Anchor Brewing Company

Anchor Brewing Company
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAlcoholic beverages
Founded1896
Founder
  • Ernst F. Baruth
  • Otto Schinkel, Jr.
Defunct2023
Headquarters
Potrero Hill, San Francisco, California
,
United States
37°45′49″N 122°24′02″W / 37.7636°N 122.4005°W / 37.7636; -122.4005
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
ProductsBeer
Production output
132,000 barrels (2013)[1]
ParentShepherd Futures,
Websiteanchorbrewing.com

Anchor Brewing Company was a brewery on Potrero Hill in San Francisco, California. Founded in 1896, the brewery underwent several changes in location and ownership throughout its history. After years of declining sales due to competition with larger breweries, Anchor was purchased by Frederick Louis “Fritz” Maytag III in 1965, preventing its closure.[2] The brewery operated at its Potrero Hill location from 1979 and was one of the last remaining producers of steam beer, a variety of beer trademarked by the company.[2]

In 2010, the company was purchased by The Griffin Group, an investment and consulting company focused on alcohol brands, and became part of Anchor Brewers & Distillers, LLC.[3][4]

In 2017, the company was acquired by Sapporo Breweries for US$85 million.[5][6] Sapporo's ownership oversaw significant declines in revenue for the brewery, and in 2023, Anchor Brewing ceased operations, with plans to liquidate the business.[7] On May 31, 2024, Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya announced that he was buying the company and its associated assets. He said that he planned to restart the company and keep its operations in San Francisco.[8]

In July 2023, Anchor Brewing closed, and its workers attempted to buy out the firm as a worker-owned cooperative.[9] In 2024, Chobani instead bought out the company with the intention of restarting its operations.[10]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference holl2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Hampson, Tim (2008). The Beer Book. London: Dorling Kindersley. p. 17. ISBN 978-1405333016.
  3. ^ Rotunno, Tom (2 August 2015). "How Anchor Brewing changed the beer business". CNBC. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  4. ^ CHAFKIN, CHRISTINE LAGORIO (28 April 2010). "Skyy Vodka Team Acquires Anchor Brewing". Inc. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  5. ^ "San Francisco's Anchor Brewing acquired by Sapporo". San Francisco Chronicle. 3 August 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2018.
  6. ^ Millar, Rupert (4 August 2017). "Sapporo acquires Anchor Brewing for $85m". The Drinks Business. Retrieved 21 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Anchor Brewing, the Oldest Craft Brewer in the U.S., Will Close After 127 Years". The New York Times.
  8. ^ Dineen, JK (31 May 2024). "Anchor Brewing bought by billionaire who founded Chobani yogurt". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  9. ^ Bicchieri, Paolo. "Will Anchor Brewing Workers Really Be Able to Buy the Historic San Francisco Company?". Eater San Francisco. Vox Media. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  10. ^ Valinsky, Jordan. "Anchor Brewing gets new lease on life after it finds an unexpected buyer". CNN Business. Warner Bros. Discovery Company. Retrieved 27 September 2024.