How many out there have every had a beer from Anchor Steam Brewery?
Answer: none of you.
Don't be ashamed - the shocking truth took me by surprise as well. In fact, the company was originally established as Golden City Braueri back in the mid-1800s with German-borns Ernst F. Baruth and Otto Schinkel at the helm. Around the turn of the century when a wave of xenophobia crashed over the United States, a slew of breweries began to change their names in the hopes of eschewing any association with being "foreign." Instead, they favored simple, generic terms, and many speculate that the duo of Baruth and Schinkel may have chosen "Anchor" given San Francisco's proximity to the ocean.
But the now iconic beer of San Francisco wasn't always so glamorous, and by 1965 the entire brewery was on the verge of bankruptcy. Outdated equipment and a dirty facility led to declining quality and, in turn, a decrease in public favor. Until one day when Frederick "Fritz" Maytag III - grandson of the Maytag Dairy Farm founder Frederick (think Maytag Blue Cheese) and great-grandson of the appliance giant Maytag Corporation founder...also Frederick - attempted to save the company by purchasing 51% of Anchor in 1965 and obtaining sole ownership in 1969.
By 1971, he was already turning the business around by bottling the once draft-only beverages, including the first barleywine (Old Foghorn - another nautical nod) in production after prohibition, the first seasonal beer (Anchor Christmas Ale), and the Liberty Ale: released 200 years to the day of Paul Revere's ride.
Answer: none of you.
Don't be ashamed - the shocking truth took me by surprise as well. In fact, the company was originally established as Golden City Braueri back in the mid-1800s with German-borns Ernst F. Baruth and Otto Schinkel at the helm. Around the turn of the century when a wave of xenophobia crashed over the United States, a slew of breweries began to change their names in the hopes of eschewing any association with being "foreign." Instead, they favored simple, generic terms, and many speculate that the duo of Baruth and Schinkel may have chosen "Anchor" given San Francisco's proximity to the ocean.
But the now iconic beer of San Francisco wasn't always so glamorous, and by 1965 the entire brewery was on the verge of bankruptcy. Outdated equipment and a dirty facility led to declining quality and, in turn, a decrease in public favor. Until one day when Frederick "Fritz" Maytag III - grandson of the Maytag Dairy Farm founder Frederick (think Maytag Blue Cheese) and great-grandson of the appliance giant Maytag Corporation founder...also Frederick - attempted to save the company by purchasing 51% of Anchor in 1965 and obtaining sole ownership in 1969.
By 1971, he was already turning the business around by bottling the once draft-only beverages, including the first barleywine (Old Foghorn - another nautical nod) in production after prohibition, the first seasonal beer (Anchor Christmas Ale), and the Liberty Ale: released 200 years to the day of Paul Revere's ride.
About that funny bottle shape: they were actually made for another company who fell out of business. The glass manufacturer had already produced the bottles and sold them to Maytag for pennies on the dollar. So that distinctive Anchor bottle wasn't actually made for them. They were just cheap.
And what about Breckle's Brown? See that apostrophe? It must be his - who the hell was this guy anyway?
And what about Breckle's Brown? See that apostrophe? It must be his - who the hell was this guy anyway?
During the Gold Rush, it was Gottlieb Breckle who started what would eventually become Anchor. When Ernst and Otto purchased it in 1896, Breckle stayed on as the first official brewmaster, and this beer is a nod to the man who truly started it all.
But to address the question you've all been asking: from where did the term Anchor Steam come? Well, you see this shot of of the original location on Pacific Avenue?
But to address the question you've all been asking: from where did the term Anchor Steam come? Well, you see this shot of of the original location on Pacific Avenue?
With no refrigeration systems in place, it was on this very rooftop where brewers at Anchor would bring vats of boiling wort to cool down enough so that yeast could be added. As a result, continuous waves of steam wafted atop the brewery, and thus the "steam beer" was born.
Now I'm not normally into history, but the Anchor tour was enlightening, fun, and quite tasty: especially after trying eight beers at 11am on a Tuesday. But for me, food and drink is always more fascinating with a story behind it, and Anchor constantly nods to its roots.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Maytag beer in the near future.
Cheers! ...and nosh on,
Josh
Now I'm not normally into history, but the Anchor tour was enlightening, fun, and quite tasty: especially after trying eight beers at 11am on a Tuesday. But for me, food and drink is always more fascinating with a story behind it, and Anchor constantly nods to its roots.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a Maytag beer in the near future.
Cheers! ...and nosh on,
Josh
