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Anchor Liberty Ale
San Francisco, California
BJCP Category: 14B American IPA
Anchor Brewing Co. <visit site>
39
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[expand]Total Score: 38/50
A subtle, dry version of the American IPA that has been emulated since it was first introduced, with ever increasing emphasis on hops. Nicely balanced and refreshing. more >
[close]Total Score: 38/50
Aroma: Bright, crisp aroma at first impression. Moderate resiny, citrus aroma amid evident alcohol notes and light biscuity malt backbone. Orange-like fruity fermentation esters. Hops are not as assertive as I remembered or as high as many American IPAs, but very well balanced overall. (9/12)
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Appearance: Clear but not bright as some haze remains. Dense, rocky, light tan head with good retention. Deep gold color. Lively carbonation. (3/3)
Flavor: Biscuit, bready malt with assertively high hop bitterness and lingering astringency. Malt and hops are balanced with emphasis on hop bitterness. Yeasty notes leave a yeast bite as the beer warms. Citrus, piney, resiny hop flavor is medium. Fruity esters are low but noticeable as a light apricot. Alcohol is noticeable. Finish is dry, well attenuated. No DMS. No diacetyl. (15/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body with lighter mouthfeel due to lively carbonation and dry finish. Astringency, likely from hop tannins, lingers, resulting in a rough edge to mouthfeel. Some alcohol warming. (3/5)
Overall Impression: A subtle, dry version of the American IPA that has been emulated since it was first introduced, with ever increasing emphasis on hops. Nicely balanced and refreshing. Great with pizza—real pizza, with sausage and pepperoni. Only a lingering hop astringency that accompanies the bitterness detracts from this classic beer. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 42/50
Alcohol and citrus hops dominate the clean malt character, which is less caramel and toasty than expected from the push-the-envelope-on-everything American IPAs. more >
[close]Total Score: 42/50
Aroma: Initial aroma of orange-grapefruit citrus hops supported by clean, biscuity sweet malt. Low rosehip fruity esters, with a note of bready yeast, and an earthy note that emerges as the beer warms a bit. (10/12)
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Appearance: Golden with a slight, opalescent haze; rocky off-white head forms to one-third of the glass, with a biscuity, pearl-like finish. Foam dissipates slowly to 1/8 inch on surface of the beer; a fine mist of bubbles rises on rousing. (3/3)
Flavor: Sweet, lightly caramel malt with low bready yeast flavor supporting orange and grapefruit citrus hop flavor. Floral rose-like alcohol flavor emerges mid-palate. Balance is toward hop bitterness that tends to linger in the finish. (17/20)
Mouthfeel: Medium body with low, softish carbonation and a touch of alcohol warmth in the finish, which amplifies a drying hop character, not the same as grain astringency. (4/5)
Overall Impression: Alcohol and citrus hops dominate the clean malt character, which is less caramel and toasty than expected from the push-the-envelope-on-everything American IPAs. While the balance is decidedly toward citrus hop flavor and bitterness, it comes across more like a UK style IPA. Still an enjoyable classic. (8/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 38/50
This is a very nice IPA that is more British than American due to the focus on hop bitterness with some supporting caramel malt. more >
[close]Total Score: 38/50
Aroma: Bready aroma underpinned by graininess and a touch of caramel. I also pick up low levels of metallic notes, which may either be minerals in the water or a little oxidation. No hops are apparent, but there are some light tropical fruit esters that speak to the ale character. Very low alcohol. Pleasant enough, but seems a little muted. (8/12)
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Appearance: Light copper color with a long-lasting white head. Crystal clear. (3/3)
Flavor: Starts with a light maltiness that gives way to a hop bitterness that ebbs and fades before reappearing as a burst of tannins on the back of the tongue. The malt flavor has the bread crust and caramel notes that I found in the aroma. The hop flavor is very low compared to the bitterness, and while there are also low esters, the flavor profile is fairly clean for an ale. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: No alcoholic warmth, low to medium mouthfeel with a touch of residual sugars on the lips. The astringency is in line with the hop bitterness. (4/5)
Overall Impression: This is a very nice IPA that is more British than American due to the focus on hop bitterness with some supporting caramel malt. The depth of flavor is there, but some complexity from flavor and aroma hops would emphasize the American heritage. It’s still a classic IPA, but it now falls at the edge of the American style rather than being a classic example. (7/10) -
[expand]Total Score: 40/50
An oldie but a goodie. This is what IPAs were before they became the palate-assaulting monsters of today. Straightforward, dry, bitter, showing fresh hop character. more >
[close]Total Score: 40/50
Aroma: Fresh citrusy Cascade dry hop aroma, moderately strong, grassy and fresh. Moderately estery with light yeasty notes. Sweet malt with mild caramel and toasty overtones. Hops dominate but yeasty esters and malty sweetness intermingle and support the hops. The malty sweetness grows as it warms. (10/12)
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Appearance: Tall, rocky, cream-colored head; settled slowly. Slight haze, giving it a glow. Deep gold color with amber highlights. (2/3)
Flavor: Medium-high bitterness. Medium-high citrusy Cascade hop flavor. Toasty light caramel malt flavor initially, finishing bitter-dry with a lingering dry-hop aftertaste. Malt supports throughout, giving way to hops only in the finish. Light esters but otherwise very clean. Well-blended flavors; good balance. (16/20)
Mouthfeel: Moderately high carbonation, with mouth-filling bubbles. Medium body. Some hop astringency. Light alcohol warmth. (4/5)
Overall Impression: An oldie but a goodie. This is what IPAs were before they became the palate-assaulting monsters of today. Straightforward, dry, bitter, showing fresh hop character. Today, the balance, intensity and flavors make it seem more like an English IPA with American ingredients. A classic American IPA, but would probably not be appreciated as such by most judges, and scored accordingly. (8/10)
