Brick Maker Common

Brick Maker Common is a Toronto take on the California common/steam beer style. A 5% 35 IBU lager from Muddy York Brewing Co., the beer comes in 355mL cans. It’s a sparkling clear golden brew with an off white foam.

Brick Maker has a crisp, metallic and floral aroma. The flavour kicks off sweetly with lots of grain. The back end picks up a bit of metallic momentum and builds to a nice, floral hoppiness.

This is a rad little common—crisp and flavourful, with a healthy hops quotient. I enjoyed this in February, but it’d be a bad mother in hottest July.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Workman

Styled an "Alabama Common", Workman is based on the California Common style. It hails from Madison, Alabama, where it is assembled by an outfit known as the Blue Pants Brewery. I picked up a 12oz. bottle of this 5% alcohol lager during a trip to the American South.

It was a cloudy golden-orange brew topped with a very sturdy off-white head. It had a grain-driven, malty and slightly bready aroma. The flavour started with yeasty tendencies, almost like a Belgian blonde ale. It proved to be a pretty full flavoured and punch little lager. There is a healthy malt-heavy profile with an uptick of hops at the finish.

I found this to be a tasty and interesting beer.

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

CCBC-Steam

One of Capitol City's seasonal brews, their Steam Ale, is a good representation of a classic west coast beer style. It arrived a clear golden amber colour with a goodish layer of almost white head. The aroma is malt forward with some caramel notes. A mild brew, the Steam moves from sweet to bitter. It has good drinkability, nice malt character, and excellent sessionability. The Steam isn't a very complex ale, but it is pretty enjoyable.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Anchor Steam

Made by the Anchor Brewing Co. out of San Francisco, this tasty little brew comes in a beautiful 355mL bottle. The label has a history lesson that explains that "steam" in the name is 19th century slang for West Coast beer.  Who knew?

This steam is a brownish orange colour, clear and considerably carbonated.  It has about 3/4 inch of off-white head.  Sweet caramel tones and a dose of breadiness accent a hoppy aroma.  The body is nicely balanced, with bitter leading into caramel and butter sweetness.  The aftertaste stays true to the flavour.

This is a brew that constantly finds its way into my fridge.  Its got something for everyone and is well worth buying.  I'd like a bit more bite, but its not a major complaint.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.