Beatrix Montes
Anchor Steam Beer, a San Francisco original, is no longer in production. The Anchor Brewing Company, founded in 1896, ceased operations in 2023. The company was purchased by Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya in 2024, with plans to restart operations. However, it is unclear when that will happen, and existing stock may be hard to find. For now, the company's website states that it can only fulfill online beer orders in the San Francisco area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Anchor Brewing Company |
| Beer Name | Anchor Steam Beer |
| Beer Type | Steam Beer, Craft Beer, Lager |
| Beer Colour | Deep Amber, Bright Amber |
| Head | Thick, Creamy, Frosty Tan |
| Flavour | Rich, Distinctive, Toasted Maltiness, Fruity, Floral, Caramel Maltiness, Herbal Hop |
| Texture | Velvety, Lively Bubbles |
| Brewing Process | Historic, 19th Century Practice of Outdoor Fermenting |
| Purchase Options | In-Person, Online |
| Online Purchase Locations | San Francisco |
| In-Person Purchase Locations | San Francisco, Outside San Francisco |
| Availability | Limited Stock, May Still Be Available |
| Production Status | Stopped |
| Business Status | Closed |
What You'll Learn
Anchor Brewing Company's history
The Anchor Brewing Company has a long and storied history that dates back to the California Gold Rush. Here is a brief overview of the company's journey over the years:
The Early Years
The story of Anchor Brewing Company began in San Francisco during the California Gold Rush, when German brewer Gottlieb Brekle arrived in the city and started brewing steam beer. In 1896, Ernst F. Baruth and his son-in-law, Otto Schinkel, Jr., bought the old brewery and named it Anchor Brewing. The choice of the name "Anchor" may have been an allusion to the booming Port of San Francisco.
Challenges and Resilience
Anchor Brewing faced several challenges in its early decades. In 1906, co-owner Ernst Baruth passed away, and just two months later, the brewery was destroyed in the fires that followed the San Francisco earthquake. It was rebuilt at a new location in 1907, but tragedy struck again when Otto Schinkel, Jr. was involved in a streetcar accident. Despite these setbacks, the brewery persevered under the leadership of German brewers Joseph Kraus and August Meyer, along with liquor store owner Henry Tietjen.
Prohibition and Beyond
Prohibition forced Anchor Brewing to shut down in 1920, and there is no record of the company's activities during this period. However, when Prohibition ended in 1933, owner Joe Kraus resumed brewing Anchor Steam® Beer. Unfortunately, the brewery faced another fire the following year, but Kraus reopened Anchor at a new location with a new partner, Joe Allen.
Changing Tastes and Ownership
By the 1950s, Anchor Brewing faced challenges due to changing consumer tastes and the rise of mass-produced, lighter beers. This led to declining sales, and in 1959, Joe Allen shut down the brewery. However, Lawrence Steese bought and reopened Anchor in 1960 at a new location, retaining Joe Allen to continue the craft brewing tradition.
The Fritz Maytag Era
By 1965, Anchor Brewing was again facing financial difficulties due to poor sales and quality issues. This time, it was rescued by Frederick Louis "Fritz" Maytag III, who bought 51% of the brewery and later acquired it outright in 1969. Maytag worked to improve the brewing process and ensure consistent quality, and by 1971, the company began bottling steam beer.
Growth and Innovation
Under Maytag's ownership, Anchor Brewing experienced significant growth and innovation. The company expanded its range of beers, including porters, barley wine, and India pale ales. It also opened Anchor Distillery in 1993, becoming the first brewery in the world with its own in-house distillery.
Changing Hands
In 2010, Maytag sold the company to former Skyy vodka executives Keith Greggor and Tony Foglio, who became part of Anchor Brewers & Distillers, LLC. This marked another period of expansion for the company, with plans to increase production capacity and introduce new beers.
Sapporo Ownership
In 2017, Anchor Brewing was acquired by Sapporo Breweries for $85 million. However, this period was marked by declining revenue and dissatisfaction among workers due to working conditions and pay. In 2023, Anchor Brewing ceased operations, and its workers attempted to buy out the firm as a worker-owned cooperative.
A New Beginning
On May 31, 2024, Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya announced that he was buying Anchor Brewing, with the intention of restarting its operations and keeping them in San Francisco. This development marks a new chapter in the long history of the iconic brewery.
Rainier Beer: California Availability and Where to Buy
You may want to see also
Where to buy Anchor Steam Beer
Anchor Steam Beer is available for purchase at various outlets, although it may be challenging to find due to the brand's production halt as of July 2023. You may still be able to find it at usual retailers, and some outlets have even reported increased sales. However, the supply will eventually run out unless production resumes.
If you are in the San Francisco area, you can place online orders for Anchor Steam Beer, and Anchor Public Taps is open for business through July 31st, 2024. Their operating hours are Monday from 4 pm to 9 pm, closed on Tuesday, and Wednesday to Saturday from 12 pm to 10 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm.
For US customers outside of San Francisco, you can check the distributor in your area or send a note to the company to inquire about availability. For international customers, you can contact the distributor in your country.
Additionally, Drizly offers Anchor Steam Beer for delivery, providing a convenient option to get your hands on this iconic brew.
Buying Beer in Alamo, Nevada: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
The beer's unique brewing process
Anchor Steam Beer's unique brewing process is a historic one, combining a deep respect for craft brewing tradition with many decades of evolution. The result is a blend of pale and caramel malts, fermentation with lager yeast, and gentle carbonation through an all-natural process called kräusening.
The beer is fermented with lager yeast at warmer ale temperatures in shallow, open-air fermenters. This is an unusual process, as lager yeast is typically fermented at temperatures from 48 to 58 °F (9 to 14 °C), while ale yeast is best used at temperatures from 55 to 75 °F (13 to 24 °C). Steam Beer uses bottom-fermenting lager yeasts at ale temperatures, resulting in a distinctive flavour profile that includes both ale and lager characteristics.
The name "steam beer" comes from the fact that the brewery had no way to effectively chill the boiling wort using traditional means. So, they pumped the hot wort up to large, shallow, open-top bins on the roof of the brewery, where it was rapidly chilled by the cool air blowing in from the Pacific Ocean. This created a distinct cloud of steam around the roof, let off by the wort as it cooled.
Anchor Steam Beer is widely acknowledged to be the first modern-day craft brewery in the United States and the first American craft beer in modern times. It is also one of the last remaining producers of steam beer, a variety of beer trademarked by the company.
Evening Beer Runs: North Carolina's 9 PM Beer Buying Cutoff
You may want to see also
Anchor Steam Beer's distinctive characteristics
Anchor Steam Beer is a distinctive, slightly sweet, caramel-flavoured craft beer. It is a lager with the complexity of an ale, owing its rich, unique flavour to a historic brewing process.
The beer is bright amber with a frosty tan head and a thick, creamy texture. Its maltiness is accompanied by fruity and floral notes, with hints of spice and a slightly bitter finish.
Anchor Steam Beer is handmade, with a traditional brewing method that has evolved over many decades. The process involves a blend of pale and caramel malts, fermentation with lager yeast at warmer ale temperatures in shallow open-air fermenters, and gentle carbonation through an all-natural process called kräusening.
The name "steam beer" comes from the 19th century when "steam" was a nickname for beer brewed on the West Coast of America under primitive conditions and without ice. The hot wort was pumped up to large, shallow, open-top bins on the brewery rooftop, where it was rapidly chilled by the cool air blowing in from the Pacific Ocean, creating a cloud of steam.
Exploring International Beer Options: A Global Drinking Adventure
You may want to see also
The future of the Anchor Brewing Company
The Anchor Brewing Company has a long and storied history, with roots dating back to the California Gold Rush in the 1850s. The company has faced numerous challenges over the years, including competition from larger breweries, declining sales, and changes in ownership. However, it has always managed to persevere and remain a beloved fixture in San Francisco.
In 2023, Anchor Brewing ceased operations and announced plans for liquidation. This was a devastating blow to the city, as the company had been brewing its signature steam beer for over a century. However, there is now hope for the future of the company. In 2024, Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya purchased Anchor Brewing with the intention of restarting its operations and keeping them in San Francisco. Ulukaya has expressed a commitment to treating employees well and bringing back former Anchor workers to get the company up and running.
While the future of Anchor Brewing under Ulukaya's ownership looks promising, there are still some uncertainties. Ulukaya has not yet reached out to the unionized workforce and has not clarified whether the union will be part of the new operations. Additionally, the company faces challenges in a competitive distribution market and changing consumer preferences.
To succeed, Ulukaya will need to lean into the locality of Anchor Brewing and focus on distributing in California. By emphasizing the company's rich history and commitment to craft, Ulukaya can help Anchor Brewing regain its footing and once again become a thriving part of the craft beer movement.
The future of Anchor Brewing Company is still uncertain, but with a dedicated owner and a passionate team of workers, there is hope for a bright future ahead.
Beer at Disney on Ice: What's the Deal?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can still buy Anchor Steam Beer, but stock is probably hard to find. The company has stopped brewing for the foreseeable future, so supply will run out eventually if nothing changes.
Anchor Steam Beer is available at Anchor Public Taps in San Francisco, which is open for business through July 31st. You can also place online orders, but only if you are in the San Francisco area.
At this time, Anchor Brewing is only able to fulfill online beer orders in the San Francisco area. For US customers outside of San Francisco, you can reach out to the distributor in your area or send them a note. For international customers, contact the distributor in your country.
Anchor Steam Beer is a true San Francisco icon and America's original craft beer. It is bright amber with a frosty tan head, with toasted and caramel maltiness accompanied by vibrant fruity and floral notes. It delivers the crispness of a lager with the complexity of an ale.
