Anchor Liberty Ale

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
If not Anchor, what's something along the line of Smithwick's that I'll enjoy?

If your looking for a classic english ale, try Hen's Tooth. Its a real classic...and relatively affordable and widely available.

 

[HomeBrewerDude]

Originally posted by: scott916
My last post was likely confusing, I actually committed a bit of a threadjack by comparing Duvel to the Belgian Hoegaarden. I'm actually quite the hophead myself, I love a good IPA. DonVito: Recommend any good IPA's other than Stone IPA?

Eyah, an couple of excellent IPAs to try are:

Great Divides: Titan IPA
New Glarus: Hop Heary
Avalanche: 471 Double IPA
Bear Republich: Racer 5

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: scott916
My last post was likely confusing, I actually committed a bit of a threadjack by comparing Duvel to the Belgian Hoegaarden. I'm actually quite the hophead myself, I love a good IPA. DonVito: Recommend any good IPA's other than Stone IPA?

Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale is maybe not technically an IPA, but it's very close. It's only made around xmas time, but damn I like it. I usually buy a few cases as soon as it's available.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: Gibsons

Originally posted by: scott916
My last post was likely confusing, I actually committed a bit of a threadjack by comparing Duvel to the Belgian Hoegaarden. I'm actually quite the hophead myself, I love a good IPA. DonVito: Recommend any good IPA's other than Stone IPA?

Sierra Nevada's Celebration Ale is maybe not technically an IPA, but it's very close. It's only made around xmas time, but damn I like it. I usually buy a few cases as soon as it's available.

That is indeed one of my favorite beers. It's higher-gravity and darker than a true IPA, but it is a killer beer. Along the same lines, I always pick up some Sierra Bigfoot (their barleywine) when it's in season - it's very tasty and skull-crushingly strong.

 

[scott916]

Celebration ale is pretty damn good, it was being served at a christmas party for my law office last year, a few of the attorneys got pretty wasted without realizing it. It was hilarious to see them getting all buddy-buddy and warm with each other over a good buzz.

Back to the original topic... is Anchor Liberty similar to Anchor Steam or is it just a name coincidence? I'm a big Anchor Steam fan.

 

[Reckoner]

Now I want a Celebration Ale.......

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Now I want a Celebration Ale.......

LOL, I have one precious bottle left.

I'll be able to resist the urge to open it for tonight because I just cracked a big bottle of rogue stout. :beer:

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: scott916
Celebration ale is pretty damn good, it was being served at a christmas party for my law office last year, a few of the attorneys got pretty wasted without realizing it. It was hilarious to see them getting all buddy-buddy and warm with each other over a good buzz.

Back to the original topic... is Anchor Liberty similar to Anchor Steam or is it just a name coincidence? I'm a big Anchor Steam fan.

They are both Anchor products. Actually, if memory serves, the Anchor brewery was started by an heir to the Maytag fortune as one of the first serious craft breweries in the United States. The annual Anchor Christmas ale is apparently a vanity project that costs more to make than it generates through sales - they use a lot of very costly herbs, fruit, etc. to produce it. They change the recipe every year. In general I don't love the beer, but I always buy a six-pack to see what it tastes like.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: HomeBrewerDude

Originally posted by: scott916
My last post was likely confusing, I actually committed a bit of a threadjack by comparing Duvel to the Belgian Hoegaarden. I'm actually quite the hophead myself, I love a good IPA. DonVito: Recommend any good IPA's other than Stone IPA?

Eyah, an couple of excellent IPAs to try are:

Great Divides: Titan IPA
New Glarus: Hop Heary
Avalanche: 471 Double IPA
Bear Republich: Racer 5

It's funny, I went to one of my local warehouse liquor stores after work, and they had Avalanche 471 in 22 oz bottles for only $2.49. I imagine it was a pricing error, since they charge $5+ for most 22 oz bottles (they charge $12.50 for a 750ml bottle of Rogue Imperial IPA!). I bought a couple of bottles, and it seems pretty good. It's maybe a little sweeter and less fragrant and bitter than I normally prefer, but I like the very full body and high alcohol.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: DonVito

Originally posted by: scott916
Celebration ale is pretty damn good, it was being served at a christmas party for my law office last year, a few of the attorneys got pretty wasted without realizing it. It was hilarious to see them getting all buddy-buddy and warm with each other over a good buzz.

Back to the original topic... is Anchor Liberty similar to Anchor Steam or is it just a name coincidence? I'm a big Anchor Steam fan.

They are both Anchor products. Actually, if memory serves, the Anchor brewery was started by an heir to the Maytag fortune as one of the first serious craft breweries in the United States. The annual Anchor Christmas ale is apparently a vanity project that costs more to make than it generates through sales - they use a lot of very costly herbs, fruit, etc. to produce it. They change the recipe every year. In general I don't love the beer, but I always buy a six-pack to see what it tastes like.

I usually like it, it's at least very bold and spicy. Not an everyday drink for sure, though. My complaint (at least with last year's batch) is it gives me killer hangovers.

I had no idea they lose money on it though, that's pretty weird-but-cool.