Anchor Brewing

Anchor Christmas Turns 40

2014 marks the 40 year of Anchor Christmas. Each year, the beer, just like the label, is different.

For 40 years, Anchor Christmas has featured a different tree on each label, hand drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt. Stitt has been Continue Reading →

Anchor Brewing Releases Zymaster #6 [VIDEO]

Anchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, CA) has released the sixth edition in their Zymaster Series, Saaremaa Island Ale.

Each offering tells a story, and Saarremaa Island Ale is no different. This beer is inspired by brewmaster Mark Carpenter’s trip to Saaremaa Island Continue Reading →

Anchor Zymaster #7, A Sour Mash IPA

Anchor Brewing (San Francisco, CA) will soon introduce the seventh edition in the Zymaster Series soon.

The series, which debuted with California Lager, is a brewer driven series where the brewmaster researches, creates, and brings to fruition, a unique new offering Continue Reading →

Posted in Anchor Brewing, Headlines, New Releases

Anchor Collaborates with Chris Robinson Brotherhood on New Can

Anchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, CA) has teamed up with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood to create Brotherhood Steam Beer.

Brotherhood Steam Beer is based off of Anchor’s flagship offering Steam, dry-hopped with Citra and Nelson Sauvin hops. The combination is something completely unique.

The result is a copper color brew with aromatic hints of citrus and mint, a smooth, full-bodied malt flavor with a lingering, fresh hop finish.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood is an American blues band formed by Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes. The Crowes are on indefinite hiatus.

Brotherhood Steam Beer will be available at select Chris Robinson Brotherhood shows, and in 12oz cans nationwide this December. This is the second canned offering by Anchor.

Style: Steam Beer
Availability: 12oz Cans, Limited Draft.
Arrival: December, 2014

Anchor & Chris Robinson Brotherhood

Chris Robinson Brotherhood seen at Anchor Brewing in San Francisco, California

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anchor Brewing, Don't Miss This, Seasonal Return

Anchor Christmas Turns 40

2014 marks the 40 year of Anchor Christmas. Each year, the beer, just like the label, is different.

For 40 years, Anchor Christmas has featured a different tree on each label, hand drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt. Stitt has been drawn the labels since 1975.

While the recipe has always been a closely guarded secret, Anchor Brewing’s veteran Brewmaster Mark Carpenter, describes the brew as, “…aromatic with hints of citrus fruit, spices, and subtle piney hop notes.”  This holiday season, Mark suggests pairing the beer with rich meats, thick saucy dishes, roasted vegetables, or even fruitcake.

Anchor Christmas is brewed to be a traditional “wassail” where spices were added to ales during seasonal celebrations. Shipping now through January, 2015.

Style: Winter Warmer
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Magnum Bottles, Draft. Now-Jan, Seasonally.
Arrival: November, 2014.

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anchor Brewing, Don't Miss This, Videos

Anchor Brewing Releases Zymaster #6 [VIDEO]

Anchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, CA) has released the sixth edition in their Zymaster Series, Saaremaa Island Ale.

Each offering tells a story, and Saarremaa Island Ale is no different. This beer is inspired by brewmaster Mark Carpenter’s trip to Saaremaa Island in the Baltic Sea. The local beer had a really unique flavor, thanks to the local yeast. He returned from the trip with brewer’s yeast used to create #6.

Zymaster No. 6 is a medium-bitter pale ale with Old World hop flavor and aroma. Made with pale barley malt, it has a light body, clean finish, and overtones of freshly ground clove and allspice similar to a Belgian ale.

Anchor Saaremaa Island Pale Ale will be available in 22oz bottles and draft for a limited time.

Style: Pale Ale
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Limited one time release.

6% ABV

The series at glance:

No. 1: California Lager
No. 2: Mark’s Mild
No. 3: Flying Cloud San Francisco Stout
No. 4: Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale
No. 5: Harvest One American Pale Ale
No. 6: Saareemaa Pale Ale
No. 7: Potero Hill Sour Mash IPA (Coming soon)

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anchor Brewing, Coming Soon, Headlines

Anchor Zymaster #7, A Sour Mash IPA

Anchor Brewing (San Francisco, CA) will soon introduce the seventh edition in the Zymaster Series soon.

The series, which debuted with California Lager, is a brewer driven series where the brewmaster researches, creates, and brings to fruition, a unique new offering for the brewery.

Potrero Hill Sour Mash IPA follows #6, Saareemaa Pale Ale.

Presumably, Sour Mash IPA is brewed a bit like a berliner weisse, where the brewer allows the mash to naturally sour in the tun for a day/days then completing the brewing process.

As with the previous offerings, Anchor Potrero Hill Sour Mash IPA will be available in 22oz bottles, and draft.

Style: IPA
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Arrival: TBA

7% ABV

Anchor Zymaster Series Rundown:

No. 1: California Lager
No. 2: Mark’s Mild
No. 3: Flying Cloud San Francisco Stout
No. 4: Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale
No. 5: Harvest One American Pale Ale
No. 6: Saareemaa Pale Ale

 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anchor Brewing, Headlines

Anchor’s Cold Weather Offering: Winter Wheat

Anchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, CA) is expanding their seasonal game this fall/winter with the addition of Anchor Winter Wheat. The cold weather offering is brewed with red winter wheat from a nearby family farm. Cali grown wheat isn’t just local, it’s award winning.

We’ve been making wheat beers since the summer of 1984. They’ve all been golden summer refreshers instead of dark winter warmers – until now. Anchor Winter Wheat is made with a unique blend of malted barley and five wheats from Belgium, Germany, the Midwest, and a family farm just 75 miles away, where we get our soft red winter wheat. Sown in November and harvested in June, it is used in artisanal flatbreads, cakes and pastries. In 1848, California farmers forsook their amber grain for golden fortune. By 1878, California wheat was back big-time, winning gold at the Paris International Exposition. There was a ben a wheat beer brewery in North Beach, one mile from our first home. Today, the robust flavor, malty complexity, enticing aroma, ebony color, and thick creamy head of Anchor Winter Wheat reflect this delicious heritage. Cheers!

An official announcement from Anchor will come soon, but expect Anchor Winter Wheat in 12oz bottles, and draft.

Style: Wheat Ale
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Arrival: TBA

7% ABV 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anchor Brewing, Headlines, New Releases

Anchor Saaremaa Island Ale

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Anchor Brewing, Headlines, New Releases

Anchor Brewing Releases Saison with “Cali Twist”

Anchor Brewing Company (San Francisco, CA) announced today the addition of Anchor Saison Spring Ale to their lineup.

While saisons originate in Wallonia, a French-speaking portion of Belgium. Anchor is taking a “California twist” to this saison, with the addition of in state grown lemongrass, lemon pepper, and ginger.

…The distinctiveness of roasted Belgian wheat malt is enhanced by the peppery, clove-like flavors of  a locally cultured saison-style yeast. And, for this release, Anchor chose three California ingredients—lemongrass, lemon peel, and ginger—whose synergy adds a tangy crispness and herbal spiciness to this sharply refreshing, uniquely Californian saison.

Anchor recently released Fort Ross Farmhouse Ale in the Zymaster Series. That was the first time the brewery has brewed/experimented with a Belgian-style yeast. After the big response, Head brewer Mark Carpenter thought a saison would fit the Anchor lineup nicely. Look for Anchor Saison from now until May, 2014.

Style: Saison (w/ Lemongrass, Lemon Peel, Ginger)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft. March-May. First Release.

7.2% ABV

by Reid Ramsay