Dark amber color in a glass, a fine layer of bubbles on top. I am pretty sure I pick up brusque Northern Brewer hops from my first sniff. Kind of like dry leaves, and not very bitter. The taste has more of that kind of vegetal hop impression. Right alongside of some nice toasty malts. I have had much of a chance to get the feel of the original Anchor Steam, but I can see this as a slightly unrefined frontier beer.