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Iconic Illustrated Anchor Steam Labels Appear Headed for Revival
KQED • • business
Key Points:
- Anchor Brewing, a San Francisco legacy brewery closed in 2023 after 127 years, is showing signs of revival under new ownership by Chobani CEO Hamdi Ulukaya, who acquired the company in 2024.
- Former Anchor employees, including Patrick Costello, formed the Anchor SF Cooperative in late 2023 and attempted to buy back the brewery from Japanese owner Sapporo, which had purchased Anchor in 2017.
- Recent filings with the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau reveal approval of two original beer labels—Anchor Steam Beer and Old Foghorn ale—featuring classic artwork by Jim Stitt, signaling a return to the brewery’s traditional branding.
- Rumors of activity inside the old Anchor brewery in Potrero Hill have been fueled by Ulukaya’s social media post showing him inside the taproom, suggesting preparations for reopening are underway.
- Former employees view the return to original labels as a positive move after a previous rebranding caused significant backlash, with fans eager to see the brewery fully operational again.
