Anchor Brewing Company

The role in San Francisco's history is significant. More than more than two dozen breweries had been established by the time Ernst Baruth and Otto Schinkel, Jr. named theirs "Anchor" in 1896, but it is the only one that still exists today, a testament to its products and its management.

Today, Anchor Brewing produces eight different beers, including the renowned Anchor Steam, which is handmade using traditional methods. An all-malt mash is brewed in a handcrafted copper brew house, which is practically a museum of the art of classical brewing. No modern shortcuts are used. Every bottle and keg produced here is stored under refrigeration at the brewery until transferred to a warehouse and then on to local distributors.

Currently, two public tours are offered free of charge on weekdays, but by advance reservation only. A walking tour of the brewery takes about 40-45 minutes. It includes a brief history of the company and visits to three floors of Anchor Brewing Company's main building. Children are welcome, but the tastings that follow each tour and last about an hour are limited to those aged 21 years and over. Groups may contain no more than ten persons per party. The address is 1705 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, California 94107.