The United States has had an explosion of craft brewing in the past 15 years, thanks to relaxed regulations and a nearly-universal revulsion among serious beer drinkers for the mass-produced swill from the InBev/MillerCoors duopoly. One could argue, however, that the first true craft beer in the US came from San Francisco in 1896. Sadly, the 127-year-old Anchor Brewing Co. announced this week that it would cease operations and liquidate this summer:
In a press release, Anchor Brewing spokesperson Sam Singer said that economic pressures made business "no longer sustainable," and that employees were given their 60-day notice Wednesday. In June, Anchor Brewing limited distribution to California and axed one of its most popular beers.
“The inflationary impact of product costs in San Francisco is one factor,” Singer told SFGATE at the time. “Couple that with a highly competitive craft beer market and a historically costly steam brewing technique. [They’ve] probably been mulling over this decision for a year. It’s not something they take lightly.”
The Wednesday press release stated that the company plans to "provide transition support and separation packages" to outgoing employees, and that the Anchor Public Taps taproom on De Haro Street will remain open temporarily to sell remaining inventory. Brewing has ceased, but the brewery says it will continue to package and distribute beer on hand through the end of July.
Anchor Brewing also said Wednesday that attempts over the past year to find a buyer were unsuccessful, but one could emerge during the liquidation process.
When I first started drinking beer—believe it or not, I waited until I turned 21—I "trained" on the cheap, easily available Miller Genuine Draft, the thought of which now makes me gag. Fortunately, one of my uncles cured me of that by handing me an Anchor Steam Beer, showing me the difference between mass-produced pig urine and an actual, full-bodied beer. But still, until Goose Island started gaining ground in the late 1990s, Anchor Steam and Sam Adams Lager were the only choices for good, craft beer.
I'm sorry to see Anchor Brewing die. I haven't had an Anchor Steam in a long time, as they stopped distributing to the Midwest years ago, and my palate shifted away from lagers over the years. But if any of my California readers could do me a solid by snagging a six-pack of Anchor Steam anywhere they can find it, I'd owe you.