Sad. I looked forward to their Christmas Ale every year. Although I wasn't a big fan of the last few year's versions. Still a bummer.
I miss Honkers Ale.Goose Island
Did you follow their recipe pretty closely (i.e. the BYO link shared earlier)? I found theirs to be far sweeter than mine, and / or fruitier. I will of course compare recipes again.Mine on the right, theirs on the left. Pretty damn close except mine is probably a little undercarbonated so I cranked it up a couple PSI. I have 5 bottles left, need to have my wife help me do a triangle test.
Sad to see Anchor close. I'll have to brew a clone/tribute soon.
I wonder if the BJCP will change "California Common" to "Steam Beer" now that Anchor (the trademark holder) is no more. I'm not a lawyer, though, so I don't know how all that works.
But, since Sapporo owns it and isn't going out of business, would the three years still apply?The trademark becomes abandoned 3 years after the trademark holder deliberately stops using it. After that, the owner has no legal claim to its use. The TM goes into the public domain unless someone else registers it with the USPTO.
Let's check back here in July 2027 for an Anchor Steam brew-a-thon.
They don't have to keep making the beer to keep using the trademark though. They could sell nostalgia merch for instance.The trademark becomes abandoned 3 years after the trademark holder deliberately stops using it. After that, the owner has no legal claim to its use. The TM goes into the public domain unless someone else registers it with the USPTO.
Yes. You have to actively use the specific trademark.But, since Sapporo owns it and isn't going out of business, would the three years still apply?
Did you follow their recipe pretty closely (i.e. the BYO link shared earlier)? I found theirs to be far sweeter than mine, and / or fruitier. I will of course compare recipes again.
But, since Sapporo owns it and isn't going out of business, would the three years still apply?
Probably helps not to be in San Fran or probably CA in general. Wish they considered relocating and/or downsizing. Kind of feel that there was some mismanagement involved.Darn, that blows. Fortunately I got a chance to go there a couple years back on the way to a wedding. It was busy as hell. Wonder what it takes to be profitable these days?
Back in the day when there was only Budmil (Coors not sold in east US) and related lagers Anchor Steam was the only alternative except Sierra Nevada. None of the IPAs existed yet.My only Anchor experience was with Anchor Steam beer. Didn't seem much different from Budmilcoors. Maybe they're closing because there are so many good competitors now.
I never really liked Anchor Steam. I thought it overrated. That being said... I would agree wholeheartedly with the above quote if Anchor Steam was replaced with Anchor Liberty Ale.Back in the day when there was only Budmil (Coors not sold in east US) and related lagers Anchor Steam was the only alternative except Sierra Nevada. None of the IPAs existed yet.
Anchor Porter was pretty good.
Next closure, Bells?Purchased in 17 and Union formed in 19. Worker dissatisfaction usually comes with a buyout. Didn’t Sapporo recently purchase Stone? Stone also was running in the red. Will that be the next closure? So many options on the shelf now. Still another sad story. I’ll keep supporting the independent labels when I buy.
And that is exactly why we liked Anchor Steam. They brewed the beer we like. Not chasing the flavor of the day.It's good beer. What happened was exactly what they said it was: inflation, competition, high operating cost. What that means is, not selling enough beer. Making good beer is the easy part (we homebrewers do it). Marketing, distributing, packaging, etc, all at a reasonble cost to the buyer is the challenge. These days, it seems a brewey can thrive for a few years on an exciting new introduction, which is often a strong IPA of some sort, which may even be featured in taps in bars and restaurants. It's been that way for decades. Anchor Steam seemed to refuse to bend to the explosion of IPAs and NEIPAs. Nor did they want to make an 7-8% standout modern beer. Also, they didn't fit in with the light beer crowd who drinks buds and coors.
The flavor *we* like. But we don't pay the bills, the trendy flavor of the day does, sadly.And that is exactly why we liked Anchor Steam. They brewed the beer we like. Not chasing the flavor of the day.
Regardless of location this is a trend. "Old school" craft breweries that were in the first/earlier waves that didn't keep up with or set new trends are falling by the wayside all over the country. When was the last time you bought an Anchor Steam, or a Fat Tire, for that matter?
Was at the beer store the other day (we still have the "beer distributor" model here) and I noticed most of the customers when I was there were picking up Truly, White Claw and Hard lemonade.Plenty o' factors in this (and the larger issue of breweries shutting down, in general). Some that come to mind right away:
3. Competition from other beverages, and a trend among some people to eschew alcohol altogether.
We have been buying 1/6 bbl of Anchor. It was a staple in my tap rotation.Regardless of location this is a trend. "Old school" craft breweries that were in the first/earlier waves that didn't keep up with or set new trends are falling by the wayside all over the country. When was the last time you bought an Anchor Steam, or a Fat Tire, for that matter?
I go to a lot of sporting events and by far the most common drink I see men drinking is seltzer. One guy at a hockey game had a stack of three Truly cans on the arm of his seat.Was at the beer store the other day (we still have the "beer distributor" model here) and I noticed most of the customers when I was there were picking up Truly, White Claw and Hard lemonade.
Fat Tire? Not long agoRegardless of location this is a trend. "Old school" craft breweries that were in the first/earlier waves that didn't keep up with or set new trends are falling by the wayside all over the country. When was the last time you bought an Anchor Steam, or a Fat Tire, for that matter?
Enter your email address to join: