If you like Anchor Steam beer, buy it now. They are closing their doors...

[Westerly Wood]

After 127 years...

SF's Anchor Brewing Company, country's 1st craft brewery, shutting down after 127 years

"It's sad to see such an institution go out of business." With roots dating back to the California Gold Rush, what's often referred to as America's first craft brewery is officially liquidating business.

abc7news.com

 

[Cougar]

Wow. Anchor Steam was my choice of the 100 beers offered at the Bayou in Salt Lake when I occasionally went there for the live music (and sat in once on an old Wurlitzer electric piano to a surprisingly raucous applause). Alas, I'm no longer in Salt Lake and not into beer much anymore. Anchor Steam definitely had a unique taste!

 

[GGJaguar]

Wow, that's really sad. I did a lot of work in the SF Bay area in the '80s and always enjoyed having an Anchor Steam with dinner.

 

[adorshki]

Back in the day ca '78 or so a buddy and I used to debate which was better: He liked Anchor Steam, I liked Henry Weinhard's. With the numbered bottlings that actually reflected different batches of beer as opposed to a continuous homogenous mass production recipe.
For some reason bottling #35 was very very good in my opinion, and it started falling off around the '50's. Seem to recall after #58 I said to myself "Not worth it anymore", was sure they'd gone "always the same, every time".

But the bottles're collectibles now.

 

[HeyMikey]

I have no skin in the game but am not surprised. With the proliferation of so many local micro breweries that produce far superior beer, I’ve been expecting some mass producing breweries to shutter or consolidate.

 

[chazmo]

Oh wow! I always liked Anchor Steam!

 

[Westerly Wood]

That and Fat Tire were the first micro brews I can remember hearing about back in the day.

 

[chazmo]

I have no skin in the game but am not surprised. With the proliferation of so many local micro breweries that produce far superior beer, I’ve been expecting some mass producing breweries to shutter or consolidate.

The consolidation has already been happening, Mike. AB owns a surprising number of micros now. I'm sure the other biggies are doing the same.

 

[merlin6666]

That is a sad day for beer drinkers. Though the article mentions stiff competition and I wonder what those breweries are doing better.

 

[Wilmywood]

Damn. Anchor Steam is good beer.

 

[merlin6666]

Apparently they are not an independent brewery but just a little piece in global Sapporo corporation, so that's the way they go. So Yamaha better not mess with Guild.

 

[adorshki]

That is a sad day for beer drinkers. Though the article mentions stiff competition and I wonder what those breweries are doing better.

SF is simply a lousy business environment right now even if the industry as a whole wasn't faced with 5%-plus inflationary pressure on virtually every element of its cost structure: Grain, malt, hops, energy, glass bottles and aluminum cans, and even water here in the SF Bay Area.

Then try to find employees willing to commute to a city where one navigates sidewalks with extreme caution and parking garages get $40.00+ a day, because the employees you can afford can't afford to live in SF.

 

[fronobulax]

Not part of my beer heritage. But I do remember several years ago the greater DC area was hit by a storm and power was out for a couple of days. Local brewer Port City was hosed because they had fermenting tanks full of beer that were not going to be usable. They contacted Anchor Steam, got some brewer to brewer advice and salvaged the batch. It was successful and was sold and Port City has made "Derecho" several times since. A memorable example of how beer is not always a cutthroat industry.

parking garages get $40.00+ a day

Welcome to my world. Parking in Crystal City, on the fringes of Regan National was $40 a day a decade ago. But if you actually worked there you could get the same space for $50 a month. Only the tourists paid $40 so if the parking rate is actually contributing to SF unemployment that may be an information problem.

 

[shihan]

Wow. Anchor Steam was a strong shining beacon in the sea of mediocracy that was beer before the craft movement.
Being on the west coast, we could occasionally come across AS. It was always an occasion for celebration.
Sad news for me.

 

[RBSinTo]

I guess I'll just have to use a Canadian beer to wash my hair from now on.
RBSinTo

 

[davidbeinct]

Sad news but maybe it will encourage some of the micros to get into the non-IPA arena now that there’s a hole in the market.

 

[fronobulax]

I guess I'll just have to use a Canadian beer to wash my hair from now on.
RBSinTo

I recommend post-Coors Molson.

 

[RBSinTo]

I recommend post-Coors Molson.

Franny,
Thanks for the suggestion in less than 12 paragraphs.
I was gonna try A&W Root Beer, but I'll give the Molson a shot.
RBSinTo

 

[jp]

So sad! The original American craft beer. I used to hang out a bar where one could earn a "passport" by sampling beers from their world beer menu. This was my first foray into trappist beers, true Czech pilsners, Bavarian weissbier, Japanese rice lagers, and so many others. Anchor Steam was the American standout that taught me that there was hope beyond Mickey's Big Mouths, Little Kings, Milwaukie's Best. Apparently, it was downhill once Sapporo bought them. :C(

 

[fronobulax]

Apparently, it was downhill once Sapporo bought them. :C(

Are other sources saying that or are you just applying the folk wisdom that says things almost never improve with a change of ownership, especially if the new owner is much bigger?

The Washington Post notes some people weren't happy with the takeover but the reason for closing had more to do with post-Covid changes in where beer was purchased and consumed.

Then came the challenges brought on by the coronavirus, when scores of bars and restaurants closed down. More than 70 percent of Anchor’s products were sold at these venues, according to Singer. The brewer tried to recover by producing bottled and canned beers to be sold at retail and liquor stores. “But it was really too late at that point to compete against others who held large shelf space in those retailers,” Singer said.

PDF for those who can't navigate the paywall.