Bottle/Tap: Bottle

I’ve never actually had anything by Anchor Steam though I have received many recommendations. I just never got around to giving them a try. I picked up a bottle and thought I’d take it for a spin. Anchor Steam is one of the oldest brewers in California and hasn’t changed their brewing tradition for over 100 years. The lore of the name is supposedly from the hissing noise the steam makes as it leaves the brewing tanks. Steam is also an old term used to describe beer that was made on the West Coast.

Sierra Nevada and Anchor Brewing each have unique bottles, and I think that is pretty cool. Everyone knows the long neck look, but short stubby bottles seem more compact and fit in your hand more easily. I popped the top and emptied the bottle into my glass and enjoyed the amber color as it flowed in. I noticed a very good hop smell, and I was kind of excited to try something new. Well, new to me I should say.

I was taken by the bitter taste, it wasn’t like something I was used to drinking, yet I really liked it. I chilled the beer in my basement and let it get to room temperature while I was drinking it and became more impressed at how well it stood up. It didn’t lose any of the flavors as the temperature rose, and that was a big plus for me. It wasn’t a terribly strong beer, but it did have some good bite toward the end of each sip that I enjoyed.

If you’ve had Anchor Steam before, or if you haven’t, I completely recommend this one. As the temperature rises outside it is good to know there are some beers that can also withstand the increase in heat.