The beer style steam beer was added in the middle of the 1800s when cooling fermentation vessels was not possible in hot California, the beer therefore had to ferment at room temperature. This created large amounts of carbonation in the beer which caused steam to rise, and this gave the style of beer its name.
Anchor Brewing in San Francisco is often called “the Godfather of steam beer”, according to San Francisco Chronicle. Because Anchors also owns the steam beer brand, it is sold at Systembolaget under the name “california common”. Despite the stately title and brand, things have been rough for the brewery for many years. When it was sold to Japanese beer giant Sapporo in 2017, Anchor was heavily in debt and the covid pandemic further reduced sales figures as Anchor’s beers are mostly sold through bars and restaurants.
Sapporo had also restructured the business; introduced trendy beers, opened taprooms and started charging for tours. This led to disgruntled employees in 2019 forming the first union in Anchor’s history.
But the bets didn’t pay off and, combined with rising inflation, increased competition for craft beer and beer sales generally falling by three percent in 2022, it led to the 61 employees being told on Wednesday morning that it’s finished brewing at Anchors.
The brewery’s assets will be offered for sale and there is an opportunity for a new owner to purchase the entire brewery. That was when Anchors was on the ropes in 1965 and Fritz Maytag took over the company and ran it until 2010. But according to Anchors spokesperson Sam Singer, repeated attempts to find a new owner have been unsuccessful.