There’s big beer news, as Anchor Brewing gets recognition from the Smithsonian.
It’s been an eventful last few weeks in Northern California’s beer world, from the announcement of Bear Republic closing the doors of its original Healdsburg brewpub to Anchor Brewing’s new status in Washington, D.C. Here’s what’s happening.
SMITHSONIAN HONORS >> The Smithsonian National Museum of American History unveiled an exhibit last month that showcases a local treasure, San Francisco’s 123-yearold Anchor Brewing Company. The new “Brewing a Revolution” gallery looks at how American brewing has changed due to numerous factors, from immigration to technological innovations and, of course, Americans’ obsession with hoppy beers, boisterous stouts and puckery sours. If you’re headed to Washington, D.C., you’ll see former owner Fritz Maytag’s childhood microscope — which he used when he first bought Anchor in 1965 — and beer-splashed brewing textbook, as well as other Anchor memorabilia. Meanwhile, you can take a peek at the exhibit and the museum’s beer history at s.si.edu/brewhistory
END OF AN ERA >> Healdsburg’s Bear Republic Brewing Company will close its doors on Nov. 22. The brewery, which opened in 1996 and quickly sprang to fame with beers like its flagship Racer 5, also has production brewery in Cloverdale and recently opened a second brewpub in Rohnert Park. Co-founder Ricardo Norgrove told me negotiations had broken down with the landlord, who was unwilling to make upgrades to the Healdsburg building that had been the brewery’s home for nearly 25 years. That, coupled with changing demographics, led to the reluctant decision to close the original brewpub. The brewery’s headquarters are moving to Cloverdale and the Lakeside Brewpub in Rohnert Park will continue to give brewers a chance to test out recipes with exclusive small-batch beers brewed for that location.
“PAPER” BOTTLES >> It may be some time before we actually see this for sale in the U.S., but Denmark’s Carlsberg brewery recently unveiled two beer bottle prototypes made from what looks like paper. They’re actually made with sustainably sourced wood fiber. One is lined with a bio-based coating, the other with recycled PET plastic, in much the same way beer cans have a microthin organic polymer lining so that the beer never touches metal.
NEW SIPS >> Paso Robles’ Firestone Walker Brewing is releasing the latest — No. 14 — in its Luponic Distortion series. This one uses seven hops from four continents, and gives off intense aromas and flavors of sauvignon blanc grapes, mandarin orange and passion fruit.
San Diego’s Stone Brewing — which also has an outpost in Napa — has just released its Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager, a nod to its close-to-the-border location. It’s the brewery’s version of a Mexican lager, with salt and lime added. It’s available for a limited time in 22-ounce bottles and on draft, only in California. And Stone Ghost Hammer IPA has just been released in cans. The beer was inspired by the brewery’s night shift, who heard mysterious clanging hammers banging away in the middle of the night.
Lagunitas Brewing has two fall seasonals out right now — Litte Sumpin’ Hazy and A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale — and this year’s version of Born Yesterday Pale Ale, an unfiltered fresh hop beer brewed with wet, unkilned, whole cone Simcoe, Mosaic and Sabro hops. Like all fresh hop beers, it’s best when it’s fresh, so don’t wait to drink it.
HOLIDAY ALES >> The holiday season kicks off in November, and it seems to do so earlier every year. Anchor Brewing used to wait until the Monday before Thanksgiving to release its Christmas Ale — which is technically named Our Special Ale.
But the 45th anniversary release will be available in early November this year, with another new recipe and a new tree on the label: a Pacific red (or giant) cedar. The recipe for each year’s edition is a closely guarded secret, but this one shows off flavors of toffee, Mexican chocolate, herbal spicing and a hint of vanilla.