Beer Styles- California Common/Steam Beer

The California Common is a hybrid style of American Beer developed in San Fransisco in the late 1800s. This style of beer is truly one of the first American contributions to beer brewing and beer styles.

During this that late 1800s and into the early 1900s, many in the americans enjoyed drinking lager style of beers that require cooler fermentation temperatures. With refrigeration being scarce, a lager yeast was developed that would ferment at Ale Temperatures. In addition, shallower fermenters were used to also control the temperature.

Examples that can be found today are a light amber hue, generally malty in character, and brewed with aggressive Northwestern US grown hops like Northern Brewer and Mt. Hood.

The most common example is Anchor Steam, which trademarked the title "Steam Beer", all other California Commons must be referred to as such.