San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Company has announced that it will cease operations. The historic San Francisco craft brewery Anchor Brewing Company announced Wednesday morning that it will cease operations and liquidate the business.
Sam Singer, a spokesperson for Anchor Brewing, stated in a press release that economic pressures rendered the business “no longer sustainable,” and on Wednesday, employees were given their 60-day notice. In June, Anchor Brewing eliminated one of its most popular beers and restricted distribution to California.
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“The inflationary impact of San Francisco’s product costs is one factor,” Singer told SFGATE at the time. “Combining this with a highly competitive craft beer market and a historically expensive steam brewing technique, we have a recipe for disaster.” This decision has presumably been under consideration for a year. They do not take the matter lightly.”
On Wednesday, Singer reiterated the prevailing economic conditions.
Anchor arrived at this conclusion only after months of deliberation, according to a statement he released. “We recognize the importance and historical significance of Anchor to San Francisco and the craft brewing industry, but the effects of the pandemic, inflation, especially in San Francisco, and a highly competitive market forced the company to make this regrettable decision to cease operations.”
Anchor was founded in 1896 and claims to be the first craft brewery in the United States. In 2017, it was sold to Sapporo.
The company will “provide transition support and separation packages” to departing employees, according to a press release issued on Wednesday, and the Anchor Public Taps taproom on De Haro Street will remain open temporarily to offload remaining inventory. The brewery has stopped brewing, but it will continue to package and disseminate any remaining beer through the end of July.
Anchor Brewing stated on Wednesday that attempts to find a buyer over the past year were unsuccessful, but that a buyer may emerge during the liquidation process.
