American Beers

US Beer Review: Anchor Brewing Special, San Francisco

20/04/2013
US Beer Review: Anchor Brewing Special, San Francisco

Follow @TheGuestAle San Francisco is possibly my favourite US city and I happened to be there on business this week. As well as being introduced to the impressive bar-cum-off licence, the City Beer Store, by my US colleagues, I also felt it would be conspicuous of me not to review beer from San Francisco’s most famous brewer, Anchor Brewery. Despite tracing its roots back to the 19th century, Anchor Brewing was at the forefront of the revival against the generic mass-produced beers of the 1970s. In the UK, we are probably familiar with the Anchor Steam brand, but in San Francisco I got hold of some other bottles to review… Liberty Ale Anchor Brewing’s Liberty Ale was first brewed...

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American Beer Review: Groundhog Brew by Straub

17/02/2013
American Beer Review: Groundhog Brew by Straub

Follow @TheGuestAle It’s been frigid this February in Pennsylvannia.  Temperatures  have barely crept above minus six degrees Celsius all month long and anything above freezing feels like an absolute heat-wave.  Last week they pulled the famed Groundhog from his slumbers in Punxatawney and against all odds he failed to see his shadow and predicted that spring is just around the corner!  As I defrost my frozen kitchen pipes I have to chuckle at the old rodent’s  sense of humour. At least that’s something to smile about and so, it seems, is the limited edition  beer brewed for the occasion! Introducing Groundhog Brew from a long established brewery in these part, Straub. It was 1872 when their founder, German-born Peter Straub arrived in...

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US Beer Review: Three Philosophers Quadrupel Ale by Ommegang Brewery

18/01/2013
US Beer Review: Three Philosophers Quadrupel Ale by Ommegang Brewery

Follow @TheGuestAle Sunday nights in January find many of us expats over this side of the pond sitting down to enjoy another thrilling episode of Downton Abbey. Such a rich and decadent evening of entertainment deserves a truly magnificent ale to match it. Enter something equally enthralling, complex and exciting. Enter Three Philosophers Ale by Ommegang Brewery. As an interesting aside, Ommegang Brewery began in 1997 in Cooperstown, NY in a purpose-built Belgian farmhouse replica. The brewery is situated on an area that in the 19th century was the Mecca of  hop-growing in the States. rather like how Kent is to England I suppose. Its Three Philosophers Ale is a “Quadrupel” ale following the bold, complex and strong Belgian...

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Yuengling Black & Tan Beer Review

11/01/2013
Yuengling Black & Tan Beer Review

Follow @TheGuestAle This month we will see the inauguration of President Obama for his second term. So lets kick off with a review of an offering from Yuengling,  America’s Oldest Brewery and the favourite beer of the President himself. Brewed in Pottsvile, Pennsylvania since 1829, Yuengling (pronounced “Ying-Ling” by the locals) is a prominent label of a family of beers in the North Eastern states. Today as PA lingers in a state of frigid Winter I vote  to try the Yuengling Black & Tan dark brewed ale. It pours an opaque black colour with a slight white head which quickly dissipates. Carbonation level is hard to spot through the dark glass. No lacing at all although a mild but...

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US Beer Review: Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale by Anderson Valley Brewing Co.

10/12/2012
US Beer Review: Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale by Anderson Valley Brewing Co.

Follow @TheGuestAle During the Summer Solstice this year I was conveniently  positioned at that Mecca of mystical sun-worship, Stonehenge. It was fantastic despite the bus loads of cagouled camera-toting overseas tourists and the sea of packed lunches and flasks of tea spread out by the natives. Alas, the days are now short and dark and I find myself days away from the Winter Solstice. Ideally I’d be in County Cork by the Drombeg Stone Circle for this occasion but snowy Pennsylvania will have to suffice. My thirst for a decent beer remains unchanged and so it’s with some delight I stumble upon an aptly named beer from a brewery this side of the pond. Enter Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale...

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US Beer Review: Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre

07/12/2012
US Beer Review: Dogfish Head Raison D’Etre

Follow @TheGuestAle There are only three things I just can’t stand about Pennsylvania: they are December, January and February. Otherwise I have no complaints. So I’m always looking for something to lift the winter blues and tonight I think I just found it…. Typically at  this time of year I should  be sampling the Christmas ales with their predictably spicy palate. Tonight I passed that up in favour of a Belgian style dark beer from those brewing masters at Dogfish Head. I spotted it and had always wanted to try it. Bring on the Raison D’Etre mahogany ale! I tend to gravitate towards the Belgian dark ales as they lack bitterness and can be remarkably and pleasantly  smooth. This...

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US Beer Review: Snake Dog IPA by Flying Dog Brewery

24/11/2012
US Beer Review: Snake Dog IPA by Flying Dog Brewery

Follow @TheGuestAle It’s Thanksgiving Bank  Holiday over here in the US. Most of the country are powering  up on turkey and pumpkin pie in readiness for the shopping extravaganza of Black Friday, while ex-pats like me are left twiddling our thumbs. It’s the perfect time to try one last India Pale Ale (IPA) before the Christmas season kicks off and I’m back sampling the darker, heavier winter brews. Enter Snake Dog IPA by Flying Dog Brewery. The artwork on the bottle is enough to get you curious. I knew there was something familiar about the illustrative style of the label. It turns out that Flying Dog Brewery have enlisted Ralph Steadman to provide the artwork. Brits probably recognize him...

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US Beer Review: Samuel Adams’ East West Kolsch

07/11/2012
US Beer Review: Samuel Adams’ East West Kolsch

Follow @TheGuestAle If you love to discover different beers but are at a loss as to where to begin,  may I point you in the direction of this little gem?  Introducing East West Kolsch by Boston Brewing Company (Samuel Adams). Kolsch is a style of ale which hails from Cologne, Germany. It’s traditionally less hoppy than other German pale ales and is strictly defined by the Kolsch Konvention, an agreement between the Cologne Brewers Association. In 2011 Samuel Adams attempted to put its own version of Kolsch on the map. In keeping with strict Kolsch brewing traditions, top fermenting ale yeasts were used and afterwards  the  brew was stored at cold lager-like temperatures to help impart a crispy after-taste....

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US Beer Review: Saranac Pumpkin Ale by Matt Brewing Company

16/10/2012
US Beer Review: Saranac Pumpkin Ale by Matt Brewing Company

Follow @TheGuestAle October: Seasons of mist and mellow fruitfulness…and pumpkin ale! This month my search for contenders for title of the best pumpkin ale continued leading me to sample Saranac Pumpkin Ale. It was my birthday after all so I chanced it and grabbed the six pack. Shame on me for having not noted this historic brewery before now. Nestled at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in central New York State, this family run brewery has been crafting speciality ales for more than a century to some pretty high standards. The Matt Brewing Company boasts its brews are crafted “from the spirit of clear lakes, open skies and breathtaking mountain vistas”. Sounds the ideal rural setting  for a...

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US Beer Review: Iron City Amber Classic Lager by Pittsburgh Brewing Company

21/09/2012
US Beer Review: Iron City Amber Classic Lager by Pittsburgh Brewing Company

Follow @TheGuestAle Hear ye! Hear ye! There’s a new lager in town! It’s called Iron City Amber Classic lager by Pittsburgh Brewing Company. I’ve been dying to get my hands on this little new-comer! I’ve asked for it at a number of local beer distributors in the Steel City region without success. But today  is my lucky day! Pittsburgh Brewing Co. has been brewing in the Pittsburgh area  for 150 years. You have  to hand it to them: They have survived the Civil War, two World Wars and Prohibition and yet remained in business dedicated to their cause of brewing innovative beers in this city. I’ve already reviewed one of its staples, Iron City Light, but today I look...

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