Anchor Brewing Company- San Francisco, California

35 years ago, Anchor Steam a small and struggling San Francisco brewery was purchased by the great-grandson of a washing machine magnate.

Today, thanks to the efforts of Fritz Maytag, The Anchor Brewing Company produces highly respected and unique beers that helped inspired the recent explosion of micro breweries.

Anchor Steam, the best known of Anchor Brewing's beers, gets it's name from a confusing history of West Coast brewing that dates back to the time of the gold rush.

Just how Anchor Steam gets its name isn't clear. Many West Coast breweries of the early 1900's produced what was called a steam beer, often merely because the brewery was powered by steam.

However, due to the lack of cool temperatures on the west coast, beer could not be lagered so instead it was warm-fermented like ale. The beer that resulted was highly carbonated and produced a steam like hiss upon breach of its keg.

Not confused enough, pasteurization has often been termed as "Steaming". Fritz Maytag has yet another theory of his own which suggests "steam" as a turn of the century slang term for ale.

Regardless of the origin of its name, today's Anchor Steam is an exceptional beer with a growing reputation around the world.

Today's Steam beer is also known as California common lager. This uniquely American style, is still created with warm-fermented lager yeasts.

Anchor Steam, like all Anchor Brewing products, are carefully crafted and produced in small batches.

Luckily, Andy's usually manages to keep a plentiful stock of Anchor Steam and another fine Anchor product, Liberty Ale on it's refrigerated shelves.

Beer Profile #2 February 18, 2000