I’m not sure if there are any Anchor Steam fans here, but as a former Bay Area native, it is a nostalgic favorite.
https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/anchor-brewing-cuts-christmas-ale-18145920.php
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A fan here. I buy the christmas ale every year.
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Not this year
SF product, should be available around here I assume, unless they’re not making it?
Holds up pretty well too. I’ve found a few bottles from 2-4 years ago, and they drink nicely.
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They will no longer distribute any of their beer outside California, and are canceling the Christmas Ale:
" Then, this coming holiday season, Anchor won’t be releasing one of its signature offerings: Anchor Christmas Ale, a dark winter warmer made annually since 1975. A small amount, however, will be for sale solely at Anchor Public Taps for visitors to the tasting room.
An Anchor representative cited “time-intensive and costly brewing and packaging requirements” as the reason for the change. Christmas Ale is unlikely to return next year, the representative said."
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Well crap, lol. I wonder if they’ll be selling bottles, or just draft? I don’t even know about their tap room, off to do some research.
Ah, I see where it is, driven by there many times, on my calendar to check out in the fall
I have bought the Christmas beer every year for years
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For a New Year’s Eve party in San Francisco in 1981, I wondered if Anchor might have kegs available. No liquor store knew for sure, so I called the number in the phone book and the guy on the other end said “Sure!” and he arranged it for us. Turned out to be the president.
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I used to buy a case of Xmas Ale every year. I’d cellar and start drinking it when the following year’s Ale was released.
The new packaging is horrible and no longer making the Ale is even worse news.
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Sound as though they will continue to sell their regular beer in CA (70% of their sales). I know a guy (Alan and Larry also know him) who was cellaring the Christmas Ale long term.
-Al
Recall Anchor was bought by Sapporo in 2019.
Apparently heritage beer sales are dropping with the younger generations.
-Al
I have a tradition of buying the Christmas Ale every year too. It was already kind of hard to find since I moved to Tennessee, but I’m bummed to hear that it will now be completely unavailable.
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Anchor and others just have to hang on long enough for the next generation of hipsters to discover them.
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Here in Memphis I used to buy their regular stuff pretty regularly, but haven’t seen it on shelves for maybe five years now.
Anchor and Sierra Nevada were sort of my introductions to craft beers
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Anchor Porter was always a favorite. I haven’t seen it in forever.
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Just stocked up 
Still drinking 2020, not problem squirreling some away for longer term.
Anchor Steam is one of my favorite regular beer purchases. I haven’t seen it here in a few months here, but haven’t thought about why. I’m bummed that we will no longer get it here in New York State.