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(Courtesy Mike Walsh/RaiseTheAnchor.com)
Anchor Brewing, which almost singlehandedly ushered in the craft beer revolution when Fritz Maytag purchased a controlling interest in a dilapidated San Francisco brewery back in 1965, has ceased operations.
But now the craft beer community and local San Francisco businesses are joining together to save Anchor Brewing,which is now owned by Japanese beer giant Saporro, from liquidation.
Mike Walsh, a serial financial investor in more than 200 companies, and who lives just around the corner from The brewery told the San Francisco Chronicle, that he has reached out to potential investors, and said that almost 30 would be interested in joining with him to present an offer.
“I definitely have enough interest and access to capital to put a competitive offer in so we could buy it. It’s been pretty exciting. Actually pretty emotional too. I wasn’t expecting to have this outpouring of interest and just of emotion from a variety of people.”
Courtesy Anchor Brewing)
According to the Drinks Business, Walsh has launched Raising the Anchor, a website where those who are passionate about the brewery’s demise can get involved.
“Living on Potrero Hill for 30 years, I’ve spent many days at Anchor Taps with friends and family watching the Warriors, Giants, and Niners and drinking steam. My disappointment was quickly replaced with enthusiasm as I would love to be involved with the brand as an owner. I was bummed to hear that Sapporo had purchased the company in 2017 because I would have loved to put an investor group together to buy the company.”
Narragansett Brewing President, Mark Hellendrung, has also launched a petition, to save Anchor and the breweries share similar histories
(Courtesy Narragansett Beer)
Narragansett was founded in 1890 and was once the #1 bestselling in New England. It went through years of decline several ownership changes before revitalized in 2005, Hellendrung as able to secure a buy-out from Pabst Brewery.
And Anchor Brewing basically launched the craft beer revolution when Fritz Maytag purchased a controlling interest in a dilapidated San Francisco brewery back in 1965 and returned it to glory.
This from that petition…
“18 years ago, our community rallied together and provided unwavering support to resurrect our beloved company. Today, we are calling upon all craft beer enthusiasts and supporters to do the same for a fellow pioneer in the industry, Anchor Brewing Company.”
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Want more on the Anchor saga?
ANCHORS AWAY: SAPPORO BEER SHUTS DOWN ANCHOR BREWING
