1001 Beers

Beer No: 106
Page No: 420
Category: Blond

It's funny, back to back posts where I originally rated the beer 7-8 years ago, and then looking back today, I feel completely different about it.  I really enjoyed this Liberty Ale and it'll be my go-to in the future if I'm just looking for a quick six-pack to take to a party (previously I usually just picked up Sierra Nevada Pale).  I really enjoyed this American Pale Ale finding it to be incredibly complex, yet wonderfully balanced.  Easy to drink with tons of flavor, I just couldn't have been happier this morning.  As mentioned, this is the second beer in a row that I've taken another look at and a commenter yesterday picked up on the change and I agree with him how fun it is to sometimes look back at old ratings and see how our tastes have evolved.

I really like the fact that you came back and did a re-review. It's interesting from a beer drinkers' perspective to see how our tastes and moods change from one sitting to another over time. And from a readers' perspective it's interesting to see two different takes on a beer - especially if they're from the same person. Gives a more complete idea of the beer.

In beer news, the Craft Brewers Alliance bought Kona, rescuing them and allowing Kona to contiue to create great craft brews.  When I first read about the acquisition, I at first thought of Kraft, and found a brewery to be an odd choice, but then realized it's something completely different:

Under the agreement, Kona will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Craft Brewers, which also distributes the beers of Chicago's Goose Island Brewery. Craft Brewers was formed with the merger of Portland's Widmer Brothers Brewing and Woodinville, Wash.,-based Redhook Ale Brewery in 2008.

I'm glad Kona will be able to continue to produce the beers the way they want to and hopefully the Craft Brewers Alliance can provide distribution that will help them grow.

((And yes, this review is being back-posted to fill in some gaps in reviews.  So you'll notice the re-rate on August 4th and the article from August 3rd despite the article being "posted" on July 29th.))

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Anchor Liberty Ale by Anchor Brewing Company

Aroma: 7/10
Appearance: 4/5
Taste: 8/10
Palate: 4/5
Overall: 15/20

Rating: 3.8 / 5.0

UPDATED: AUG 4, 2010 Wow, what a difference 7 years makes. Had from bottle, this beer is thoroughly refreshing. Pours golden yellow with a slight orange tint and tons of head. Beer actually foamed over on me when taking the cap off. Aroma is perfect balance of floral hops and muted malts. Flavor is wonderful. Quite possibly my new favorite easy-drinking beer. The perfect amount of hops complement the complex malts. Probably my new favorite in the APA category. Wonderfully smooth finish, a very well-rounded beer.

Had on tap at Callahan’s on February 19th, 2003
The beer was poured a golden yellow with a slight head that dissipated quickly. Aroma is slightly fruity, but weak. Taste is hoppy and bitter with an aftertaste that is slightly acidic. Not an outstanding taste - drinkable, but not tops on my list.
Original Rating: 4/3/6/4/12 2.9/5.0

Beer No: 33/1001
Page No: 42
Category: Amber

So here I was, in the middle of writing a quick review for RateBeer.com and I took a few seconds to hop on over to Google Reader ot see what was new in my in-box.  I click on my "Beers" category and what was this!? Anchor Brewing has been sold!  Brookston Beer Bulletin has the full story.

The Griffin Group, an investment and consulting company focused on beverage alcohol brands, announced its acquisition of Anchor Brewing Company which includes its portfolio of craft beers and artisan spirits, including the award winning Anchor Steam Beer.

I was shocked.  As you can see on the bottle, it's been brewed since 1896 and has weathered all sorts of ups and downs in the market, but now, it appears that they couldn't weather the storm any more.  The article goes on to note that the new owners worked with the brewery during the purchase and they are looking to keep the brewery as-is, but that's hard to imagine.  I'm sure there will be some changes, but hopefully they can continue to put out great beer.

I think I have to agree with what Fritz Maytag (former president?) of Anchor Brewing states in the last paragraph of the 1001 Beers write-up: "It's not a radical beer, just mellow, pleasant, rich, and satisfying.  On my world travels, I always find myself wondering how it will taste when I get home.  I've always just been thrilled."  There's nothing outrageous about this beer.  It's just a solid, well-brewed, refreshing beer.  I usually tend to lean towards liking beers with more hops than malts, but this malty beer really delivers.  Crisp, cool, it just quenches your thirst and is a solid, reliable beer to pick up when you're in a pinch.

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Anchor Steam Beer from Anchor Brewing Company

Aroma: 7/10
Appearance: 4/5
Taste: 8/10
Palate: 3/5
Overall: 13/20

Rating: 3.5 / 5.0

Had from six-pack from BevMo. Pours a beautiful copper color with slight head, slight lacing, and good carbonation. Aroma is malty - hints of toast and caramel. Good balance of malts and hops with a little more of a lean towards malts. Finishes dry and sweet, very nice