BearGoggles said:

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DiabloWags said:

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This has nothing to do with union busting.

The Craft Beer industry is SATURATED (especially on the West Coast) and Anchor had nothing going for it aside from historical significance.

Speakeasy Ales & Lager (which actually produced some good beer like Big Daddy) closed down in Hunter's Point in 2017, drowning in bank debt. The business went into receivership and the Court got rid of the owner and sold off the assets.

And yet I didnt hear of any "hand-ringing" over that closure in SF.

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Since we apparently agree, I may need to reconsider my opinion. J/K.

I read that 70% of Anchor's sales were in bars. so they were crushed by COVID, in addition to competition. That, together with operating in a high cost market like SFO, were pretty big disadvantages.

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Bingo.

And in order to compete during Covid, they were forced (like many other brewing companies) to PIVOT and incur increased expenses on retail packaging and marketing their beers to retail outlets like grocery stores and places like BevMo, Total Wine, etc. - - - I would suggest that not all brewers were successful at doing this and it was a massive challenge given the (as in Anchor's case) faltering cash-flow from the restaurant/bar trade.

Want to enjoy a great beer?

Try the Henhouse IPA out of Sonoma.
If you need something with a bigger hit, go with some Pliny.
My two faves!

Fearing of converting this into another burrito thread, I will nevertheless wade in and say that I'm tired of IPAs, which is why Anchor Steam was a nice alternative. Honestly, my favorite was Red Tail Ale, but they're out of business, unfortunately.

Jeff82 said:

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Fearing of converting this into another burrito thread, I will nevertheless wade in and say that I'm tired of IPAs, which is why Anchor Steam was a nice alternative. Honestly, my favorite was Red Tail Ale, but they're out of business, unfortunately.

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I would agree when it comes to the Hazy/Juicy IPA.
I got sick of those years ago when that was all Fieldworks cared about producing.

Nothing comes close to the Henhouse.
Nothing.

Red Tail was my fave for a time as well, but moved to 2nd place once I tried Anderson Valley Brewing's Boont Amber. Mmm...

And yes, I'm embracing the burrito-threadness of this.

Some good non-IPAs:

Trumer Pils (brewed in Berkeley)

Odell Brewing 90 Shilling Ale

Left Hand Brewing Milk Stout Nitro

Port Brewing Board Meeting or, if you want a new holiday-themed beer this fall/winter, Santa's Little Helper Imperial Stout

DiabloWags said:

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Want to enjoy a great beer?

Try the Henhouse IPA out of Sonoma.
If you need something with a bigger hit, go with some Pliny.
My two faves!

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The folks at Russian River Brewing have effectively nurtured the cult of Pliny. Limited production. Contains enough of four(!) different types of hops to etch the enamel off your teeth (What? It's too hoppy for you? You must be a beer neophyte!). And 8% alcohol - I guess the hops hide the boozy undertones. No, thank you. Still, different strokes etc.

One of Anchor's problems is that they target a beer drinker who tries their beer, likes it, and wants to order it whenever they go out. For the typical Anchor customer, it's their favorite beer - and it is excellent beer. This is the uber-traditional customer model, going all the way back to those guys who drink Bud and claim they can't stand Miller. Today's craft beer customer is really interested in trying as many different beers as possible - it's all about logging them on their Untappd app. This plays well into the small batch production capability of almost all craft breweries, who can constantly change recipes. No thanks - I don't want them exercising their creativity on my nickel.

Henhouse does make first-rate beers, though. The only problem is the next time I stop by, they don't have the one I liked the last time.

Vinnie doubled the production of Pliny when Russian River built their new 85,000 sq. ft. brewery in Windsor.
That's why you can pretty much find Pliny anywhere as opposed to how difficult it was in years past.
The new location and restaurant opened in the Fall of 2018.

PS. Pliny is a double IPA. It's 8% and right about in the middle of the ABV range for DIPA's.
Vinnie and his wife are stickler's when it comes to quality control and it shows!
Ask me how I know.











Windsor Location | Russian River Brewing Company

Former brewmaster at Anchor, Scott Ungermann wrote an Open Forum article today in the Chronicle.

Page A12.