In Episode 14 of Matt Likes Beer, Matt digs into a rare local gem: 1915 California Common from Ivanhoe Park Brewing. As one of the few beers from this Orlando-based brewery to make it into the series, Matt shares why this one stood out enough to earn a full feature—and it all comes down to style, nostalgia, and flavor.
A longtime fan of the underappreciated California Common style, Matt traces its American roots back to the iconic Anchor Steam and shares how this Ivanhoe Park version rekindled that same love. He reminisces about discovering Anchor Steam on tap at Disney Springs and even recounts a homebrewing misfire where he tragically dumped what turned out to be perfectly carbonated bottles too soon.
In this episode:
A BJCP-style evaluation of 1915 California Common, scoring a strong 44 out of 50, landing it in Matt’s top 3 beers on the show so far.
Discussion of the style’s history and why it deserves more love from craft brewers and beer drinkers.
A few rants about brewery websites, can labeling, and fond memories of Ivanhoe’s long-gone Valentine’s Day beer-and-donut pairings.
Hilarious one-star reviews of Anchor Steam, including some bizarre metaphors, backhanded compliments, and one classic “I hate to be like this” disclaimer Matt just had to call out.
Listen now on Neozaz.com, BigMonsterBrewing.com, or your favorite podcast app. If you’re a fan of old-school American styles or looking for a sleeper hit from a local brewery, this is an episode you’ll want to tap into!
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