Anderson Valley El Steinber Dark Lager Will Become Their First Full-Time Lager

(Boonville, CA, 12 Sep 2012/mbb/) – Anderson Valley Brewing Company announced today that starting in September, a new Dark Lager will join its portfolio of award-winning ales. “El Steinber” is the brewery’s newest core offering in nearly seven years and its first full-production lager. Debuting in select markets as a draft-only offering beginning in September 2012, national distribution of both draft and package will follow in early 2013.

“We’ve crossed a new border with the release of ‘El Steinber,’” says Fal Allen, Brewmaster for Anderson Valley. “We wanted to create a sessionable dark lager with a twist. In our somewhat unusual take on the style, we add Midnight Wheat malt to give this beer its dark brown color, but also use roasted Indio-Hispano® blue corn flour to lighten the body and create a unique, toasty flavor. German Pilsner malt and Saaz hops round out this beer, producing a crisp, clean finish and smooth drinkability that is perfect for any occasion.”

As for the name “El Steinber,” Allen says it’s a combination of Spanish and Boontling (the local Anderson Valley dialect created in the late 1800s). Literally meaning “The Beer,” he explains its origin this way: “We were looking for a unique name that represented both the Latin influence of the Indio-Hispano® blue corn while keeping the heritage of our native Boontling alive. Eventually we decided upon ‘El Steinber’ and the image of Barkley in a serape; it’s meant to be fun and quirky, and show that although we’re committed to brewing world-class craft beer, we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”