Anchor Brewing Sold

Wow, like a ton of bricks to the skull this story has sent a huge shock through the beer world.  If you haven't already, take the time to read the press release for all the details.

THE GRIFFIN GROUP ACQUIRES ANCHOR BREWING COMPANY AND ESTABLISHES ANCHOR BREWERS & DISTILLERS, LLC

Acquisition Continues the Legacy of a San Francisco Icon

(San Francisco, CA) – April 27, 2010 – The Griffin Group, an investment and consulting company focused on beverage alcohol brands, announced its acquisition of Anchor Brewing Company which includes its portfolio of craft beers and artisan spirits, including the award winning Anchor Steam Beer.
The Griffin Group is led by beverage alcohol veterans, Keith Greggor and Tony Foglio, two longtime San Francisco residents who have been working with Anchor Brewing Company’s owner, Fritz Maytag to maintain the iconic brewery and distillery in San Francisco.

“Anchor Brewing Company has a long history in San Francisco and The Griffin Group is ushering in an exciting era while maintaining our proud, time-honored history,” said Fritz Maytag. “Combining Keith and Tony’s passion for the Anchor Brewing Company, their industry experience and expertise only means that Anchor will be enjoyed in San Francisco for generations to come.”

“Since 1896, Anchor Brewing Company has been an icon of San Francisco’s history and culture,” stated Griffin’s Founding Partner, Keith Greggor, “I am honored to bring Anchor Brewing Company into our family of craft beers and artisanal spirits through establishing Anchor Brewers & Distillers, LLC.”

Anchor Brewers & Distillers intends to establish a “Center of Excellence” in San Francisco for craft brewers and artisan distillers from around the world. An epicenter of development, education, entertainment and innovation, all designed to further contribute to the culture and heritage of craft beer and artisan spirits.

“San Francisco is the perfect place to establish this center,” stated Tony Foglio, “Through our extensive portfolio of craft beers and fine spirits our focus will be to educate and satisfy the increasing consumer demand for authentic, quality and natural products that reflect the passion of their creators.”

Continuing the Anchor heritage, Mr. Maytag has been named Chairman Emeritus of Anchor Brewers & Distillers.

The Griffin Group operates as both boutique merchant and investment bank for premiere craft beers and artisan spirits. In addition to the Anchor Beers, The Griffin Group will assume control of the spirits brands including Old Potrero Whiskey, Junipero Gin and Genevieve Gin through the acquisition of Anchor Brewing Company. Additional affiliated companies to be held under Anchor Brewers & Distillers include Preiss Imports, a leading US specialist spirits and beer importer, and BrewDog USA, LLC, the US division of the leading UK craft beer.

The Griffin Group is headquartered in Novato, Marin County, California.

Winning Big, Drinking Small: Anchor Small Beer

While Villanova was burying Duke I decided to break away from my usual high hopped beers and take in something more on the session side. At the beginning of the year I stated that I would broaden my horizons and give more styles that fall under session beers a real chance. I know that some have been preaching low abv for awhile but I've had a hard time putting down my big flavorful sometimes extreme beers.

Earlier in the evening while at Bishop's Collar watching Pitt survive Xavier I had a Russian River Consecration and a Bells Hop Slam. Knowing I had to still drive back to the burbs for the second half of Nova/Duke that was it for the high octane. Once out of the city and comfortably on a bar stool at Brother Paul's I scanned the draft lineup for something less potent. Anchor Small seemed to be the perfect choice.

The Anchor Small is described as a second run on Anchor's Old Foghorn mash.

We make our Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale from the rich first runnings of an all-malt mash, and Anchor Small Beer is our attempt to duplicate the "small beers" of old by sparging that same mash: sprinkling warm water over the Old Foghorn mash after the first wort has run off, thereby creating a second, lighter brew from the resulting thinner wort. Technically, both beers are "ales" because they are made with top-fermenting yeast

The first thing I noticed about this 3.3% beer was the color. I don't know if I was expecting a macro pale yellow but I was pleasantly surprised to see a deep golden beer with a decent head. There wasn't much of an aroma but some sweet malt did come through. For me that was the good side. When it came to taste this beer took an odd path. I couldn't place it at first then after a few more sips I realized what it was, tea. It was actually a combination of light breakfast tea and a biscuit malt taste. Not at all what I was expecting. From there the flavor headed to a sharp bitter somewhat astringent end. Overall the beer had a watered down quality, however the big hop bitterness did provide some character. This was my first small beer so I'm not sure how Anchor's stacks up against others. I just hope other versions of the style offer a better taste profile. I've had several of Anchor's beers, most recently while in San Francisco on their brewery tour, and enjoyed most of what they offered. The Small Beer wasn't available then. Now that I've had a chance to experience a pint I know it's not what I am looking for when it comes to a low abv beer.

So far in my quest to find a craft session beer I really enjoy: Nodding Head's Ich bin ein Berliner Weisse (3.5%), PBC's Kenzinger (4.5%), General Lafayette's Lafayette's Escape (1.9%) and Three Floyd's Gumballhead (4.8%) are all favorites. I do love my big beers but will continue to make it a point to sample session drafts. After all who could go through life only drinking DIPA, Imperial Stouts and Barrel Aged beers? Hmmmm, probably me.

San Francisco

Finally! We made it to San Francisco. Don't get me wrong I loved the trip and all of our stops but San Fran was what I had been waiting for. It's one of the cities on my list of places to go before I die. We crossed the Golden Gate as the sun was going down and the sky was amazing. Even in my slightly inebriated state of mind I was impressed with the hazy pink and blue canvas above. After winding our way around the hilly streets we found our hotel, got settled, grabbed food then like anyone who had one too many beer samplers I crashed for the evening. The true adventure would have to wait.

Now that we were in the city there were places we had to go. I will skip the tourist blah, blah, blah, and just say that we did all the typical first time in S.F. activities. The focus here as it always is is the beer. From what I had heard this was a great beer town. Bryan over at The Brew Lounge had sent me some great places to hit and I had already set reservations for the Anchor Brewing tour so that was our first stop.

My suggestion to anyone heading to Anchor Brewing is, MAKE RESERVATIONS EARLY! If you don't you may be very disappointed. I called a couple months ahead and had to take the early tour because the later one was already sold out. It's extremely popular. We arrived 10 minutes before the tour and were lucky enough to get street parking next to the brewery. After climbing a few flights we reached the tap room where the tour was set to begin. The guide gave a history of Anchor Brewing, brewing techniques and beer in San Francisco. Before the actual walking part of the tour began we were all instructed that no photography was aloud beyond the brewing room. This explains why everyone who has been to Anchor only has pictures of the same two rooms. Overall the tour was very interesting. After the history lesson in the tap room we moved into the brewing room, open fermentation chambers, hop storage room, the yeast lab, cold conditioning room, the bottling and kegging lines then back to the brewing room for quick information on their distilling line (whiskey and gin). The tour ended in the tap room with a tasting. The beers poured were, Anchor Steam, Old Foghorn, Anchor Porter and Liberty Ale. Our guide was very generous when it came to the beers. Although we were drinking out of standard tasting glasses we had multiple fills. No complaints.

If you go remember.

Schedule a tour time in advance (at least a month).

Know that you will climb steps.

Bring cash for cool beer swag.

Be prepared to relax and enjoy your surroundings with a few beers.

Onward to the Haight-Ashbury and the Toronado.