- Given the beers humble “common” roots, it lacks the subtle complexities of some snobbier beers, but what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in comfort an reliability. What I mean by this is that the beer tastes good, very good, and it tastes good in most all situations. It has enough hops to let you know it’s a beer, but not so much that your hammering it down just to prove your an arrogant bastard. It is well balanced and comforting, earning it a 4 out of 5.
2. Texture- Staying with the common theme, the texture was not remarkable, but not offending in any way. The beer was light, sufficiently carbonated, and pleasant. Its texture lends it to work well for a summer afternoon, but not too light to where it would be out of place on a fall or winter’s night. It feels like your drinking beer, just beer, nothing more, nothing less and for that I give it a 3.5 out of 5 for texture.
3. Appearance- This is a steaming pile of sexy when poured into a glass. Yes despite the common roots, this beer works the glass. With its white, light, half inch head and golden crisp body, this beer provides the dictionary defined picture of what a beer should be and for that it gets a 4.5 out of 5.
4. Aroma- Like the rest of this beer’s features, the scent it steams off lets you know that it is a beer, nothing more nothing less. You can definitely pick up on the hops flavor of the beer, but in much the same way the beer tastes, its not overpowering, just pleasant and soothing, thus earning it a 4 out of 5 for aroma.
5. User Friendliness- This is where the beer really comes into its own. Due to its rather common and unremarkable characteristics it appeals to the primal urge of seeking comfort in consistency. This is a beer that will be there for you, it will work well at any party, or as a nice “attitude adjustment” after a long day at work. This brew provides a safe haven to come back to when you have ventured too far on your beer journey, and provides a solid rock of standards upon which one can use as a benchmark for their definition of beer. Ironically its inability to fit into either a larger or ale category allows it to act as a great center point upon which any other beer can be compared to and for that it deserves a 4.5 out of 5 for user friendliness.
Beer Name: Anchor Steam Beer
Beer Type: California Commons “Steam Beer”
Scores
Taste: 4
Texture: 3.5
Appearance: 4.5
Aroma: 4
User Friendliness: 4.5
Total: 20.5 out of 25…A Steaming Success!!
Live the Journey-Bren
