Personally I find anchor steam's ales to satisfifying and refreshing. Maybe my tastes aren't refined enough to figure out what's wrong with this beer, never the less I like.

Hailing from San Francisco, Anchor Steam is a flavorful, but not overpowering beer. It's stronger than a lager because it is crossed with an ale. It is refreshing and crisp--suitable for a hot summer's day but strong enough to hold its own in colder weather. So far, I think this is the best American beer on the list (though I have more pages to go through)!

A bit heavy, good for one or two, very flavorful.

I'm not fond of the taste of industrial by-products as a rule.

Flavorful and lovingly brewed. Thanks for saving it, Fritz!

I'm impressed it's in here - my all time #1 Favorite!!!

never had it

Their stout is good

Dont know...

Never had it.

Don't know it!~

I'll get back to you on this one.

Piss

A little bitter for my taste.

It's not quite as good as Sierra Nevada, but it's pretty damn close. If you are in San Francisco, make sure to check out the Anchor Brewery - it's located in Potrero Hill, and you'll know when you are getting close by the delicious smell of sour mash wafting from the brewery. Tours on Friday only.

A decent beer. Their other varieties stand up better to the competition. I will try again as I might have had an old bottle. I didn't find it in the same league a Seirra Nevada Pale Ale although by the description it really isn't a Pale Ale but a ale / lager cross.

I like anchor steam OK. I'm told that their brewery offers tours on Friday afternoon.

I love it, especially the Christmas Ale.

This was one of the early boutique beers, but the novelty has worn off. It is a good beer, however.

good but too expensive.

I don't think to order it very often. Unremarkable.

Great stuff. The best in SF for certain.

My father introduced me to this beer. I enjoy it. Not a heavy beer, goes down easy. It is a little hard to find on the east coast. I can't wait until I visit my friend in SF so I can taste it fresh.

Few people will like this beer the first time. I'd been accustomed to drinking crap like Miller, and when I discovered this I initially thought something was wrong with the beer -- it was so bitter. After you've acquired the taste, though, you'll start coming back. Reminds me how much I miss S.F.

I never knew there could be "cross" between a lager and an ale. Regardless, the folks at Anchor Brewing definitely know what they are doing! Great taste, very drinkable. The only problem is that it seems hard to find on the East Coast. It's rival, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, is more easily found.

This is an all-time American classic. This beer is the reason that micro-brews exist in this country, and thanks to Fritz Maytag, this fantastic style of beer was brought back from the edge of extinction! I'm thrilled to find this beer at my local pub, it's an easy drinking, lightly hopped, crisp brew, perfect for sessions. It'll pair beautifully with fish & chips, chips & salsa, or peanuts & nuthin. I love this beer.

Not tasty at all and very overpriced.

One of my all time favorites. Best American beer I've had since returning from several years in Germany & Belgium years ago (I've had a lot of GREAT beers to compare to...). I've been into micro-brews for years before the recent rage; Anchor Steam was the first American beer that really knocked my socks off. I prefer Anchor Steam a bit over Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, but SN will do if you can't find Anchor (virtually anywhere outside of NoCal). SN is just a bit more hoppy/bitter Actually, SN is perfect after a long hot mountainbike ride; AS is better for more relaxed/mellow times. Now, when I can get Anchor Steam, it's like spending an evening with a long-lost friend. I savor every moment, knowing we'll soon have to part again for who-knows-how-long... I sometimes used to like to knock back a bunch (well chilled) on a hot day - they go down very smooth, resulting in a pleasant, mellow buzz; Or sometimes poured in tall pilsner glasses and enjoyed with great ceremony with good music and the lights low. It's also probably the only beer that I never get too much of; I simply never desire a 'change of taste' from boredom or familairity. Familiar and 'just right'; Comfortable, enjoyable and eminently satisfying. An all-time favorite. 5 stars, without hesitation. * I also absolutely LOVE Anchor Porter - Another personal absolute favorite.

If you give this anything below 4-stars then you have no idea what you're talking about. . .

being canadian we hear alot of american beer sucks around here, Anchor Steam proves that there definately are good breweries in the states, I prefer it over any major brew in canada.

a good beer. not realy too distinguishable from its other high-brow peers. doesn't warrant the cost. would rather drink Brooklyn lager.

A original and unique west coast style developed by this brewery - great and unique taste. This beer uses a lager yeast at the higher ale temperatures during fermentation - creating a unique ale/lager hybrid. Superb for that occasional special treat, strong flavor but exceptionally smooth. Also they have by far the best tour of any brewery I've been - mainly because you get to taste all of there great brews - and they are all exceptional.

Overrated. I looked foward to drinking this but I was not impressed. Very light bodied beer with no overriding flavor besides water.

Anchor Steam has to be one of the best beers I have ever drank. A very pricy beer, so its not something I will consume often, but definitely a great amongst beers.

It gets a 5, only because there is no 10! If you have the opportunity to consume this masterpiece, you'll savor every sip!

Good beer. Well crafted. I especially liked their 2003 Christmas ale. Really different and unique. Not what I would go for all the time, but I recommend it if you like Sierra for example.

Haven't had much of it, but I liked it a lot. Could use one now.

Generally my second choice if I can't find Sierra Nevada. Tasty, rich, satisfying.

Not bad at all. Good change of pace beer.

Mostly hype. Nothing grand about an Anchor Steam.

I used to work at the Old Spaghetti Factory here in San Francisco and we served more of that stuff than anybody. Now I live fourblcoks from the brewery. It's a bit too heavy for me; I'm a Pilsner type.

much better than the big breweries can churn out, but not quite as good as some of the (more expensive) specialties.

Nothing special, but certainly a cut above the mainstream swill.

A hair too bitter for me, but I think it might not have been as fresh as it should have been when I had it.

A smooth, tasty brew, made with the old "steam" production method in a local brewery in San Francisco. One of the best micro-brews. Take a tour of the plant in San Francisco if you get a chance. Very interesting and plenty of free samples of beer at the end.

Steam beer has a unique taste and BRAVO to Anchor brewing company for doing it right. The aesthetics of the bottle are also nifty, but the unique and quality taste of the beer is what brings high marks.

I used to love this beer. Right when I got a place in the city, I used to drink this all the time. I don't know if I thought I was cool drinking the local beer or if it was a step above the frat beers I was used to drinking or what, but I don't really like Anchor Steam. You can have one or two but then it gets caught in your throat like you want to throw it back up. I don't know, it could be that I drank it too much and had one too many hangovers after drinking it, but I only get it if my mind goes blank as the bartender asks what I want. However, when that happens I say the old safety, Heineken.

I really like this beer. I recently had it for the first time in about 4 or 5 years and really enjoyed it. Tastey, light, it goes down easy and smooth.

I've recently been converted into a big Anchor Steam fan. It's smooth without being wimpy and it tastes good without overpowering you. My biggest problem with this beer is that they go down easy so I tend to drink them too fast.

Sierra Nevada and Anchor Steam are the best of the large micro-brews.