Bummer. Anchor Steam has always been a favorite from when I lived in the Bay Area. Have always enjoyed picking up a sixer here and there down here. Will miss that but I don’t drink much beer anyway.
Sadly, this is today’s craft beer market. Most breweries that have a regional (or National) distribution focus are seeing their “out of state” sales crumble. Breweries like Bells, Stone, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, Dogfish etc are really scaling back their efforts Nationally as their sales continually fall. With in-state breweries popping up like weeds, we are seeing a “buy local” attitude like never before.
I love Anchor Steam, and it will soon become my first drink with every future visit to California.
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I found one bottle of Christmas Ale in the back of the fridge.
Binny’s sold out of Anchor Steam, but said they are going to get a few more.
This article nicely touches on the points you raise, Thomas. Better to survive with a smaller distribution footprint than fail due to waning national demand.
https://www.beervanablog.com/beervana/2023/6/14/anchors-retraction-and-beers-new-pessimism
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The other issue that is very much on the brighter side, is the success of the “middle of the pack” breweries around the United States. I see so many craft breweries, making 25,000-30,000 barrels a year in their respective markets, with solid marketing teams, great use of social media and rock star staffs. THESE are the guys squeezing out the national brands, THESE are the guys taking over the majority of the tap handles in their markets as well. Sierra Nevada may have one rep for the Chicago market (for example) but Revolution Brewing has 6-8 people on the street. The David’s are beating the Goliaths -
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I certainly have gravitated more to local beers, as the larger “microbrews” I used to enjoy continued to get gobbled up by a handful of multinational corporations. I’m not claiming that it’s rational (assuming the beer stays the same, which isn’t a given), but it just feels different to buy a beer that’s made by Sapporo or AB InBev than by a one-off brewery.
Asked my local shop if they had any left and searched up and down thinking they did but couldn’t find any. Didn’t really ask them to order it but when I came back the other day they must have because hey had 2 sixers.
I used to really love the old label…
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It’s a crime they didn’t keep the original, classc labels. So classic
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I visited the brewery around 1981-82 and the tour guide told us that, as a small operation, everyone took turns at different roles and jobs, including giving tours. Made everyone feel a part of the team.
Love the beer; but I have not bought any in years. As others note, I can easily buy great local beers that were canned this week. Why buy a beer that was bottled a month ago and shipped cross-country?
I’m still drinking 2020 Christmas Ale, and, to me, it has held up just fine in bottle over the couple of years I’ve had it. Just grabbed several 6-packs of the 2022 to squirrel away and enjoy over the next few years, under the assumption it won’t be produced any more.
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Oh, no!!!
That’s a bummer. Even though they were owned by Sapporo, they still had some elements of a local brewery.
I was hoping that someone would swoop in and take over.
This move was to kickstart WARN and I guess bankruptcy will follow. Hope someone can buy the assets and keep the operations going even on a scaled down level
Just what I was going to say. I’m sure Sapporo has no interest but maybe someone can run with it as a true craft brewery again. The brand name must have some street cred.
I bet they contract brew the Steam for local sales though assuming they had some of those.
Edit after I went to search more. Seems like Sierra and Russian River may have interest in the brand. Those would seem like good stewards.
I think someone posted this yesterday in the Christmas Ale thread stating that perhaps there would be a good news announcement at some point.
Buying they brand would be OK news. Keeping the facility operating would be much better news
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They apparently tried to find a buyer over the past year without success, although one may emerge during the liquidation process.
-Al
Horrible news, I am guessing Sapporo paid way too much for Anchor, and couldn’t get their pricetag. Would love for it to fall back into local hands, Fingers crossed, and prayers being said…
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NOW - Selfishly thinking - I own the Yoerg Brewing Company in Saint Paul Minnesota. The Yoerg Brewery was the first steam brewer in the Midwest, having opened in 1848. But as most of you know, Anchor “owns the rights” to the term “Steam Beer” and we aren’t allowed to use it. We have to use the lame category name; “California Common.” Now if Anchor does go under for good, might I have a chance on getting that trademark? HHhhhhhhhmmmmmm…
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Their rights to that term probably are/will be available for sale. If you don’t buy it, someone else might.
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