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Anchor Brewing

San Francisco, California, United States
Tours

1705 Mariposa Street
San Francisco CA 94107
Telephone: +1 415-863-8350
Hours: Call two weeks in advance for tours.
Brewer: Mike Lee
[Contact] [Map] [Update]

Notes

Updated: June 21, 2008

Opened: 1896

Annual Production: 103,000 bbl

Opened more than a century ago...purchased in 1968 by Fritz Maytag. Beautiful place...walking around the brewhouse is like visiting a cathedral. The almost-tangible pungence of the hop room, the immaculate copper vessels, the understated magnificence of the open fermenters...oh yeah, their beers are pretty good, too. Call at least two weeks in advance for tours.

Here's the key to the three-letter bottling date code on the back label:

First character: last digit of the year. (e.g. 7=1997, 8=1998)
Second letter: month code

Jan Feb Mar Apr

MaY JUn JuL AuG

Sep Oct Nov Dec
Third character: day of month code:
- Letters A-Z = days 1-26
- Numbers 7-1 = days 27, 28, 29, 30, 31

So that bottle of Old Foghorn, stamped 6JV, was bottled January 22, 1996.

Now that the 21st Century has reared its ugly head, it appears that Anchor may have changed their date-coding scheme. Any idea how to decode "1YV2"?

Anchor also distills Junipero gin and two styles of Old Potrero whiskey.

Beer List

Bock

Traditional German-Style Bock

5.50% abv.
- Date: July 14, 2007 (#6589)
  
  Package: bottled
  
  Place: Liquid Solutions
  
  Score: 14½ points
  
  Appearance (3)
  Deep red. Huge dense head.
  
  Aroma (3)
  Clean. Mildly sweet, mildly spicy malt.
  
  Mouthfeel (7)
  Medium body, very low carbonation. Lots of dark, raisiny, spicy malt.
  
  Overall Impression (1½)
  Seems thin for the style, and fairly astringent. Brewed with wheat malt. Bottled 2006-12-14 (6DN).

Christmas Ale 2003

Herb and Spice Beer

Date: December 22, 2003 (#5162)

Package: bottled

Place: Club Liquor & Beer, Menasha WI

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression
Bright deep red. Massive dense head. Intensely spicy aroma...lots and lots of nutmeg. Medium body, low carbonation. Lots of spice and rather a lot of diacetyl. Roasty, smoky, buttery finish.

Date: December 21, 2007 (#6745)

Package: draught

Place: Crescent Moon Ale House, Omaha NE

Score: 17½ points

Appearance (3)
Incredibly dark red. Thick head.

Aroma (3)
Big earthy spiciness.

Mouthfeel (9)
Big smooth body, a bit fizzy. Lots of dark malt. Bitterness comes from the spices — allspice, ginger, nutmeg.

Overall Impression (2½)
Nice balance, and it will certainly improve with age.

Liberty Ale

American-Style Pale Ale

6.00% abv.

Date: April 7, 1996 (#1348)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Orangey-opaque, good head. Isn't the draft version transparent? Fruity-peppery aroma. Great body, reasonable caramel flavor, and a boatload of fine hop flavor! Great beer.
Date: January 27, 1995 (#728)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression
Bright, pale, great white head. Dry-hops...could be bigger. Very clean. Great body and flavor balance...not real assertive, though.
Date: November 5, 1994 (#497)

Package: hand-pumped

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression
Pale, great head. Smells fruity and nice. Smooooooth. Just bitter enough. Served from a beer engine.
Date: July 5, 1993 (#129)

Package: draught

Place: Lyon's Brewery, Dublin CA

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression
Pale-amber, thick head. Fresh hoppy aroma. Good body. Spreads bitterness across your mouth, down your throat, and gone. As good as it was at the temple...er, brewery. "Quaffere ad infinitum."

Old Foghorn 1993

Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Date: January 4, 1995 (#694)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression
Red. Enormous white head. Big hops. (Kents?) Sweet aroma, with some alcohol but not much. Bitter. Some sweet, but lots of bitter. Very slightly warming. Long bitter finish lingers. It's great, but it ain't Bigfoot.
Date: July 13, 1993 (#144)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 18 points

Overall Impression
Beautiful amber! Beautiful head! Smoky sweet aroma. Bitter all around. Very sweet. Once the bitterness dies off, all the caramel/roasty flavors come through...very nice. Very nice indeed!

Old Foghorn 1995

Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 1995 Great American Beer Festival

Old Foghorn 1996

Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Date: June 22, 2002 (#4359)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 16½ points

Overall Impression
Deep bright red, low head. Richly malty, leathery, Thomas Hardy-ish aroma. Big body, massively malty, nice and complex with vanilla and wood and leather. Drying and warming finish. "6JV". Thanks to Steve Olson for the sample!
Date: October 7, 2001 (#3914)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Deep red-amber, very slight haze, low head. Malty, estery aroma. Medium-big body, extremely malty, warming, mildly fruity. REAL smooth. Thanks to Steve Olson for the sample!
Date: May 1, 2001 (#3821)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression
Bright red, moderate carbonation and head. Intensely malty aroma, oaky and alcoholic. Big body, hugely malty, mildly bitter, oaky flavor, fairly alcoholic. Thanks to Steve Olson for the sample!

Old Foghorn 1998

Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Date: May 12, 1998 (#2781)

Package: bottled

Place: Siebel Institute of Technology, Chicago IL

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Reddish, moderate carbonation and head. Alcohol, caramel aromas. Huge, sweet, alcoholic. Some autolysis evident. 65 BU of Cascades, 25°P original extract, bottled July 18, 1996.
Date: March 10, 1998 (#2439)

Package: bottled

Place: Willman's Bottle Market, Grand Island NE

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression
Red, moderate carbonation, good head. Thick, sweet, caramel, alcohol, raisin aroma. Bitter, thick, smoky, sweet. Very warming and drying at the end. A little cardboardy very late.

Old Foghorn 2000

Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Old Foghorn 2001

Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Awards:

Honorable Mention, 2001 North American Beer Awards

Date: January 2, 2008 (#6788)

Package: bottled

Place: Sam's Wine and Spirits, Chicago IL

Score: 19½ points

Appearance (2½)
Bright red-brown. Lots of protein chunks. Big dense head.

Aroma (4)
Fiercely malty with a nice touch of alcohol. Some maple.

Mouthfeel (10)
Massive beer, massively malty. Maple, oak, and alcohol. Background fruitiness, like black cherries. Nice dry finish, malty, fruity, and alcoholic.

Overall Impression (3)
Fantastic beer. "1GJ".
Date: November 20, 2001 (#3999)

Package: bottled

Place: Sam's Wine and Spirits, Chicago IL

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression
Bright red-brown, moderate head. Mild caramel malt aroma. Big creamy body, massive caramel and toasty malt flavor. Alcohol isn't noticeable, even at 10% by volume. Hops are more subdued than Bigfoot, but still in excellent balance. Incredibly pleasantly warming. Dated "1GJ".

Old Foghorn 2002

Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Date: January 11, 2003 (#4589)

Package: bottled

Place: from the brewery

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression
Bright red, low head. Huge dark caramel aroma, with some raisins and dark fruit. Big body, intensely malty. Drying and alcoholic. Lots of raisiny character. Toasty, slightly roasty. Very nice herbal hop flavor and just-bigger-than-moderate bitterness balances nicely with a big caramel maltiness. Damn fine beer. The label is coded "2AL"; there was some discussion as to whether this was a ten-year-old bottle, or simply one from last year. I'm guessing the latter.

Old Foghorn 2006

Barley Wine-Style Ale

9.40% abv.

Date: February 26, 2007 (#6345)

Package: bottled

Place: Liquid Solutions

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Bright deep red. Moderate carbonation. Dense head.

Aroma (4)
Spicy, with lots of sweet toasty malt. Fairly fruity and alcoholic.

Mouthfeel (10)
Huge creamy, chewy body. Very low carbonation. Intensely malty and nicely warming, with a big fruity-spicy character.

Overall Impression (3)
Remarkably excellent for such a young Barleywine. Bottled "6YL": May 12, 2006.

Old Foghorn 2007

Barley Wine-Style Ale

10.00% abv.

Date: January 21, 2008 (#6836)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 20 points

Appearance (3)
Bright red. Low foamy head.

Aroma (4)
Richly malty, toasty, sweet, raisiny. Some alcohol.

Mouthfeel (10)
Big body, moderate carbonation. Fantastically malty and quite alcoholic, but not "hot". Sweet enough for balance, with lots of dark fruit, dark toastiness, and just maybe some licorice. Phenomenally complex and smooth, surprisingly so for such a young strong beer.

Overall Impression (3)
The rest of this six-pack goes to the cellar. Bottled "7DD".

Our Special Ale 1992

Herb and Spice Beer

Date: December 12, 1992 (#2503)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Tasting of Christmas Beers, Oakland CA

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression
Not even close to the spice intensity of the last three (Marin, Anderson Valley, and Seabright). Anise in the aroma and flavor. This beer is better than the score would suggest!

Our Special Ale 1993

Herb and Spice Beer

Date: August 13, 1994 (#422)

Package: draught

Place: HopFest '94, Pleasanton CA

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression
Deeeep red. Hazy. Ginger aroma, with some cinnamon. Incredible spice flavor. Ginger mostly, but it's amazing. An Unexpected Treat!

Our Special Ale 1994

Herb and Spice Beer

Date: December 2, 2000 (#3747)

Package: draught

Place: Green Bay Rackers, Green Bay WI

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Deep dark red, still. Lots of ginger, allspice aroma. Light body, spice flavors not as intense as aroma, except for allspice. Thanks to the Green Bay Rackers' Bert Zelten for this six-year-old sample!
Date: December 4, 1999 (#3360)

Package: draught

Place: Green Bay Rackers, Green Bay WI

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Deep amber, low carbonation, no head. Ginger and nutmeg aromas. Woody nutmeg taste. Light body, clean finish. Amazing what five years in the bottle can do. Thanks to Bert Zelten for the taste!
Date: November 26, 1994 (#617)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 14½ points

Overall Impression
Dark amber. OK head. Spicy...right up your nose! WHOOO! Spices shrivel your tongue right up. Too much.

Our Special Ale 1995

Herb and Spice Beer

Date: December 2, 2000 (#3748)

Package: bottled

Place: Green Bay Rackers, Green Bay WI

Score: 14½ points

Overall Impression
Deep dark red, thin head. Lots of nutmeg aroma. Light body, fizzy, big nutmeg flavor and finish. Thanks to the Green Bay Rackers' Bert Zelten for this five-year-old sample!

Our Special Ale 1996

Herb and Spice Beer

Date: September 11, 1997 (#2241)

Package: bottled

Place: Willow Glen Liquors, San Jose CA

Score: 17½ points

Overall Impression
Very very dark red, big tan head. Nutmeg aroma! Spiced coffee, nutmeg, maybe some coriander, juniper, maybe some spruce? Bottled "6DB" - December 2, 1996.

Our Special Ale 1997

Herb and Spice Beer

Date: December 28, 1997 (#2376)

Package: bottled

Place: Willow Glen Liquors, San Jose CA

Score: 19 points

Overall Impression
Dark deep red, nice brown head. Lots of nutmeg...smells like egg nog! Big beer, spicy with ginger, nutmeg, and allspice. Roasty and drying at the end. Thanks to Chuck Farnham for the bottle!

Porter

Robust Porter

5.60% abv.

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 2002 North American Beer Awards
Silver Medal, 2001 North American Beer Awards
Gold Medal, 1999 North American Beer Awards

Date: November 6, 2001 (#3979)

Package: bottled

Place: Woodman's Food Market, Green Bay WI

Score: 14½ points

Overall Impression
Black, moderate brown head. Sweetish, blackish aroma. Medium-big body, lots of black malt and lots of hop flavor. Mildly bitter in the middle, fairly roasty in the finish. Dated "1YV2".
Date: April 1, 1998 (#2602)

Package: bottled

Place: Siebel Institute of Technology, Chicago IL

Score: 18½ points

Overall Impression
Black, thick head. Licorice aroma, herbal, anise, some coffee. Thick, black, sweet, sharp from the black malt. Creamy. Coffee and hop bitterness late.
Date: April 26, 1996 (#1398)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 12½ points

Overall Impression
Pretty black, OK brown head. Sweet black aroma, with a very small hint of roasted barley. Sweet-ish. Not nearly the Big Black Beer it used to be. All of the Porters I've tasted lately have reminded me of Imperial Stouts...
Date: November 27, 1994 (#622)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression
Huge creamy brown head. Extremely dark brown. Black malt aroma...much softer than I remember. Smooth. Black malt bitterness works well with high hopping rate...but burnt character is gone!
Date: June 13, 1993 (#85)

Package: draught

Place: St.Mary's College Beer Festival, Moraga CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression
Deep deep red. Very nice indeed burnt aroma. Sweet, black flavor. There's NO WAY this is the same old porter. He says they haven't changed the recipe!?!
Date: March 22, 1993 (#5)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 17 points

Overall Impression
Black. Black black black. Roasted barley nose and not much else. Heavy and burnt. This is really a stout and they should say so. One of the best...rates better than 17.

Small Beer

English-Style Pale Mild Ale

3.30% abv.

Date: September 20, 2000 (#3531)

Package: bottled

Place: Belmont Station, Portland OR

Score: 15½ points

Overall Impression
Golden-amber, very high carbonation, thick head. Malty-sweet aroma. Very light body, fairly bitter start to finish. Lingering hoppy bitterness. Made from the second runnings of Old Foghorn.

Steam

California Common Beer

4.90% abv.

Awards:

Bronze Medal, 1999 North American Beer Awards

Date: July 23, 2003 (#4974)

Package: draught

Place: Peabody's Ale House, Oshkosh WI

Score: 16½ points

Overall Impression
Bright red-amber. Thick head. Spicy aroma, slightly grainy and sulfury. Medium body. Richly malty with a big Northern Brewer hop flavor and a real nice bitterness. Just a hint of diacetyl.
Date: April 7, 1998 (#2691)

Package: bottled

Place: Siebel Institute of Technology, Chicago IL

Score: 17½ points

Overall Impression
Amber, high carbonation, thick head. Pretty clean aroma. Medium body, big grapefruit flavor.
Date: May 12, 1996 (#1468)

Package: bottled

Place: Kamuela Liquor Store, Kamuela HI

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Red-amber, low carbonation, good head. Not much aroma...maybe a little oxidized? Good body, fruity hops. Finishes pretty clean.
Date: August 1, 1995 (#1119)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 15½ points

Overall Impression
Golden-amber, good carbonation. Malty nose. Big, bitter. Malty finish. Not as fruity as bottled version.
Date: February 5, 1995 (#756)

Package: draught

Place: Pacific Coast Brewing, Oakland CA

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Huge head! Amber. Spicy, lots of esters. Fresh! Sweet. Great body and bite.
Date: June 13, 1993 (#84)

Package: draught

Place: St.Mary's College Beer Festival, Moraga CA

Score: 15 points

Overall Impression
I definitely need to get my eyes checked. Even this looks yellow. (Note: this was an outdoor festival.) Good hops and crystal malt nose. Nice and smooth...a little off-bite. This is usually a much better beer. Is this keg out-of-condition?

Summer Beer

Light American Wheat Ale or Lager without Yeast

4.60% abv.

Date: June 10, 2008 (#7093)

Package: bottled

Place: Beertopia, Omaha NE

Score: 17 points

Appearance (3)
Bright golden. High carbonation. Thick head.

Aroma (3)
Sweet wheat malt. Fruity hops.

Mouthfeel (9)
Light body, creamy. Lots of sweet wheat malt. Mild fruity hops, low bitterness.

Overall Impression (2)
Good clean beer.

Wheat

Light American Wheat Ale or Lager with Yeast

Date: November 13, 2001 (#3993)

Package: bottled

Place: Sam's Wine and Spirits, Chicago IL

Score: 12 points

Overall Impression
Golden, low carbonation, thick head. Fairly skunky odor. Light body, skunky flavor, chlorophenolic, oxidized. Dated "1UF".
Date: September 6, 1997 (#2223)

Package: bottled

Place: Willow Glen Liquors, San Jose CA

Score: 14 points

Overall Impression
Very pale, moderate carbonation, huge head. Lots of wheat aroma. Fairly thick, fairly sweet. Lots of wheat flavor, but not much else. Serious training-wheel beer. Bottled "7UX"...June 24, 1997. "[W]e have chosen not to use any additional fermentation organisms because we prefer the clean flavors developed by this yeast." Additional fermentation organisms? Look, Fritz, you've already said it's an American wheat beer...this jab at the Hefeweizen style is both unwarranted and inaccurate.
Date: December 28, 1994 (#669)

Package: draught

Place: The HopYard, Pleasanton CA

Score: 16 points

Overall Impression
Yellow, some haze. Lots of carbonation. Very clean aroma. Just a hint of malt. Carbonation bite. Wheat sweetness. Finishes quick and clean.
Date: June 13, 1993 (#83)

Package: draught

Place: St.Mary's College Beer Festival, Moraga CA

Score: 13 points

Overall Impression
Very pale yellow. Clear. Smells a little plasticky. Tangy. Did this recipe change too? Moving toward Bavarian style? This is generally a great beer...I think their kegs might have been off for some reason.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr
MaY	JUn	JuL	AuG
Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec