In this beer blog, we are going to get into our first brew from Anchor Brewing.  It is one of their two new beer, which is Anchor IPA.  Anchor Brewery started brewing in 1896 in San Francisco.  Ernst F. Baruth and Otto Schinkel, Jr brought the brewery from Gottlieb Brekle, who came over from Germany.  The brewery struggled throughout the 1950’s and finally in 1965 Frederick Louis Maytag III brought about 50% shares in the brewery to save it from closing.  He later brought the rest of the shares in the company and moved in to its current location in 1979.  In 2010, Maytag sold the brewery to Keith Greggor and Tony Foglio.  They kept on pushing the brewery forward.  Today, they brew several different beer styles.  They released two new beers in the last two years.  They are California Lager and this one Anchor IPA.  Let us get into this IPA.

It has a clear bright copper color with a white constant head.  The aroma has floral and earthy notes.  The taste is an earthy with hints of malt.  The aftertaste has a dry hop finish.  It is kind of drinkable beer to drinkable.

Here is a description from the beer bottle:

The California Gold Rush lured thousands went to “see the elephant,” a 19th-century metaphor for the hopeful but risky pursuit of  happiness, adventure, and fortune.  As early as 1849, India Pale Ale prepared by British brewers for export to India by adding dry hops to barrels of hoppy ale – was also heading west, from England around the Horn to San Francisco.  Thirsty ’49ers savored imported IPAs, but it wasn’t until 1975 that Anchor, America’s original craft brewery, pioneered the revival of dry-hopped handmade ales.  Now, that tradition fast-forwards to an adventurous new brew: Anchor IPA.  Made with 2-row barley malt and fresh whole-cone hops, its bright amber color, distinctively complex aroma, spiky bitterness, malty depth, and clean finish unite to create a uniquely flavorful, memorable, and timeless IPA.

Here is a description from their website (www.anchorbrewing.com):

The California Gold Rush lured thousands west to “see the elephant,” a 19th-century metaphor for the hopeful but risky pursuit of happiness, adventure, and fortune. As early as 1849, India Pale Ale – prepared by British brewers for export to India by adding dry hops to barrels of hoppy ale – was also heading west, from England around the Horn to San Francisco. Thirsty ‘49ers savored the best imported IPAs, but it wasn’t until 1975 that Anchor, Americas’ original craft brewery, pioneered the revival of dry-hopped handmade ales. Now, that tradition fast-forwards to an adventurous new brew: Anchor IPA™.

Anchor IPA™ is made with 2-row barley malt and fresh whole-cone hops, its bright amber color, distinctively complex aroma, spiky bitterness, malty depth, and clean finish unite to create a uniquely flavorful, memorable, and timeless craft IPA.

The elephant you see on Anchor IPA™ was hand-drawn by our label artist, James Stitt. To “see the elephant” was a popular 19th-century expression that originated with a tale that predates the California Gold Rush.

There once lived a farmer who had heard of elephants but had never seen one. He longed for the day when he might catch a glimpse of this rare, exotic creature. When the circus came to town, he loaded his wagon with fresh produce and headed to market. On the way, just as he’d hoped, he came across the circus parade, nobly led by an enormous elephant. The farmer was ecstatic, but his horses were terrified. They reared and bucked, overturning his wagon and scattering its precious contents in the road. “I don’t give a hoot,” exclaimed the farmer. “I have seen the elephant!”

The elephant became the universal symbol of the Gold Rush, as evidenced by the journals, letters, and sketchbooks of the forty-niners. Whether or not they struck it rich in the diggings, those plucky pioneers would forever treasure their California adventure as the defining moment of their lives. Have you seen the elephant?

Here is their website and twitter addresses:

Website:  www.anchorbrewing.com

Twitter:  @AnchorBrewing

In closing, I am always interested in what Anchor Brewery puts out in the beer world.  I have a problem living in Michigan.  It is hard to find Anchor Beers.  I have to always ask for it.  I could not find this beer so I had to go to Chicago.  Their Wholesaler here in Michigan is not very good.  They worry about Michigan craft beers, which is fine, as long as they are good.  Most of them are not very good.  I am a huge hophead so this beer was on my radar.  This beer lives up to the IPA’s.  I would not say this IPA is an American.  I look at it as English IPA.  It is right in the middle between the two beer styles.  I get why it is American IPA because they use American hops or yeast.  There is a ton of Malty depth.  It is pretty complex there and then add the hops on top of it.  The hop selection takes this beer to another level of complex flavors.  I do enjoy it and I hope to try this IPA and their Liberty Ale side by side.  Of course, if I can find them in my market, I might have to ask for both of them at my local beer store.  I recommend this beer.  Go get some!  Drink it!  Enjoy it!  Metal it!  \m/

Cheers!

Bill DJ Weiser

Email:  djweiser13@comcast.net

Twitter: @djweiser

Instagram:  @djweiser13