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Anchor Small Beer

Anchor Small Beer

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 Percentile 
21
overall
A Bitter brewed by
Anchor Brewing Company

San Francisco, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
available

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in  Advanced 
3402.64/5.02.64/5.03.3%11.5English pint P  Stats

Commercial Description:
The tradition of brewing two distinct beers from one mash has existed for thousands of years, and for centuries the term "small beer" was used in English to describe the lighter and weaker second beer. We make our Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale from the rich first runnings of an all-malt mash, and Anchor Small Beer is our attempt to duplicate the "small beers" of old by sparging that same mash: sprinkling warm water over the Old Foghorn mash after the first wort has run off, thereby creating a second, lighter brew from the resulting thinner wort. We believe you will find Anchor Small Beer delicious—similar to what modern brewers call a "bitter"—and we hope you will also enjoy the idea of reviving an ancient brewing tradition, which is something of great importance.

Most RecentTop RatersHighest Ratings Who's Rated This?
 charcot25 (181), Cordova, Tennessee, USA
2.6 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/104/55/102/511/20

Jan 11, 2008  
Has a slightly astringent character that is mildly unpleasant but it finishes well with some malt and caramel notes. Hops are herbal, somewhat minty -- Goldings vs. Northern Brewer? A bit thin in mouthfeel.

 Nik925 (151), California, USA
1.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
4/102/52/101/56/20
Sep 20, 2008  
The only brew they didn’t have after the brewery tour, I had been looking for this one for a while. Oops, this is not good at all. Taste of adjunct grains, odd bitterness, bad mouthfeel. All around missed the mark. I’m surprised Maytag put his name on this one, the worst beer they brew. Cool idea, second runnings from barley wine, but that grain should have been sold off as cattle feed instead of making this beer. This is what I expect the new bud ale to taste like.


 Trev (540), Lakeville, Minnesota, USA
3.2 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/103/513/20
Sep 19, 2008  
pours an orangeish gold with a thick creamy off white head. Aroma is malty aroma with a light orange citrus and mown hay bitterness. Flavour is again mainly malty with a sourish tinny bitterness that lingers in the finish.


 BigBen2120 (558), Gardiner(52 miles from Allagash), Maine, USA
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/57/103/516/20
Sep 5, 2008  
1 pint 6oz bottle from a liquor store in Nashua, NH. Pours a crystal-clear golden body with nearly an inch of off-white head that slowly dissipates leaving some impressive lacing. Smells malty, fruity, with caramel and brown sugar notes, and a strong citrussy hop presence. Tastes grainy with caramel and citrus hops. Tastes a little watery, which matches the aqueous refreshing mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Very drinkable and refreshing. Flavor (other than the hop presence) reminds me more of an American blonde or pale wheat maybe, rather than an APA or bitter. Still, reasonably priced (3.50$ per bottle) and is great for a hot summer day like today.


 unclemattie (1620), Georgia, USA
3.5 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/57/104/514/20
Aug 31, 2008  
Big 700ml "Anchor" bottle. Light copper color, white foam. Technically, this should be listed as a Mild Ale, but taste it and you will believe it is a Premium Bitter... Quiet scent of malt. Distant hints of malty WonderBread. Slight fruit, even some Darjeeling Tea. Flavor is light, crisp, refreshing. Clean. Some bread, light hop bitterness. It really is a Foghorn Jr. This is exactly how I imagined it to be. Finishes like a Pale European Lager. Crisp hop florals, refeshing malt character. For the style it is a wonderful beer. Superb offering from Anchor Brewing. If I only had a Surf n Turf Plate, mmm steak and lobster.


 PaulHegedus (115), Brampton, Ontario, Canada
3.1 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
6/104/56/103/512/20
Aug 27, 2008  
Foghorn’s little brother. Draught at the brewery, Aug 2008. Ironic bottle indeed. This has a simple, dry flavour, but simple does not mean bad by any means. There is subtle hops, a bit of fruit. Someone wrote tea, I could see that maybe. A good session beer. I respect the brewery for making this unique, witty little beer.




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