Anchor Brewing

Posted in Anchor Brewing, Headlines

Anchor Go West! IPA, a bottle & can potential

Anchor Go West! IPA

Anchor Go West! IPA is coming to bottles and cans in 2016.

America’s first craft brewery is adding citrus and tropical hops in order to create a new IPA worthy of the west coast.

The California Gold Rush compelled thousands to Go West! “to see the elephant,” a metaphor for the doggedly optimistic risk-taking linked then and now with America’s intensified pursuit of happiness. As early as 1849, India Pale Ale – prepared by British brewers for export to India by adding dry hops to barrels of hoppy ale – was going to go west, from England around the horn to San Francisco. In 1975, Anchor, America’s first craft brewery -led the modern revival of dry-hopped handmade ales. Fast-forward to Anchor Go West! IPA, made with 2-Row barley malt and dry hopped with a unique blend of for American hops. It’s mouthwateringly complex aromas of citrus, kind, and the tropics; spiky bitterness; gleaming golden color; and clean finish United can read this singular 24 karat IPA. Go west where the impossible is possible.

Anchor Go West! IPA is a 12 ounce bottle, and 12 ounce can offering. The brewery has not yet announced this beer.

Style: IPA
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 12oz Cans, Draft.
Release: TBA

6.7% ABV

Posted in Anchor Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Anchor Barrel Ale, a Tribute to Fritz Maytag [Released]

Anchor Barrel Ale

Fritz Maytag saw an opportunity in 1965 and took it. Anchor Brewing, whose roots date back to 1849, was in danger of closing. For a few thousand dollars, Maytag purchased 51% of the brewery, starting what would be a craft brewing revolution in America.

Anchor Steam was bottled in 1971, and by 1975, Anchor Porter, Liberty Ale and Old Foghorn Barleywine had joined the lineup.

In 1977, Maytag purchased an old coffee roastery on Old Potrero Hill, where the brewery still resides today. Anchor Distilling produces Old Potrero Rye Whiskey (named for the hill), which is a great seque into Anchor Barrel Ale.

Anchor Barrel Ale, a tribute to Fritz Maytag, is a blend of four different Anchor beers, aged separately in Old Potrero Rye Whiskey barrels. The resulting barrel-aged beers are then blended together.

In 1965, Fritz Maytag’s first of 45 years at the helm, we sold 882 barrels of one beer. Seven years later, as we prepared to launch a second brew, Anchor Porter, new-hire Mark Carpenter asked him why. “I want us to be known for much more than making Anchor Steam,” Fritz replied with a grand gesture. “Because one day there will be hundreds of little breweries like ours all over America.” Mark was incredulous. And ultimately, of course, it would be thousands not hundreds. but Fritz saw what no one else did, igniting a revolution in brewing that originated today’s craft-beer movement. Anchor Barrel Ale – aged in our used Old Potrero Rye Whiskey barrels and on their staves – is Anchor’s tribute to pioneer brewer, trailblazing distiller, and visionary Fritz Maytag. Cheers!

Anchor Barrel Ale is now available in 12 ounce bottles and draft, a part of the brewery’s Argonaut Collection.

Style: American Strong Ale (Barrel Aged. Rye Whiskey)
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: Late October/November, 2015

6.3% ABV

Posted in Anchor Brewing, Seasonal Return

Anchor Big Leaf Maple Returns

Anchor Brewing Company’s Big Leaf Autumn Maple is the brewery’s fall seasonal and it has been released. Anchor Brewing Company Big Leaf Autumn Maple is an autumn offering that is a malty red ale, brewed with maple syrup. The brew was inspired by the BigLeaf Maple tree, native to California. Rope and baskets have been made from the bark, and custom guitars from it’s unique wood. Maple syrup from this iconic tree makes its way into this red ale.

Style: Red Ale (w/ Maple Syrup)
Hops: Nelson Sauvin, Citra, Cascade
Malts: Caramel, Pale

Availability: 12oz bottles, Draft. Aug-Oct

6% ABV

Posted in Anchor Brewing, Coming Soon, Headlines

Anchor Meyer Lemon Lager [Released]

Anchor Meyer Lemon Lager

Anchor Meyer Lemon Lager takes aim at cans in the near future.

The base beer is a lager, brewed with Meyer lemons. The lemons originated from China, a cross between a true lemon and an orange. Anchor has used lemons in recent one-off releases, such as Anchor Meyer Lemon Kolsch.

Anchor Meyer Lemon Lager will be available in 12 ounce cans.

Style: Lager (w/ Lemons)
Availability: 12oz Cans
Release: Fall, 2015

4.5% ABV

Posted in Anchor Brewing, Don't Miss This

Preview: Anchor Christmas 2015

Anchor Christmas 2015

2015 is the 41st year of Anchor Christmas. Each year, the beer, just like the label, is different.

For 41 years, Anchor Christmas has featured a different tree on each label, hand drawn by Bay Area artist James Stitt. Stitt has been drawn the labels since 1975.

This is the forty-first annual “Our Special Ale” from the brewers at Anchor. It is sold only from early November to mid-January. The Ale’s recipe is different every year, as is the tree on the label, but he intent with which we offer it remains the same: joy and celebration of the newness of life. Since the ancient times, tree have symbolized the winter solstice when the earth, with its seasons, appear born anew.

Anchor Christmas is brewed to be a traditional “wassail” where spices were added to ales during seasonal celebrations. Launching in November, 2015.

Style: Winter Warmer
Availability: 12oz Bottles, Magnum Bottles, Draft. Nov-Jan, Seasonally.
Arrival: November, 2015.

5.5% ABV

Posted in Anchor Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Anchor IPA, the Brewery’s Third Can

Anchor IPA Cans

Anchor IPA is now available in cans. This release marks the third canned offering in the brewery’s 119 years of operation. The brewery first released Anchor IPA in February of 2014.

“We are thrilled to finally bring Anchor fans one of their favorite core beers, Anchor IPA, in cans,” said Mark Carpenter, Brewmaster at Anchor Brewing. When we first released Anchor IPA the popularity of the beer took off quickly, so it only made sense to also offer consumers a convenient way to enjoy this tasty beer…”

Anchor Lager was up first in cans, joined by Brotherhood Steam Beer. Anchor IPA cans are now available nationwide.

Style: IPA
Availability: 12oz Bottles, 12oz Cans, 22oz Bottles, Draft. Year-round
Can Release: March/April, 2015

Posted in Anchor Brewing, New Releases

Anchor Winter Wheat Released

Anchor Brewing Company’s new winter seasonal is on shelves – Winter Wheat. The new offering is a winter warmer brewed with five varieties of wheat.

Anchor has been making wheat beers since the summer of 1984.  They’ve all been golden summer refreshers instead of dark winter warmers – until now.  Anchor Winter Wheat is made with a unique blend of malted barley and five wheats from Belgium, Germany, the Midwest, and a family farm just 75 miles away from Anchor Brewing in San Francisco where they get their soft red winter wheat.  Sown in November and harvested in June, it is commonly used in artisanal flatbreads, cakes, and pastries.

Anchor Winter Wheat is available in 22oz bottles and draft this winter season.

Style: Wheat Beer
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft. Dec-Jan
Arrival: December, 2014 (First release)