Is Anchor Falling Behind?

This is true. When Fritz Maytag was still the owner, he has said to the effect that they were not big on growing, as they would have to move to a new location. With the beers they have, they were at capacity.

 

Though I still consider them a craft brewer, they're substantially larger than most (if not all) American craft breweries. When you become less "craft" and more "business", streamlining your process, maximizing efficiency, economies of scale, etc., become essential to maintaining your financial stability. Anchor doesn't put out a ton of beer, but what they do is top notch quality at far lower prices than smaller breweries. It's the tradeoff of being a growing business.

I feel this way about Unibroue, too. They haven't put out many new products in the past 5 years. But the products that do hit shelves are top quality for $5.99/750ml.

 

Not every brewery has the same goals. It is nice to have someone making solid beers as well as having others making some more interesting stuff.

 

Anchor who? Is this a new nano?

I hardly see package product around ... on tap occasionally. Absolutely no noise coming from that brewery anymore, not that they made a lot of noise to begin with.

 

Really? Maybe an east coast thing, I see 'em all over the northern 'burbs of Chicago. Even Steam 12 packs.

 

Must be more a North East or a Boston thing. I've had no trouble finding Anchor beers in SEPA and my reguar beer stop typically has 2-3 styles of Anchor in stock at any given time and can get me a case of the other stuff if I want it.

 

"Most" yes, but not close to "all" - the Brewers Association had them at #23 for US craft breweries for 2010- probably hovering in the 100k bbl/yr range. They've been passed by a number of breweries that started well after Maytag bought and turned around the Anchor brewery.

 

Depends on what you're looking for. Nobody in this country comes close to their yeast signature, imo, and it's just perfect for that beer. Some may be bigger, or roastier, or hoppier, etc., but that is one well-crafted beer to begin with, and add that underlying fruity complexity and you got something pretty special, imo.

 

I am in Boston and see them around at most places, they just don't get the prime spots in stores.

 

I would just like to see them sell a few more of their experiments. There isn't a beer that they produce at volume that isn't good, but I'm sure there are some fun happy accidents they just never release...

 

I see Anchor EVERYWHERE around the DC area, it's pretty ubiquitous around here.

 

Steam is an absolute mainstay in my beer fridge, it's the perfect "I just got off work and want a beer" beer, no frills, good every time, it's a classic.

 

I haven't had any anchor in a while and this is really making me jones for some, I want some steam and old foghorn pretty bad...stupid beer budget, next week for sure! Anchor is one of those breweries that I sometimes forget about just because I occasionally get so caught up in trying new things, not necessarily the hype brigade of beers, that I over look some solid mainstays, but everything I've had from them is solid for sure.

 

brekle's and humming (particularly humming; amazing fresh) are some of the better new beers i've tried in the past couple years.

 

There are over 2,000 breweries in the US. Being #23 puts them in the top 1%. I'd say that's pretty damn close to "all", particularly if you don't count BMC-owned establishments like Goose Island or multi-brewery conglomerates like the Craft Brew Alliance and North American Breweries.

 

i must say that i admire their uniqueness and "daring" to stick with their lineup. i believe they understand that they have a phenomenal lineup of brews, i mean honestly think about it, there isnt a beer they make that i wouldnt drink regularly. they do a wonderful job of making beers and i think they would be doing an injustice to their lineup to take time, funds, space (both in the brewery and on the shelf at the store), and passion away from their already stellar lineup to try to make something new. lets face it, everyone is doing "new and exciting" these days, stick to the classics and the business will always be there

*disclaimer: i fully support, hunt for, and desire new beers from innovative breweries

 

Is the bicycle falling behind?

 

Barrel-aged fixies, man. Barrel-aged fixies.

 

They have been doing a lot lately (for them, at least). They had a big party for the Breckles Brown release last year, and another for the California Lager they did earlier this year. Maybe they are consolidating in local markets more, but they are still absolutely everywhere in California, which could easily support the vast majority of their roughly 100K BBl output. They also did some contracting for Lagunitas recently, to help them out during the big expansion.

 

A better question is why Anchor should come out with anything new. Their regular lineup is already more than acceptable and is one of the better selling craft brands in the country.