SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years • Hacker News Board

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#141

Post by i_am_jl » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:06 PM UTC

Solvency wrote: post #61

krustyburger wrote: post #21

It’s important to note that Anchor as a division is being shut down as a cost-saving measure by its owner Sapporo, a transnational, publicly-traded corporation. Sapporo says they have tried to find a buyer for Anchor, but to no avail. Meanwhile Sapporo recently purchased Stone Brewing in San Diego and are beginning Sapporo production there while still making Stone beers. If Sapporo hadn’t also bought Stone, presumabl…

I think we can start dropping useless affectations like "it's important to note" now that ChatGPT has utterly co-opted them and revealed how meaningless they are. You could have simply stated that Anchor division is being dropped. I'm already reading your comment. You don't have to sell me on why you're noting it.

We can start dropping useless affectations like "I think" now that ChatGPT has utterly co-opted them and revealed how meaningless they are. You could have simply stated that reading hurts you. I'm already reading your comment, you don't need to tell me that you think the things you write.

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#142

Post by pjot » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:08 PM UTC

VohuMana wrote: post #130

softwaredoug wrote: post #107

The pandemic has triggered / accelarated a lot of trends One trend I wonder about is cutting back on drinking. From a health perspective, I see more and more health officials loudly saying no healthy amount of alcohol[1]. It's simply poison. Not that I'm aggressively for any kind of prohibition, and don't very rarely drink, but I wonder if we'll see increased awareness and more people just deciding not to drink as mu…

I could definitely see this, I also wonder if this is why many breweries are scrambling to make non-alcoholic beers. The non-alcoholic beers have become so good IMO, I usually find myself reaching for one of those on a hot day rather than the real deal.

I hope this trend continues, they really are getting good. From a business perspective too it makes sense. Now people can drink all day long

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#143

Post by xkgwkdmgjtx » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:09 PM UTC

I hesitate to post this hearsay accusation, but it hasn't been mentioned in this thread and it might be important to discuss.

I talked to Anchor employees after the news about stopping the Christmas Ale and stopping sales outside of California. They told me the writing was on the wall that Anchor would be closed down and sold for scraps. They were adamant that the root issue here is Sapporo mismanagement, not anything about Anchor being an unviable business. Public Taps alone makes good money and I'm pretty sure they have owned their brewing building for a long time. They asked me to boycott Sapporo.

Of course, laid off workers are usually disgruntled at their ex-employers, but nonetheless it's an important angle to consider. The other comment about Sapporo's plans for that San Diego brewery seem to bolster this perspective.

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#144

Post by ipqk » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:11 PM UTC

rco8786 wrote: post #58

krustyburger wrote: post #21

It’s important to note that Anchor as a division is being shut down as a cost-saving measure by its owner Sapporo, a transnational, publicly-traded corporation. Sapporo says they have tried to find a buyer for Anchor, but to no avail. Meanwhile Sapporo recently purchased Stone Brewing in San Diego and are beginning Sapporo production there while still making Stone beers. If Sapporo hadn’t also bought Stone, presumabl…

Genuine question. Why is this important to note?

Because half the people here think this has to do with the local economy and politics of SF, when in reality it's the economic situation of the craft beer market & world economy at-large.

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#145

Post by xkgwkdmgjtx » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:11 PM UTC

krustyburger wrote: post #21

It’s important to note that Anchor as a division is being shut down as a cost-saving measure by its owner Sapporo, a transnational, publicly-traded corporation. Sapporo says they have tried to find a buyer for Anchor, but to no avail. Meanwhile Sapporo recently purchased Stone Brewing in San Diego and are beginning Sapporo production there while still making Stone beers. If Sapporo hadn’t also bought Stone, presumabl…

See also my comment about what Anchor employees are saying: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36696764

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#146

Post by dehrmann » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:12 PM UTC

avisser wrote: post #70

eweise wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can Anchor be considered a craft brewer if its owned by Saporro?

What about the fact that I can get Stone at my corner liquor store in Rhode Island? You know, the one that doesn't have a great selection.

I remember seeing Lagunitas all over Sweden.

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#147

Post by CephalopodMD » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:14 PM UTC

I went on a tour of their facility about a year ago. Really beautiful place with lots of history. I'll be sad to see it go.

As with most brewery tours, we got to try some of their beers afterwards. One of the ones I tasted was the best sour I've ever had in my life. I asked where I could buy it and they said they were never going to sell the stuff.

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#148

Post by awithrow » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:16 PM UTC

tristor wrote: post #111

dbcooper wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's an excellent beer of its type, and IMO of any beer type. It may be subtle, but not everything has to be an big hoppy IPA, or a sweet NEIPA etc. Do you also think that Pilsner Urquell, Jever, or Budvar are mediocre?

Anchor hasn't made actual steam beer in a very long time. Their brewing operation is effectively similar to most other mid-sized batch lagers, with modifications to bring it in line with their historic flavor profile. Historic steam beers were considered, even at the time, to be low-quality, and the method of making steam beer is primarily a way to make large quantities of beer at a low cost. Modern brewing is much m…

Honestly I always saw the California Common/Steam beer style as more marketing than a true style. In my head I grouped them in with amber lagers. I Totally agree that Anchor Steam was mediocre.

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#149

Post by thrashh » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:16 PM UTC

ipqk wrote: post #144

rco8786 wrote: post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Genuine question. Why is this important to note?

Because half the people here think this has to do with the local economy and politics of SF, when in reality it's the economic situation of the craft beer market & world economy at-large.

Or maybe because a lot of people in this scene have ties to SF so they post it in the way that you tell friends of happenings.

Re: SF's Anchor Brewing Company shutting down after 127 years

#150

Post by joshuaheard » Wed, Jul 12, 2023, 4:17 PM UTC

I loved this beer when I was in my twenties. My college-age daughter and her friends, however, don't even drink beer. They drink this fruit-flavored hard seltzers.