“Anchor Steam’s® roots go back to the Gold Rush, long before icehouses and modern refrigeration made traditional lagers a viable California option. In 1876, thanks to an ice pond in the mountains and a belief that anything is possible in the Golden State, a little brewery named Boca created California’s first genuine lager. Anchor California Lager® is our re-creation of this historic American beer.”
From the bottle into a shaker glass, the translucent golden pour produced a fine 1 inch white head that maintains well. OK lacing. Along with the standard wafts of sweet malts, popcorn and grain, the whole Cluster hops that are used are offering crisp herbal perfumes while soft undertones of toast and a hint of bubblegum also come through. Not a bad aroma for a lager. In the mouth it feels smooth and round with medium carbonation. Medium body. Upfront we detect the standard sweet malts with a mild hop bitterness. Maybe a subtle hint of honey as well. Some light herbal notes in the mid-palate deliver a clean, crisp finish with lingering grain on the back end. 4.9% ABV. Without being too critical, lagers are just way too simple. Although, these guys have done pretty well to make a boring beer somewhat enjoyable. Hardly anything to get excited over though. OK beer at best.