Beer Tours and Festival in San Francisco
Visit Anchor Brewing Co and International Beer Festival this Spring
Feb 16, 2009
Beer and breweries is sometimes forgotten when people visit California, because of the large number of wineries. Beer and brewing has been familiar to San Francisco since the late 1800’s and two must things to do is a free walking tour at Anchor Brewing Co (Anchor Steam Beer) and the San Francisco International Beer Festival on short, fun vacation trips this spring.
San Francisco is a favorite city which people savor their experiences. Rightfully so, first visits always include well known attractions like Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman’s Wharf, riding the cable cars and visiting the wine country. Perhaps this year the trend is to return to favorite regions and explore more favorite activities like beer tasting and brewing.
There is an art to tasting and brewing beer as described in the NPR show, All Things Considered, on May 13, 2005 by Rober Siegel and Michele Norris as they interviewed and tasted several beers around the world with beer expert Michael Jackson. Beer tasting and brewing is one the oldest and favorite recreation activities which people enjoy.
International Beer Festival in San Francisco
The San Francisco International Beer Festival on Saturday, April 25, 2009 from 7 – 9 p.m. is where people may taste over 300 different flavors of beer worldwide. Tickets will be available to purchase on St . Patrick’s Day (March 17) at 9 a.m. from their website. A souvenir glass is free with purchase of tickets and people must be 21 years of age to enter. Of course, Anchor Brewing Co. will be present at the Festival.
Anchor Brewing – Oldest Beer Company in San Francisco
Anchor Brewing has played a significant role in the history of San Francisco since the late 1800’s. The company may be traced back to 1854 with Gottlieb Brekle, a German brewer, although Anchor Steam labels display the date of 1896 when Ernst Baruth and Otto Schinkel, Jr. bought this brewery from Brekle.
Fritz Maytag, (yes, son of the famous Maytag family) a Stanford student, purchased this company in 1965 to save the company from bankruptcy. Today, Anchor Brewing, with Maytag as the Head Brewmaster, is located at 1705 Mariposa St and considered to brew one of the oldest, yet finest beers in the world. The name Anchor Steam is significant to the 1800’s because of a lack of ice available to these older brewing facilities in San Francisco.
Beer Walking Tours
Today visitors may go on a free in depth walking tour of the Anchor Brewing facility available each weekday and learn about their process and special secret ingredient of this unique beer. People should definitely call at least one month in advance for reservations as these are very popular tours and allow about 2 hours for tours and tasting. Children are welcome on the walking tours, although there is no tasting if under 21 years old. People must go on the tour to receive free tasting.
People will see the copper brew house and brew labs visible to everyone in the 3 story building along with a listening to a detailed description of how this unique beer is made, and fun stories such as the Earthquake beer with upside down labels on the bottles (bottles are collectors items). Today, there are six types of beer made of this limited handmade production in this facility.
Beer tasting and brewing is a tradition in San Francisco and a fun attraction is to go on a free walking tour at the Anchor Brewing facility located in the heart of downtown area. Make reservations in advance for walking tours and tasting at Anchor Brewing Co and include a visit to the San Francisco International Beer Festival on vacations this spring.
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