Anchor California Lager

Anchor Brewing

San Francisco

Anchor California Lager is the brewery’s recreation of the first genuine lager brewed in the Golden State. It is brewed with two-row barley and Cluster hops and is kräusened and lagered in Anchor’s cellars.

ABV: 4.9

ABW: 3.9

COLOR: 6

BITTERNESS: 32

ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1050

AVAILABLE: AR, CA, CO, GA, IL, IN, MD, MA, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH, OK, PA, WI

Fantastic label recalls California history. Deep golden with greenish highlights. Fine head is slightly off-white. Pleasant malty nose with slight herbaceous aroma. Nicely carbonated; clean fresh flavor is more malty than hoppy with a slight acidity on the tip of the tongue. Balanced brew would complement, and not compete, with many dishes. Serve cooled, with freshly caught ice-cold Dungeness crabs, cracked over lettuce and tomato with a Louis dressing along with organic white corn chowder, olive oil and truffle flatbread.
- Charles Finkel

In the best spirit of a well-made lager, the head pours dense and remains persistent. That is always a good sign. Fresh beer aroma precedes a wonderfully earthy experience of a heritage American hop (Cluster) that digresses significantly from modern American citrus/fruity hop. The all-malt character with a pleasant touch of hop bitter sharpness deserves note as a very thirst-quenching and satisfying lager. It may be historic, but it lives lively today. It will be on my list as a memorable session beer. Keep it cold. Keep it fresh. Thanks, Anchor.
- Charlie Papazian

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Charlie Papazian
Author of the New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, founder of the Great American Beer Festival and National Beer Examiner at examiner.com. Papazian is a leading voice in beer and brewing.