Anchor Debuts Coffee Porter

Anchor Brewing Co. has announced the release of its new Anchor Coffee Porter, brewed with Four Barrel's "flash-chilled" coffee. For more, see the release below:

San Francisco, CA (October 3, 2017) – Anchor Brewing Company announces the debut of Anchor Coffee Porter™, a San Francisco collaboration brew made with Four Barrel’s unique Flash-Chilled Coffee.  An innovation on a craft classic, Anchor Coffee Porter is inspired by Anchor Porter®, first brewed in 1972, providing a delectable twist on the first modern American Porter. 

Anchor Coffee Porter (6.7% ABV) is a rich, smooth Porter with a roasty malt backbone, bold coffee aroma and complex layers of chocolate, nuts and spices.  It brings together two unique, handcrafted products from two unique San Francisco makers.  Four Barrel Coffee sources its beans from sustainable farmers in Latin America, Indonesia, and East Africa.  The coffee used in Anchor Coffee Porter is roasted from a single-source from Ethiopia.  All of Four Barrel’s coffee is roasted using a hand-operated vintage German roaster.

“The historic, art deco building on San Francisco’s Potrero Hill where Anchor resides today was a coffee roastery before it was a brewery,” said Brewmaster Scott Ungermann.  “There’s a running joke at Anchor that it takes a lot of coffee to make beer.  Now we’re collaborating with Four Barrel to do just that—literally.  We start in the brewhouse, combining a robust malt bill inspired by our recipe for Anchor Porter.  In the cellar we add Four Barrel’s Flash-Chilled Coffee which was brewed and chilled especially for this beer.  The addition occurs during secondary fermentation so the coffee is nicely integrated into the beer.  The result is a coffee porter of immense richness, intensity, boldness and smoothness, with deep aromas and mouthfeel of fresh-roasted coffee melded with dark-roasted maltiness.” 

The coffee used in Anchor Coffee Porter is brewed hot, then flash-chilled within 10 seconds.  This proprietary method ensures the vital aromatics and key acids of a great cup of coffee are captured and preserved.  “We were searching for a locally roasted coffee that would provide the best aromatics for the beer,” said Ungermann.  “Four Barrel’s Flash-Chilled Coffee maintains the aroma that is key to what this beer is all about.  When you pour Anchor Coffee Porter in a glass, you unmistakably smell coffee.  And then you smell the malt; the malt’s aromatics and flavors surround those of the coffee, weaving them together.”

Brewed with 2-row pale, caramel, black & wheat malt, Anchor Coffee Porter has a round, roasted malty base flavor, with not so subtle hints of maple syrup, chicory earthiness, pipe tobacco, Mexican chocolate and tart cherry.  The beer pours deep, dark brown, with a light brown frothy head.  It presents a bold coffee aroma up front, with notes of sweet caramel, toasted toffee, warm hazelnut and subtle hints of herbal spiciness.  With a silky-smooth mouthfeel and a pleasantly bright acidic finish, Anchor Coffee Porter pairs well with decadent foods like chicken and waffles, pot roast, crème brûlée and beignets.   The beer is 10% coffee, and the brewmaster’s favorite coffee mug is featured on the label.

Anchor Coffee Porter is available October through February in 12oz bottles and on draught.  Find a brew near you using theAnchor Beer Finder.