The number of craft breweries in the United States continues to rise, almost against reason. But while the number of beer styles being made may run over 70 (or even 100, depending on who you consult), they are almost all Old World styles, or at least an American take on them.
If you are looking for a truly American original, here’s one for sure: steam beer. Also known now as California common, this brew was the result of special brewing challenges specific to the region, and a need for speed.
Special Climes Call for Special Measures
In the 19th century, cooling off a brew and keeping it at a low enough temperature for the yeast to do its work was a challenge without ice or refrigeration—in particular, outside of winter, or in places that couldn’t harvest and store winter ice. One could cool wort faster with coolships, which are shallow, open-top containers that would lose heat faster due to the greater surface area, but this still didn’t get the temps low enough for fermentation in sunny California.
