Beer of the Weekend #200: Anchor Porter
This is the two hundredth edition of Beer of the Weekend.
I have been contemplating whether or not this occasion called for something special. Bobblehead suggested I start reviewing American macro adjuncts — PBR, Budweiser, MGD, and the like — in an effort to crown the best cheap beer in the country. I have thought about doing just that, but winter is not the time; it is an ideal project for hot summer months. However, he bought up a good and somewhat ironic point: despite the fact I drink it almost every weekend as a base lager, I have yet to review PBR. Its turn will come, but not tonight.
Though I did not feel super jazzed about doing something special to mark my two hundredth BotW tasting, I decided it was time to drink a beer I have been meaning to properly review for a while.
The two hundredth beer of the weekend is Anchor Porter, brewed by the Anchor Brewing Company of San Francisco, California.
Behold, a match made in beer heaven: Anchor Porter in an Anchor Porter pint glass.
I drank a couple sample glasses of Anchor Porter during my tour of the Anchor brewery (the Mecca on Mariposa) but had yet to procure a sixer for a BotW style tasting. Despite the fact they offered most of Anchor’s other offerings, including Anchor Small, Anchor Porter was never available at the BevMo! on Beach so I never got the opportunity to try it in California. Thankfully, good ol’ Dirty John’s always has both sixers and 24-ounce bottles available.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles. The “0YL” batch code on the back label decodes to the bottling date: May 12, 2010. That’s a little on the old side, but it should be okay.
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is an almost opaque black; the beer turned a dark ruby when I held it to my lamp, so a substantial amount of light passed through. Two fingers of thick, tan head developed and dissipated slowly to leave trails along the glass, a spotted lacing, and a thick cappuccino ring around the edge.
Smell: My first whiff was a pleasant mélange of chocolate (much like cocoa), sweet caramel, and toffee. As the beer warms a nice coffee bitterness announces itself, as well as some dark fruit like plum and raisin.
Taste: The mouthfeel is not as thick as I was hoping, but it is still creamy and smooth, much like oatmeal stout. My first sip mirrored the taste: a nice blend of chocolate, sweet caramel, and toffee. A roasted coffee bitterness emerged on subsequent sips and remained throughout the pint. The dark fruit plum and raisin from the smell were also present in the taste. Each sip is followed by a nice bitter aftertaste that lingers in the back of the mouth.
Drinkability: Frankly, I am a little disappointed; I remember it being much better from the tap — obviously — at Anchor. However, it is still a good brew.
Fun facts about Anchor Porter:
-Style: American Porter.
-Price: $9.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.6 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA suggests barbecue, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), chocolate dessert, beef, smoked meat, and grilled meat.
-Anchor Porter was first brewed in 1972 and first bottled in 1974.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
I have been contemplating whether or not this occasion called for something special. Bobblehead suggested I start reviewing American macro adjuncts — PBR, Budweiser, MGD, and the like — in an effort to crown the best cheap beer in the country. I have thought about doing just that, but winter is not the time; it is an ideal project for hot summer months. However, he bought up a good and somewhat ironic point: despite the fact I drink it almost every weekend as a base lager, I have yet to review PBR. Its turn will come, but not tonight.
Though I did not feel super jazzed about doing something special to mark my two hundredth BotW tasting, I decided it was time to drink a beer I have been meaning to properly review for a while.
The two hundredth beer of the weekend is Anchor Porter, brewed by the Anchor Brewing Company of San Francisco, California.
Behold, a match made in beer heaven: Anchor Porter in an Anchor Porter pint glass.
I drank a couple sample glasses of Anchor Porter during my tour of the Anchor brewery (the Mecca on Mariposa) but had yet to procure a sixer for a BotW style tasting. Despite the fact they offered most of Anchor’s other offerings, including Anchor Small, Anchor Porter was never available at the BevMo! on Beach so I never got the opportunity to try it in California. Thankfully, good ol’ Dirty John’s always has both sixers and 24-ounce bottles available.
Serving type: Six 12-ounce bottles. The “0YL” batch code on the back label decodes to the bottling date: May 12, 2010. That’s a little on the old side, but it should be okay.
Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is an almost opaque black; the beer turned a dark ruby when I held it to my lamp, so a substantial amount of light passed through. Two fingers of thick, tan head developed and dissipated slowly to leave trails along the glass, a spotted lacing, and a thick cappuccino ring around the edge.
Smell: My first whiff was a pleasant mélange of chocolate (much like cocoa), sweet caramel, and toffee. As the beer warms a nice coffee bitterness announces itself, as well as some dark fruit like plum and raisin.
Taste: The mouthfeel is not as thick as I was hoping, but it is still creamy and smooth, much like oatmeal stout. My first sip mirrored the taste: a nice blend of chocolate, sweet caramel, and toffee. A roasted coffee bitterness emerged on subsequent sips and remained throughout the pint. The dark fruit plum and raisin from the smell were also present in the taste. Each sip is followed by a nice bitter aftertaste that lingers in the back of the mouth.
Drinkability: Frankly, I am a little disappointed; I remember it being much better from the tap — obviously — at Anchor. However, it is still a good brew.
Fun facts about Anchor Porter:
-Style: American Porter.
-Price: $9.99/sixer at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 5.6 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA suggests barbecue, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), chocolate dessert, beef, smoked meat, and grilled meat.
-Anchor Porter was first brewed in 1972 and first bottled in 1974.
The Quiet Man’s grade: B+.
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