Anchor Liberty Ale

Brewed by Anchor Brewing Company
Style: American Pale Ale
San Francisco, California USA

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker

good and fresh! Pleasant bitter, long finish. Bottle contained alcohol ... much too small! =)

Bottle, courtesy of - and shared with - Palme. Been wanting to try this near-legendary American pale ale, which has probably broke more people into drinking craft beer in America than any other. In Norway, you still have to go abroad to get it... Oh well. The beer looks well in my glass, a hazy light orange body with a small white head is what one would expect from an APA. Aroma is citrus, kiwi and faint grassy hints. Very mellow. Taste is more kiwi, less citrus, with hints of apricot and grassy hops. Somewhat bitter finish. An easy-drinking, easy-going, easy-liking APA, as expected.

20 July 2010, bottle. fresh, crisp cascade hops and only slightly malty nose. good med body. slightly fizzy. not as much hop flavour as i expected. finish fades fast. on reflection, there is some malty/alcohol flavour that lingers. slight bitter finish. i like this!

0.355l bottle shared with ClubGonzo. This was actually one of the first craft beers I was recommended to try, but have been struggling to get a hold of one until now. Pours a semi-clear orange body with a bubbly white head. Aroma is fruit hopy, strawberries, apricot, white sugar and peach. Quite fruity for a APA. Body is medium, perhaps a bit watery in the finish, and the carbonation is medium. Tastes are not fully as fruity as the nose would suggest. Grassy hops, and somewhat malty. Finishes off with a medium lasting bitter ending and a dry caramel aftertaste. Nice enough APA.

Bottle - Pours a hazy orange with a thin white head that mostly goes away quicky. Aroma is orange/banana/hops. Flavor is a great balance of hops and maltiness. Not as bitter as Anchorsteam, but still some light bitterness. Its an easy drinkin’ delicous beer. I will buy this again. Also, how can you not like a beer called "liberty ale" - great name.

On draft at the Anchor tasting room. This one pours a mostly clear golden color and topped by a medium sized foamy off white head that shows nice retention and leaves patches of lace behind in its wake. The aroma shows notes of grassy and citrus hops with the base comprised of toasted grains and caramel malts. The flavor follows suit and shows a good balance between the caramel malts, toasted grains, and grassy hops. Just a touch of bitterness on the finish. Medium bodied with ample carbonation that leads to a crisp finish. This is a decent pale ale that is certainly drinkable, but far from the best in the style.

Bottle. 12 oz. Pours a hazy nectarine orange with a thin, wispy, fluffy white head. Recedes quickly leaving a nice patch of white atop the surface. Aroma of fresh hops, crystal malts, wet barley, clover, wet soil, slight peppermint, anise, and some dull, moderate metallic notes. Mild, soft, refreshingly clean palate. Smooth, easy-going finish with tons of maltiness and a bit of hop bitterness. Finish contains a bit of peanut brittle flavor and soft earthy hints. Very, very well executed American pale. Drinkable and refreshing.

12 oz. bottle into a St. Bernardus chalice. Slightly hazy amber, hard pour produced an enormous head, which quickly dissipated to a 1/8 inch bone white cap. Huge nose - fragrant hops, gardenias, bananas, pine. So intense I could smell it from 2 feet away, and it was poured ice cold. Flavor starts out hoppy and citrus, some very subdued sweetness in the middle, and finishes bone dry, even oaky or woody, with a faint acidity that leaves you craving the next sip. Very nice APA, hoppy enough to call it an IPA I think, definite west coast style. I would like to find it on draft, I’m sure it would be an outstanding pint.