As most of you probably know, Anchor Brewing Company is one of the most prevalent and well-liked breweries in Northern California.

I had debated whether or not to do a review on it because of its popularity, but for the last beer review of the semester I had to.

Anchor Steam is the breweries’ most famous beer. It has been around since its inception in 1896. It first started being bottled in 1971 and has grown into what is now a worldwide favorite.

This all-malt mash brew tastes so good because each beer is handmade. Anchor Brewing’s historical all-copper brew house in San Francisco serves as a great way to keep the beer pure, clean and delicious.

Enough with all of this history on beer: This brew is too damn good to worry about all that. The pure smoothness of Anchor Steam is unrivaled. It has a malty, frothy head, with a perfect full-bodied taste that leaves the drinker satisfied.

Not too filling, not too light, this Anchor Steam is still strong enough to put you on your face after too many at 4.9 percent alcohol by volume. It’s perfect for the summertime and a barbeque. Ribs go great with it, as do hot links, burgers and potato salad.

Switching to a lesser-known but equally good beer from Anchor Brewing Company is Liberty Ale. Its conception took place in 1975 and according to the Anchor Brewing website, was made to commemorate the bicentennial of the famous midnight ride of Paul Revere.

If America had a beer to really represent our nation, Liberty Ale would be perfect. Instead of these lame excuses for a beer like Coors and Bud, why not make Liberty Ale just as big and readily available?

The East Coast media bias and favoritism permits similar breweries like Samuel Adams to reach higher recognition throughout the world. Just because Anchor Brewing Company is located in San Francisco, I think there is a certain amount of prejudice toward the brewery and its products.

Guinness is an international symbol of Ireland, so why can’t America have a real symbol of good beer like Liberty Ale?Instead, the rest of the world laughs at us with our supposed “patriotic” beer commercials, perpetuating the world’s already common shared negative view of us as “stupid” Americans.

Ok, enough ranting. In other words, Liberty Ale and the rest of Anchor Brewing Company’s brews are respectable. It has a long tradition, and is in the heart of San Francisco, one of America’s great cities. To say the least, its taste is off the richter.

Liberty Ale is offered only in bottles, another plus. It weighs in at a hearty 6.0 percent alcohol content, a decent strength for the average social drinker. It is made with all natural products of water, malted barley, fresh hops and yeast.

According to the brewery website, Liberty Ale is brewed with a special top-fermenting yeast that gives the brew that desired head and foam. Its carbonation is produced through a process called “bunging,” which makes special, champagne-like bubbles. Lastly, dry hops are added to the brew during the aging process. This creates a distinct flavor and is not a normal “standard” method or practice in brewing.

Anchor steam, or any of the seven brewing company’s beers are great.

If I had to choose a beer to have with a meal – it would be an Anchor Steam from the tap. There are no flaws, and that is what I need with a satisfying dinner. A beer that won’t fill me up too much, tastes first-class, and keeps me feeling good.