Anchor Brewing Rebrand: Raise Anchor to the Next 125 Years!

(psssst -- I think you missed post #233... )

 

I saw a box of pilsner cans earlier today and it appeared to have a date code in white lettering on one of the sides - 040921 I believe. But I could not find a date on the hazy ipa next to it but maybe I missed it. I got sick of whirling the box around looking for it.

Still waiting for Liberty Ale to show up around here. sigh.

 

To be fair (to echo @steveh ’s words), Anchor doesn’t seem to be doing a good job at integrating their new look with their web presence... and this should be a huge priority with their rebrand. This thread is from half a year ago and they still haven’t changed their main site to reflect their current lineup. The two distinct sites are confusing and would be even more so to someone not on BA who is just starting to explore them. If someone searched for “anchor beer” and clicked on the “Anchor Steam” link instead of the main page link (to get to the page that @JackHorzempa mentioned), they wouldn’t even see that yellow banner in your screenshot. In addition, the “raise Anchor” site is horribly channelled. It works as an announcement, but is terrible as a site to go to for information. I’m surprised by how sloppy things are at this point for them. You’d think they were going back to their old look based on their lack of commitment to the rebrand on the web.

 

That does seem odd. I wonder what sort of influence Sapporo HQ has in all this.

 

So you're telling me there's a chance!

 

At least with Anchor, only the label has changed.

 

Had to go to a few area liquor stores on an errand for a visiting out-of-stater - looking for some of those Jameson Caskmates - turns out there's a bunch of 'em and they ain't cheap. Anyway, even though I didn't "need" beer I cruised by the beer coolers, too (I mean, what do you expect?). Saw a new addition to the Anchor can shelf - the Crisp Pilsner. Since it was gonna be over 90°, I grabbed a six - no date code on the box but, what the hell, how old can it be?

Then I did the math, basing it on the start of this thread (January '21) "... could be pretty old..." so I torn open the box to check the can. 031921 - good enough. I figured if it wasn't within 3 months, I'd put it back in the cooler with the open end up, flaps out - so there'd be no accidents. (No employees in the beer room). I figured I'd say it opened when I pulled the sixpack out by the end...

After I paid the cashier asked, "Do you want a bag?"
"Nah..."
"Well, do you want me to tape that up?" Pointing to the open end.
I laughed and confessed. "Nah, I did that, checking the date code. I guess the cardboard box is "greener" than those plastic rings but they gotta buy themselves a code stamper for the boxes if they don't want to get on the wrong side of you retail guys..."

Coulda been, sounds familiar. It was definitely between 1 and 31!

From another thread:

Yeah, I agree with that. Sad that Anchor couldn't do better...

Well, are experiences weren't exactly the same. I was in the shade, set up the rope hammock under a few pines up behind the garden. (I don't do "sun", and it's not only because I don't like lightstruck beer - but it's a factor!).

 

I've seen sets of smaller bottles of 3 different Caskmate "flavors," plus a couple glasses. I *think* they were cheaper than a single bottle.

Too bad to hear all the negative reviews on the Anchor Pils.

 

Getting me started on beer nostalgia is an easy thing to do. My first Anchor Steam came from James Taylor's family's refrigerator. One of my college buddies lived next door to the Taylors. And Anchor draft at the Argonaut Hotel bar across from Alcatraz. Someone should start a beer nostalgia thread.......

 

Oh, I think there have been more than a few.
@jesskidden

 

True enough. But digging through a thicket of many older ruminations by this crowd oughta be fun and interesting.

 

FWIW -- yesterday, in a private conversation, I mentioned drinking an Anchor Porter and its tasty freshness really taking me back to when I first discovered better-brewed beer. Coincidence?

 

Not at all. Coincidence is at least two things happening at once. Recognizing these concurrent events is great and instructive. But sometimes they can be eerily prescient. I think I'll go get some Anchor Steam today!

 

After reading this thread I decided to seek out some Anchor, was excited to find a sampler (Steam, Liberty, Fog Breaker, Lager) at my local Ralph’s and Smart Final. Both had brewed in dates of 12/2020. Always been the problem with Anchor to me in SoCal…never fresh.

 

I used an opaque ceramic mug and slathered on the SPF 45.

 

Yeah, those old label, mixed-packs are still lingering on shelves. Blame your distro.

 

So, regarding the dating on the can boxes, I found date stamps on the hazy IPA. See above bottom right. Nice of them to use white numerals partially over a white field. The date was in the same spot on every box. I still could not find a date on any of their other can boxes. I don't know if they are being inconsistent (by choice or not) or working the kinks out.

 

It's on the Steam Beer in the same location. Does that look like 04082L to other people? Perhaps just an unfortunate font choice?