For generations of beer drinkers, spotting an Anchor Steam Beer on the shelf meant seeing one of the most recognizable labels in American brewing. Soon, that familiar artwork will be back.

Anchor Brewing has received federal approval to once again use the iconic hand-illustrated labels that long defined its flagship beers, including Anchor Steam Beer and Old Foghorn Ale. It is another encouraging sign that the legendary San Francisco brewery’s comeback is getting real.

The approval restores artwork created by longtime designer Jim Stitt, whose hand-drawn illustrations became inseparable from the Anchor brand over a remarkable 45-year partnership. Just as importantly, it closes the book on the brewery’s widely criticized 2021 rebranding, when a minimalist redesign replaced the classic look that many fans felt captured Anchor’s character and history.

The reaction at the time was swift and brutal. Beer lovers argued the new packaging looked more like a generic consumer brand than one of America’s most historic breweries. For many longtime fans, the labels were never just packaging. They were intrinsic to Anchor’s identity.

Bringing them back sends a clear message that the brewery’s new owners understand what made Anchor special in the first place.

That effort began in May 2024 when billionaire Chobani founder and CEO Hamdi Ulukaya purchased the brewery’s assets through his family office, Shepherd Futures. The acquisition included Anchor’s brands, trademarks, recipes, and the brewery’s historic 2.17-acre Potrero Hill campus, preserving one of the most important sites in American brewing.

Since then, signs of life have steadily returned.

(Courtesy Anchor Brewing)

Observers have spotted employees working around the long-quiet brewery, suggesting preparations are underway. Ulukaya has also shared photos from inside Anchor’s landmark taproom, giving fans hope that the beloved gathering place may not stay dark much longer.

The new ownership team has also made it clear they want to reconnect with former Anchor employees. Bringing back brewers and staff who helped build the brewery’s reputation would not only restore valuable institutional knowledge, but also reinforce the sense of continuity that many fans have been hoping for.

Anchor’s influence on American craft beer is difficult to overstate.

Founded in 1896, the brewery survived the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Prohibition, world wars, recessions, and shifting consumer tastes. Its modern legacy truly took shape after Fritz Maytag rescued the struggling brewery in 1965, helping inspire what would eventually become the American craft beer movement. Anchor Steam Beer became a symbol of independent brewing long before “craft beer” became part of the everyday vocabulary.

That remarkable run came to an abrupt halt in 2023 when financial pressures forced the brewery to shut its doors, leaving many to wonder whether one of America’s brewing icons had poured its last pint.

Now, the story appears to be entering a new chapter.

The return of the original labels may seem like a small detail, but for a brewery built on tradition and authenticity, it represents something much larger. It signals a commitment to honoring Anchor’s heritage while preparing for its future.

Unfortunately, the beer is not back on store shelves just yet. But when it does return, it will wear the same timeless look that generations of drinkers came to recognize as a symbol of one of America’s most influential craft breweries.