The Uncommon Common

The California Common (also referred to as Steam Beer) is a truly unique American beer style and, most likely, the first original American beer style dating back to the Gold Rush days of California and specifically San Francisco. It is malty with the aroma of Northern Brewer hops, fermented at 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit using a lager yeast. If you wanted to try the best modern-day example, you would reach for a bottle of the American classic, Anchor Steam. Anchor Brewing, rescued from the abyss of bankruptcy by Fritz Maytag (of the Iowa and appliance Maytag family) is a San Francisco icon and was the driving force for me to try to replicate this beer.

So, this afternoon, I dusted off the kit that was only about eight months old and cranked it up. But being Reservoir Brewing, I said "To Hell!" with convention and went the Reservoir way. Instead of the classic California Lager yeast, I instead used the standard Wyeast 1056 American Ale. Instead of using an ounce of Cluster hops at 60 minutes for bittering, I used the Reservoir standard Warrior with one-third ounce additions at 60, 45, and 30 minutes.

After two hours of work (it is easy to get sidetracked while watching the Masters), five gallons of delicious 1050 are sitting in Optimus Primary ready to be converted into Uncommon Catherine, a beer dedicated to my loyal wife. She may roll her eyes every time I dig the brewing gear out of the closet and push back against every attempt I make to keep a cabinet in the kitchen for my "hot" equipment, but she unconditionally loves my beer and for that, I had to make a brew that I knew she would like.

This will also be my first "exhibition" beer in over a year, with a couple of bombers going to the Benz Beer Fest on May 15. Stay tuned for updates on Uncommon and hopefully I will update this blog a little more.

Till then, Prost!