SAN FRANCISCO– Anchor Brewing Company and its beer have long been part of the San Francisco landscape.
“We’ve been here since 1869. We’re a fundamental company in this city,” Anchor Brewing master brewer Tom Riley reveals, “We literally grew up with San Francisco.”
More than a century later, the company still produces “steam beer”, a style of beer born in San Francisco during the gold rush era.
“Anchorsteam beer is the same as it’s always been,” says Riley.
Starting out on the packaging line in 1984, Tom Riley, now a master brewer, recognizes the importance of the company’s past.
“This company is steeped in history. If you learn those stories, you can have the beer that really tells the story, the story in a bottle,” adds Riley.
In 1965 Fritz Maytag purchased Anchor Brewing as it was about to close.
“Fritz Maytag recognized the historic importance of this beer, this small business that preserved this process, which is what he fell in love with when he bought the company,” says Riley. “From there he just went on a mission to improve the quality of beer, he ended up bringing it to the world.”
Maytag honored the past, but it also looked to the future. When he reintroduced the production of other traditional beer styles like porters and wheat beers, he became the “godfather” of the craft brewing movement. »
“He created this incredible portfolio of beers that we have today based on this idea of handcrafting it, exploring and artistic ways of doing things,” said brewmaster Dane Volek. , assistant to Anchor Brewing.
Since 1975, Anchor’s annual Christmas beer has been a prime example of the company’s commitment to innovation.
“Different recipes. Different ingredients,” says Volek, “It’s something we look forward to as brewers because we know, regardless of anything else, that beer will be different beer every year. is always fun.”
Anchor Brewing Company has opened Public Taps, a space where people can try their beers, old and new, like their West Coast IPA.
“It’s our innovation lab, where we innovate with our new products, where people can come and try the beer anytime it suits them,” shares Volek, “It means a lot to see people enjoying our products all over the world. country. It’s just the highlight of my days.”
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