Anchor Steam Beer
First Brewed: 1896, First Modern Bottling: 1971
Alc. by Volume: 4.9%, Availability: Year-round, Malt: Blend of 2-Row Pale & Caramel, Hops: Northern Brewer
Anchor Steam® Beer owes its deep amber color, thick, creamy head, and rich, distinctive flavor to a historic brewing process like none other.
It is a process that combines deep respect for craft brewing tradition with many decades of evolution to arrive at a unique approach: a blend of pale and caramel malts, fermentation with lager yeast at warmer ale temperatures in shallow open-air fermenters, and gentle carbonation in our cellars through an all-natural process called kräusening.
Anchor Steam® Beer derives its unusual name from the 19th century when “steam” was a nickname for beer brewed on the West Coast of America under primitive conditions and without ice. While the origin of the name remains shrouded in mystery, it likely relates to the original practice of fermenting the beer on San Francisco’s rooftops in a cool climate. In lieu of ice, the foggy night air naturally cooled the fermenting beer, creating steam off the warm open pans. Once a nickname for any Californian or West Coast beer brewed under these conditions, today the name “steam” is a trademark of Anchor Brewing and applies only to the singular process and taste of our flagship brand - San Francisco’s original Anchor Steam® Beer. The classic of American brewing tradition since 1896.
Alc. by Volume: 4.9%, Availability: Year-round, Malt: Blend of 2-Row Pale & Caramel, Hops: Northern Brewer
Anchor Steam® Beer owes its deep amber color, thick, creamy head, and rich, distinctive flavor to a historic brewing process like none other.
It is a process that combines deep respect for craft brewing tradition with many decades of evolution to arrive at a unique approach: a blend of pale and caramel malts, fermentation with lager yeast at warmer ale temperatures in shallow open-air fermenters, and gentle carbonation in our cellars through an all-natural process called kräusening.
Anchor Steam® Beer derives its unusual name from the 19th century when “steam” was a nickname for beer brewed on the West Coast of America under primitive conditions and without ice. While the origin of the name remains shrouded in mystery, it likely relates to the original practice of fermenting the beer on San Francisco’s rooftops in a cool climate. In lieu of ice, the foggy night air naturally cooled the fermenting beer, creating steam off the warm open pans. Once a nickname for any Californian or West Coast beer brewed under these conditions, today the name “steam” is a trademark of Anchor Brewing and applies only to the singular process and taste of our flagship brand - San Francisco’s original Anchor Steam® Beer. The classic of American brewing tradition since 1896.
3.3
3830 reviews
San Francisco, United States
Community reviews
Muito boa! Leve, das melhores.
Pours a copper colour with a persistent white head. Aroma is malt forward, with caramel. Taste is dry, malty with caramel malts. Years since I had one of these and it stood up pretty well.
355 ml bottle from Honest Brew. Clear copper colour with small white head which leads to a nice creamy consistent top. Aroma of malts, caramel, grass and something almost resembling a mixed berry compote. Taste is malty, caramel, light berry notes, grass, earth, herb like bitterness. Light to medium bodied, smooth, soft carbonation, dry. Enjoyable.
Old rating from 2014 - 330ml bottle. Pours amber with a white creamy head. Aromas & tastes of grains, caramel, bread, citrus, flora, earth & malt. Medium body. Dry long moderate bitter finish
A very simple ale. You can pick up a bargain basement bottle of any ol ale from a supermarket and it will taste no different. It's ok just nothing special. I'm glad i tried it due to its history. But I'll never buy one again it's just has no come buy me again going for it.
Translucent copper-amber color with a medium sized foamy white head. The aroma is of grains and corn. The taste is more of the same but with a nice little hop tang . Bitterness is mild with some rye grains bready appeal. Carbonation is lively and prickly Finishes short and dry. This is a nice every day drinking lager type beer. Paired well with some sharp cheddar.
Clear amber w a thin white head. Decent lacing. Toast and toffee with some woody notes and light caramel. Light malt, crisp and somewhat dry.
Amber, clear beer. Malt aroma, not very intense. The taste has a hint of malt and a subtle hint of hops. Average bitterness, with a mint feeling. Carbonation average. The beer is well drinkable.
355ml bottle, served room temperature in a straight 12oz glass. An Amber beer, with a thick slightly off white head. Highly carbonated. Malty aroma, and flavour with a slight bitter aftertaste. Excellent head retention and good lacing on the glass. Meets it's billing as a hybrid beer, as it displays elements of both a larger and an ale.
Colore ambrato; schiuma chiara, alta, morbida, compatta e persistente.
Al naso caramello; in bocca risalta la secchezza del luppolo.
Color ámbar transparente con espuma media blanca de retención media y buen residuo. Aroma a cereal tostado, minerales y lúpulos nobles con notas a hierba. Sabor a cereal tostado, caramelo, minerales y hierba seca con notas a tierra y resina. Dulzor ligero, alcohol medio-ligero y amargor medio-alto con regusto medio. Textura acuosa, cuerpo y carbonatación medios. La Steam Beer por excelencia. Sabores tostados y lupulados con un perfil limpio y elegante.
Especiada, con notas a caramelo.apariencia un poco turbia con colo ámbar.xuerpo medio
A bit flat,
Lovely clear caramel colour and the taste to match. Wasn't expecting much so delivered above and beyond.
Wygląd: Barwa ciemnozłota, klarowna. Piana biała, średnioniska, głownie średniopęcherzykowa, opada do ostatniej warstwy pozostawiając lekki lacing.
Aromat: Niezbyt lotny. Na niskim poziomie słodowość chlebowa, skórki chleba, tostów, biszkoptów z nutą karmelu oraz ziołowo-żywiczny chmiel. W tle akcenty czerwonych owoców.
Smak: Mało intensywny. Podobnie jak w aromacie, z delikatnie wybijającym się chmielem. W ustach wytrawne, treściwość niska, wysycenie średnie. Goryczka niska, żywiczna, krótka. Finisz wytrawny z subtelnie uwydatniającą się goryczką.
0,355l from bottle at home. BB 06/2020. amber clear color, small white head. smells caramel, spices, grassy, earthy, light berry notes. nice smell. medium body, soft carbonation. tastes of caramel, earthy, spices, grassy, berry notes, bit peppery. finishes lightly bitter with notes of grass, caramel and earthy notes. pretty good one
7, 4, 6, 3, 12
Appearance: Clear amber color with one finger off-white head and good retention.
Smell: lightly fruity, toasty and caramel-type malt, woody.
Taste: Same as nose. Lightly fruity, toasty and caramel-type malt, woody.
Mouthfeel: Good balance with medium bodied and normal carbonation. Finish dry and crisp, with hop bitterness and a malt flavor
Overall: A rustic-flavor beer which coordinate very good with the bottle and its label that looks very traditional. Interesting toasty and caramel flavors.
PS. While I know that is one of the favorite beers of many people, it is not my taste, i would not repeat. A part of that, is an old time classic beer that everyone has to try it at least once. Unique taste.
Una cerveza con notas a caramelo y bollería. Persiste una astringencia al final, el lúpulo aparece a finales de boca.
Early rating from Beer Buddy app
I like it
Dark amber, very tight and aggressive foam.
Pilsner floral, sweet malt, pine
Metal, sweet malt, slight bitterness, more malt than anything else.
Color ámbar semitraslúcido con un fino dedo de espima de baja retención. Aroma a malta algo tostada y poco a lúpulo. Sabor levemente dulce a malta tostada, algo acaramelada, con final levemente amargo por el lúpulo. Cuerpo medio-bajo y carbonatación medio-alta. Conjunto refrescante pero débil, no muy degustable.
Bar Ranch. Toques a naranja. Suave y dulce, con ligero amargor final. Retención media.
I rated this in July 2020. And when I was traveling in August 2023 in Los Angeles I found a six pack on the shelf so I bought it because this will probably be my last time to have this beer since the Brewer has gone out of business. This is a composite review. 12-ounce bottle pours orange-gold with a 1/2" foamy off-white head and lacing. Aroma: caramel. Flavor: caramel, Windmill cookies. caramel, toffee, Graham crackers, brown bread, white pepper. Mouthfeel: medium-bodied, somewhat slick finish. Drinks much heavier than its 4.9% ABV.
355ml Bottles from Beersniffers Webshop, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Cleveland, Asda, Metrocentre, Gateshead, Rehills, Newcastle and Safeway, Heaton, Newcastle. 2022, 2020, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004.
Previously 4.8% in 2009 and earlier.
Bright amber coloured with a thin white head of foam. It has an almond and toffee flavour with grassy notes and grapefruit on the smooth, warming earthy finish. Good.
19.2oz can. Colour...clear amber with a pillowy head. Nose...sugared hops, biscuits, Melba toast. Palate...malty, and lightly bitter, with dabbles of Goldfish crackers, Malt-O-Meal and Nabisco Shredded Wheat (the big biscuits without the sugary coating). The mid palate still has a healthy dose of bitterness and the finish is moderately long with Pilot Bread and apricot stem.
Aroma of intense barley and hops
Amber red colour with short lasting head
Taste of barley and hints of nuts
Medium carbonation with oily mouthfeel
Nice
Fles thuis geprobeerd met Roelzie. Het is een amberkleurig bier met een caramelachtige geur. de smaak is hoppig en wat bitter.
A hybrid beer than satisfies. My 12 oz bottle poured a beautiful golden bronze color with impressive lacing. Low levels of caramel and relatively bitter. Generous carbonation. A toasty sweetness balanced malt and hops quite well.
330 ml bottle. Bought online with a new distribuitor. Small hoppy smell, but rather lagerish. Very nice taste! Traditional, old school, but in a very good way. Bitter and refreshing at the same time. Very good surprise.