Anchor Dry-Hopped Steam Beer

It’s hard to drink this beer and consider its own merits without considering its provenance. Anchor Steam Beer, the iconic San Francisco original that helped revitalize an industry, has been a stalwart foot soldier in the war to convert drinkers away from the industrial light lagers that for so long ruled the country’s beer scene. It’s a beer so synonymous with the brewery that many people believe the actual company is called “Anchor Steam” (it’s not). It’s a benchmark that few have been able to come close to.

But, we live in a world where commonplace and tradition don’t always get the respect they deserve, where beers that first blazed a trail don’t always get a second look. So, it makes sense that Anchor Brewing Co. is trying something new with its flagship. Now through December, you’ll have the chance to try Anchor Dry-Hopped Steam Beer, and as the name suggests, it’s heavier on the lupulin character than its base.

The brewery only describes the addition as “a blend of new and traditional hops,” but there’s no mistaking the new flavors. Orange peel and pith, some white peach, a touch of earthy spruce. Colorwise this version seems slightly more orange than the amber of the original. And the extra hop addition also brings with it a more bitter finish and takes away some of the caramel malt stickiness of the original.

I hope that those discerning drinkers who might have chosen to skip over Anchor Steam these last few years give this new version a spin. It’s got all the good points of the classic, with some fresh style around the edges.  

About Beer of the Moment:

All About Beer Magazine’s Beer of the Moment series aims to find that compass heading in the endless sea of new beers. Whether classic or the current cutting edge, these are fresh releases that inspire, that challenge, that stand for something. They’re why we’re All About Beer.

Think you’ve got something good that might fit the bill for Beer of the Moment? Get in touch via @allaboutbeer on Twitter or Instagram, or email us at [email protected]

John Holl is the editor of All About Beer Magazine. 

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