Who would have known when Fritz Maytag purchased the nearly defunct Anchor Steam Beer Brewery on San Francisco’s Potrero Hill in 1965 that it would become a leader in the craft beer industry? Maytag has a degree in engineering from Stanford University, and started off his business career in the appliance industry. After stumbling upon the brewery and learning it was on the brink of closure, he decided to save it from extinction and soon introduced the world to what would become the “original craft beer.” His legacy lives on in the many craft brewers around the world that were inspired by his story to follow in his footsteps and create their own unique beers. Maytag and Anchor Steam Beer have become household names, and Maytag himself is seen as a pioneer in the craft beer revolution.

This March 28th, 1978 photo captures a young Maytag, standing in front of a newly painted Anchor Steam Beer sign, with a clear look of determination in his eyes. It was taken by San Francisco Chronicle photographer, Gary Fong, and serves as a reminder of the dedication and passion that Maytag had for creating something new and special in a market that was dominated by the mass-produced beers of American brewers. Today, Anchor Steam Beer is a leader in the craft beer industry, having won numerous awards over the years, and Maytag’s story is the stuff of legend. Headline: Rhode Island Brewery Aims to Rescue Famed Anchor Brewing

When San Francisco’s iconic Anchor Brewing announced it would cease operations, the news caused an uproar in the beer community. Fans of the brewery’s beers were in shock, wondering what had happened to the beloved brewery. But it looks like the beloved beers from Anchor Brewing won’t be disappearing after all. A Rhode Island brewery named Grey Sail Brewing Company has announced its plans to acquire Anchor Brewing’s assets and continue to produce the beers.

Grey Sail Brewing, an award winning, family owned brewery, understands the importance of preserving iconic beer brands and the traditions that come with them. The company has stated its goal is to keep the original beer recipes with the same methods and traditional techniques that have been used since Anchor Brewing first started producing beer in 1896. Fans of Anchor Brewing can look forward to the same flavors and experience that they’ve grown accustomed to over the past 120 years.

The sale of Anchor Brewing’s assets is still pending and must pass certain legal requirements, however Grey Sail Brewing is confident they will be successful in the acquisition. The commitment by Grey Sail Brewing will ensure that America’s first craft brewery won’t be forgotten and craft beer lovers everywhere will still be able to enjoy the unique flavors of the Anchor Brewing lineup.

Grey Sail Brewing’s president, Jenni Hamilton, shared her enthusiasm for the project saying, “We understand that beer is more than just a beverage – it’s a vehicle for sharing experiences and making memories. We look forward to continuing this tradition by preserving the creative and innovative spirit of Anchor Brewing’s legacy and sharing delicious beer with craft beer fans everywhere.” VIDEO: Top 5 Anchor Craft Beers of All Time

As Anchor Stout, Porter, Steam, Liberty, and Christmas Ale are discontinued, let’s take a look at 5 of the greatest Anchor brews ever created. Learn why Anchor craft beers have a devoted following, from the notes that are distinctive in each flavor to the rich history of the brewery.

Enjoy this trip down memory lane to celebrate the craft beers that started the American craft beer movement almost 60 years ago.

Cheers, Anchor! Maytag’s Anchor Brewing was sold in 2010 to an experienced group of drinks industry veterans. Just a few years later, Sapporo purchased Anchor Brewing from these entrepreneurs, in 2017. Over the past decade, the former Maytag subsidiary – established in California during the early days of the industry – has undergone tremendous transformation and expansion, becoming one of the world’s most recognized and respected craft brewers. Mark Hellendrung, President of Narragansett Beer, spoke highly of Anchor Brewing. “When it comes to the craft beer scene, Anchor Brewing is a leader and innovator. Craft beer drinkers around the world recognize this illustrious brewery as the originator and founder of craft beer. This brewery has a monolithic presence in the craft beer community, and for good reason.” Mark Hellendrung, CEO of the Narragansett Brewing Company, purchased the Anchor Brewing Company from the Griffin family in 2010. His intention was to revitalize Anchor’s classic craft beer and make it a disruptive force in the craft beer industry.

Hellendrung’s journey in craft beer began with Narragansett Brewing, which he purchased with a group of investors in 2005. With the purchase of Narragansett, Hellendrung had begun to create a legacy in bringing back classic beer brands to the craft beer community. It was this experience with Narragansett that prompted Hellendrung to make the purchase of Anchor Brewing.

At the time of purchase, Anchor had been brewing only one beer, Anchor Steam; a classic San Francisco-style steam beer. After buying Anchor, Hellendrung and his team worked to create a variety of new beers, such as Liberty Ale, Old Foghorn, porters, and a variety of seasonal brews.

Since Hellendrung’s purchase of Anchor, the brewery has seen a rise in popularity and recognition. The brewery is now the 26th largest craft brewer in America, according to the Brewers Association.

Hellendrung’s purchase of Anchor was a fateful one. With Hellendrung’s prior success at Narragansett Brewing, he had the faith and ambition to rescue this historic brand and propel it ahead of the rest. He succeeded in making Anchor a competitive craft brewing brand and true American craft beer leader. Mark Hellendrung and Lee Lord of Narragansett Beer have been bringing delicious craft beer to the city of Providence, Rhode Island for many years. Together, they have used their knowledge and experience in the brewing industry to create some of the most popular beers available in the area.

Mark is the president of Narragansett Beer and has been in charge of operations since the company’s establishment in 1980. He has a passion for craft beer and has been a big advocate for the local beer scene ever since his tenure.

Lee is Narragansett Beer’s brewmaster and has been the head brewer since 2007. He has crafted a wide range of delicious beers, from lagers to ales, which have become Rhode Island staples and go-to beers for local craft beer drinkers.

Together, Mark and Lee have been the driving forces behind Narragansett Beer’s success. From their hard work and dedication, Narragansett Beer has become one of the most recognizable beer brands in the state. With the addition of their new year-round offerings, Narragansett Beer is continuing to make waves in the craft beer world.

Mark and Lee are true beer aficionados and their commitment to making great beer is evident in every sip. So the next time you find yourself sipping a pint of Narragansett’s finest, be sure to thank Mark and Lee for all of their hard work! The Narragansett community is calling for action to preserve Anchor Brewing Company, a historic craft brewery that has been in business since 1896. Their iconic beers are a part of our region’s legacy and we must stand together to save them.

For over 123 years, Anchor has been a part of the fabric of our community. It has been a place for locals and tourists alike to enjoy its unforgettable tastes and hospitality. Our founders, along with many of our neighbors, have been drinking and working with Anchor for years — it’s part of our identity and heritage.

That’s why we’re asking everyone to join us in our campaign to protect Anchor. We’ve started a petition on Change.org demanding that the owners, employees, and business partners of Anchor Brewing Company continue to operate and remain in business.

Sign the petition, and share it with your friends, family, and colleagues. Show your support for Anchor Brewing Company and let’s all stand together to save it.

#SaveAnchorBrewingCompany #StandForAnchorBrewingCompany #ShowYourLoveForAnchorBrewingCompany Steven Hellendrung knows that a petition’s potential might not be enough to keep Anchor open–but he still has some ideas up his sleeve. “I’m full of wild plans,” he says. “If we can find a way to acquire Anchor using a team of people who share my enthusiasm for it, I would consider that an absolute win.” The potential for craft beer to reach across the Country just took a major step forward. Craig Hellendrung has submitted a petition to Sapporo, which owns Anchor Brewing, to use its collective influence to try and keep Anchor’s historic San Francisco location open for breweries to use.

This mission stands out for Hellendrung, who is already a successful entrepreneur and founder of two large brewing companies on the East coast, Narragansett Brewing and The Shed Brewery. His venture to bring craft beer to the West coast would be made complete with the success of his petition.

Hellendrung, realistically recognizing the potential of his petition to either fail or succeed, fully acknowledges the need to have a discussion with Sapporo regarding their responsibility for Anchor’s brewing future. Being a part of the conversation is the number one objective for Hellendrung, as he sees the potential of craft beer into either remain a vision or being an entirely different conversation.

Time and outcome will ultimately tell if his appeal for Anchor’s San Francisco brewery will be granted, but Hellendrung looks to leave a lasting mark on the brewing community with his attempt to preserve the potential of craft beer across the Country.