How it
started...
Well I am
headed to Calif. tomorrow to visit Anchor Brewing and Sierra Nevada Brewing. I
hate to play favorites but I really feel that Anchor is the best Brewery in the
US. I'll let you know what I think when I return. They are closed to tours
right now so we'll see if their Assistant Brewmaster Mark Carpenter can take
some time out of his busy schedule to give us the inside scoop.
First
stop...
Jacks
Cannery Bar. When one first stops into Jack's they can't help but appreciate
the atmosphere. They have the place decorated with beer paraphernalia and tap
handles. They have over 110 beers on tap. The barmaid who was working the day I
was there had a very good working knowledge of beer, as well as the features of
what she had on tap that day. She allowed me to sample a half dozen beers. All
were excellent. If I wasn't a slacker who waited three months to post to my
blog I might even remember which ones they were. Highly recommend if you ever
find your self down by the Fisherman's Wharf San Francisco.
Anchor
Brewing...
Well
almost exactly one month ago I promised to tell you about the private tour of
Anchor Brewing as well as Jacks Cannery Bar
Don't let
the humble advertising mislead you, Anchor is the best domestic brewery. They
do not use unitanks for their brewing. Instead they use open fermentation. But
first let me back up a little with my story. I spoke with Mark Carpenter who
arranged for Phil Rogers to give us a tour. Mr. Rogers is in charge of training
and overseeing the regular tour guides during tour season. Due to my poor
navigating skills Jeremy and I arrived about an hour late. Mr. Rogers needed to
head out to another appointment in ten minutes. He however was extremely kind
to us and gave us over an hour of his valuable time.
He gave
us a brew or two while we waited. I was able to experience Anchor Porter on tap
at the Anchor Tap Room! What an awesome experience. Then he took us out onto
the brewfloor while they were brewing. One of their top brewers opened the
brewpot for us, allowed to stick our heads into the Mash Tun and the Lauter
Tun. Then after leaving the copper kettle brewroom we proceeded into the
cleanroom. In the cleanroom there were thousands of gallons of beer in open
fermentation right before our eyes. Stainless tanks not more than a few inches
deep held fermenting Anchor Steambeer. Then we proceeded to the hop storage
area. There Mr. Phil Rodgers allowed us to see, feel and smell the differences
between various hop varieties. From there we went to other fermentation areas,
the basement with the conditioning tanks, and then the bottling line.
Afterward
we were able to visit and share a pint with a half dozen brewery employees most
of whom were brewers. I was able to ask technical questions about the beer and
they graciously provided satisfying answers.
I am
leaving out so much of the story. I could probably write a book about the
experience and still not be giving the full picture of why of Anchor Brewing is
the best brewery in the U.S.
Much of
their process reminded me of how I brew my own beer. They use natural
conditioning to carbonate their beer. They then keep it under pressure while
they process and bottle the beer. Their method of homogenization is superior in
that is it very quick and not done in the bottle therefore preserving the true
character of the brew.
If you
ever find yourself in San Francisco be sure to visit Anchor Brewing!
