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268 reviews for Anchor Brewing Company
Review Highlights
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"Our tour guide was enthusiastic and informational." In 49 reviews -
"LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of delicious FREE BEER." In 43 reviews -
"EXCELLENT Tour and I love the Liberty Ale." In 18 reviews
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267 reviews in English
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Review from N. M.
Morganville, NJ
5/15/2012
i was referred to the anchor brewery tour after i mentioned i was going on a trip to san francisco. i went to yelp to scope out the feel of what to expect and all the reviews are pretty consistently good. and after i took the tour, i found out why. (and also why they book very quick.)
the reservations were booked about a month and a half to two months in advance and they had a few tours left for the week i was visiting. so it is advised that as soon as you know you're going to san fran, try and book a reservation.
the tour was two hours and our guide had wonderful enthusiasm in giving a brief history of the brewery, the general brewing process and the impact anchor has made over the years. plus six 4oz samples of beer at the end does nicely complete the tour.
wonderful knowledge on a respected brewery and samples of its brews - entirely FREE.
(the only small thing to note is i found that there was not too much to do in the area around the brewery - not at all the fault of the brewery, but just a good note to keep in mind when planning your trip.) -
Review from Jennifer W.
Berkeley, CA
5/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
There is so much to be said about this fine local institution. 1896 was the magical year it all began and downhill it went. Despite the building burning down twice, despite prohibition, despite the competition, Anchor thrived. Baruth and Shinkel, Kraus and Meyer, even Tietjen and Allen plainly refused to give up. I have real respect for this establishment. And although Fritz Maytag revived them with investments in modern equipment, they still stick to traditional brewing tricks like dry hopping and open fermentation. The things they do here are so straightforward, I shouldn't even call them tricks.
I had the fortune of attending as part of a special event, but a regular tour requires booking much in advance. It is so worth it though. I'm not talking about the generous samples, but an educational history lesson from a well-spoken tour guide. Our tour guide named Daniel really knew this stuff and was a top notch beer lover. He was knowledgable, friendly, and funny. There were some corny jokes I'm sure he has used before, but he told them as if it was the first time. He was so enthusiastic in his speech, you can hear his passion for what he does. And even if you don't like beer, you'll learn some San Francisco history.
The tour and tasting was an hour in total, equal parts of time in both activities. Photos allowed. The facility is quite large because they have a large production. I was a little sad we didn't get to go into the open fermentation room. The tasting consisted of seven 4 oz. pours, which is about 2.5 pints. This is pretty sizable considering you only have half an hour to get through them. While Anchor brews can be found all, nothing beats having it at the place it came from. To date, my favorite is the summer beer, a filtered wheatbeer. The barlywine and christmas ale comes close. I'll even forgive Fritz for the tree, a tribute to his alma mater, if he forgives me for not being partial to the liberty ale. -
Review from Anthony R.
Las Vegas, NV
3/23/2012
Anchor brewing company offered a pretty in depth tour starting with their history as well as some brief lessons on actual brewing.
Daniel was our guide for this tour and he was very knowledgable about the company he works for as well as just beer in general. He was very personable and cordial. We talked about his favorite beers, favorite football teams, brewing, and numerous other things that you would talk with someone about while drinking.
The tour covers the vats where they brew, fermentation, hops, and bottling. It's about 45 minutes through the whole thing and in the middle you can stick your head into the room where they store their hops and just get a big whiff of amazing! Once done with the tour you are able to go back to the tap room where you sample brews.
While I was there I was able to sample 8 of their brews. Each one was about 4oz and I went back for 2nd's on a couple. I ended up drinking about 3 pints in a 30 - 45 minutes period. I was feeling pretty good. All in all their beers are pretty good. The new California lager was great, but they don't have any intention of bottling it.
After everything was said and done I was able to buy some stuff they had for sale. Ended up with a t shirt, 4 pint glasses, a metal sign, and some coasters for 32 bucks. Really not bad prices at all, considering 3 pint of free beer. This tour doesn't disappoint, and if you are a fan of beer at all you should check this tour out -
Review from Susan F.
3/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
Loved the brewery tour and the 7 beers we got to try.
Our guide, Tiegan was so knowledgeable and had a great disposition about her. It was awesome to hear that Anchor Steam was the first among many in brewing in the US.
They are actually moving their distillery soon across the street so that tour will be held in a different area.
Our tour of the whole brewery took about 40 minutes and the rest of the time we drank beer! Their beer memorabilia is very cheap, too!
**Book ahead, WAY ahead. This tour fills fast and we did ours on a Friday morning at 10am!
**Also, cabs are NOT plentiful in the area, so have a DD or call a cab company prior to the end of the tour.Listed in: San Francisco
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Review from Abby S.
1/31/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Growing up in middle America, it's no surprise that I'm a beer lover. Although I'll always be loyal to Anheuser-Busch (my first beer was a Bud heavy), Anchor Brewing Company is a very close second in my book.
Have visited the brewery/bottling facility twice now, with a tour/history lesson of the company. It's actually a very interesting story, so even if you're not a huge beer fan, you should come to learn something. If you do like beer, you learn all about mash, hops and the steam process. It's like a chemistry lesson, only way cooler.
The best part of the tour? Their amazing views of the city! Seriously, Anchor is lucky to be such a big, important part of SF, otherwise this building would have been taken over and turned into luxury condos. You also get to sample the brew, which isn't too bad, either.
Come here for a tour and get a taste of SF history. Something that's a "must" in the city.Listed in: Adventures in San Francisco,…, Beer thirty, Histor-E
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Review from Garry C.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2012
I had a great tour in Anchor Brewing Company. They have great beer. Their beers are PACKED with high quality ingredients. Their facilities were great. The tour guide was friendly and informative. Guide is also knowledgeable. They offer free posters, and Anchor Steam Collector coins.............
Really!! I am a big fan of the flagship brew "Anchor Steam."Would love to go back! -
Review from Priscilla S.
San Francisco, CA
2/20/2012
Love free BEER?
Take a tour at Anchor Steam Brewery! it's Free! Just really hard to get unless you make a reservation ahead of time. All you have to do is call :)
You meet in the Tap room which has all the Beer for tasting and Merchandise shop, were you can buy a original Anchor Steam Tap Handle for $12 bucks!
They offer free posters, and Anchor Steam Collector coins :)
...then after the tour of the tap room, the tour guide takes you in the brewery's get to see everything and even get information about Anchor Brewery Gin and Whiskey production! really hard to find and is top shelf quality.
After the tour is all done you get to try 5-6 Beer tasting and if you book in SF BEER WEEK, which I did...you get to try 8!
They are featuring Zymaster which is my favorite and hope they keep it going.
Much recommended if your coming to San Francisco! Must Book in advance!!! (months) -
Review from Gary R.
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
The crème de la crème of microbrew makers in my humble opinion. Their beers are PACKED with high quality ingredients. The brewery is phenomenal, a national landmark of all things American and micro. They have never sold out in any respect, and that is why they continue to quietly dominate their niche market.
I am a big fan of the flagship brew "Anchor Steam." It is such a fitting beer for San Francisco's cool climate, great chowders, sourdoughs and maritime history. The Liberty Ale is also quite good. -
Review from Zack P.
Gardiner, MT
4/17/2012
I think Anchor is my favorite brewery after this tour. I'm not very knowledgeable of the brewing process and this tour was aimed more at the beer snob. I love the pride they take in their work and in the history of the company and how that history fits into the history of San Francisco. Breckel's Brown.
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Review from monica c.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Drinking in the afternoon...What's not to love?
Cheery and Informative tour guides.
A massive room filled with hops.
Seeing the entire process close-up. I mean really, I could have reached out and grabbed a beer off the assembly line if I wanted to. But don't do that. That's poor form. And will probably get you kicked out before the best part of the tour...
Six or ahem eight tastings including old foghorn.
Awesome antique posters and signage to peruse while you taste.
Oh, and did I mention...old foghorn.
I'm in love :)Listed in: beer me - sf/oakland
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Review from Jenna R.
Daly City, CA
4/14/2012 2 photos
Came here for my brother's birthday a few weeks ago....Really a cool tour!! It was really interesting and our guide was very informative and answered all the crazy people's 500 million questions about beer! lol...At the end of the tour you get to try out a bunch of different beers and they have some cool stuff to buy...I would definitely go again...You just have to make the reservation months in advance, but it's free!
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Review from Tom P.
San Francisco, CA
2/27/2012
I've toured a lot of breweries/wineries over the years. This one is great!
I toured as a part of a work event, so I can't discuss difficulty of scheduling.
But the tour is good. You see all parts of the brewing process, hear why it's "steam" beer, and hear about the history of San Francisco brewing. The tour ends with a stop in the tasting room, where you can taste a large number (6-8?) of Anchor's beers for free! By the time I tasted them all, I had a definite buzz. The best way to go back to work.
They said they'd soon be offering tours of their distillery, and, more importantly, tastings of their SF-made hard liquors. -
Review from Alexis R.
The tour is a must! Our guide was friendly and informed and led us through the 45min. tour of the entire facility. I loved seeing the frothy wurt and smelling the variety of hops. The bottling process was informative, and the tasting at the end was great.
We were able to sample all the beers on tap - 8 in total. It became a bit much since many of their beer are dark and very heady, but I shared with my BF and loved having the variety. Since I'd from the Midwest, we encountered a number we hadn't tasted before and became fans of some of the more unique varieties.
Parking is a bit difficult though - but getting there early for our midday tour, we were able to find parking beside a gym just a few blocks away.
Overall, this tour is MUST if you can plan ahead and get your name in - it fills up quick! -
Review from Leslie G.
1/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great tour! Make sure you get a reservation far in advance.
A sample of every beer they have on tap (5) is included with the free tour. Lots of interesting information about Anchor and beer in general. Do it! -
Review from Anne N.
Menlo Park, CA
1/5/2012
Went on a tour of the brewery. Had to schedule 2 months in advance to get a time slot we wanted, but it was well worth the wait!
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We were shown around and got to see where the magic comes together, along with some historical facts about the brewery, very interesting.
The best part was of course the beer tasting in the end, we got to sample (or not just sample, the portions were pretty generous) 7 or 8 different beers in the Anchor Family - enough to make me feel a bit tipsy: and everything was free!
Would love to go back! -
Review from Dan L.
Garden Grove, CA
1/24/2012
If you're in the area I would highly recommend visiting the brewery, but call ahead to make reservations. You get to take a tour, learn about brewing, hear some SF history, try 5-6 different kinds of beers, and overall have a great time!
Also, Daniel, our tour guide/self declared "beer nerd" was funny and informative!
Oh, and all of this is FREE. -
Review from sara c.
1/1/2012
I don't drink beer, so my review is mostly for the tour and the boy's experience. We had wanted to go the previous year, but when I called in November they were all booked up. So this time around, I called some four months in advance in order to get a reservation for Christmas week, and snagged a spot for both of us.
The tour consisted of about forty people and a tour guide named Daniel who first talked us through the history of Anchor Steam, then walked us through the brewery itself. Afterwards, we returned to the taproom and everyone got four ounce samples of six types of Anchor Steam beers, which the boy thoroughly enjoyed. The tour guide did a great job of keeping the beer flowing and chatting up the guests. All together, it lasted about two hours. And it was completely, totally free!
Ironically, we were nearly crushed by a Miller Lite truck while parked outside on De Haro Street before the tour. So watch out for those guys. -
Review from Ali L.
San Francisco, CA
11/17/2011
We got the golden ticket....we got the golden ticket! The minute I walked through those doors and up those stairs I was expecting to see a little orange Oompaloompa walk past in an adorable white jumpsuit singing about beer. Instead I saw 2 grown men dressed in jumpsuits stirring a vat of FogHorn and I nearly peed myself. It was close enough. Not only had we scored the coveted golden ticket to a private Anchor Steam Brewery tour, but it was on a Friday night and we had the run of the place.
FogHorn and Liberty Ale and Porter oh my! If you had compared my reaction to my experience at the Anchor Steam Brewery to my first experience at DisneyWorld at the tender age of 6 you wouldn't be able to tell the difference (aside the fact that I'm now 5'11" and have all sorts of womanly curves, but whatevs). The whole time I kept ooohing and aaahing with the same enthusiasm a kid would have getting their picture taken with Mickey Mouse.
How I went from a Willy Wonka to a Disney reference in the same review speaks volumes at how amazing it is to get inside this brewery. Anchor Steam Brewing Company makes kids outta all of us, albeit a slightly tipsy, borderline alcoholic kid, but who's judging. -
Review from Jennifer E.
Tucson, AZ
12/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
Every time we've tried to book a tour they've been full! This time we scheduled 4 months in advance and got in!
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We got to see where the magic happens which is really cool. I loved walking around and seeing people hard at work making beer happen! The best part is the tasting afterward! You get to try many of their beers! I just love it!Listed in: 5 stars baby!, Beer!, I Left my Heart in San…
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Review from Steven R.
10/26/2011
A history lesson as taught through beer.
Sign me up.
Anchor is an awesome way to learn how and why Anchor is the real San Francisco treat. Locally born and raised, you learn fun facts about the beer and the whole "steam" thing. A tour of the brewing facility makes you appreciate just how much these guys do given the size of breweries with seemingly equal branding. From the ingredients, to the fermenters to the bottling line, you get to check it all out.
The tour guides are usually pretty good and personable. Apparently they used to hire someone just to do the tours but they've shifted to having actual brewery employees give the tours.
Another somewhat unfortunate change is that you could get tanked here essentially for free. The first time, the tour guide filled some pitchers, left them on the counter and stood by for questions noting that we could go until the next tour started. This time they issue a taste or two with a potential refill if you play your cards right. As with most breweries you can get your fill of schwag (sweatshirts, hats, etc) if so desired.
A great event for a birthday, special occasion or even if you're bored and want to know more about beer. -
Review from Catriona C.
11/10/2011
5 stars for free tours.
5 stars for 75% of the tour. 25% gets a 2 star as the tour group was too large and at one section of the tour we had no idea what the guide was saying.
5 stars for getting to walk around a rather lovely brewery.
5 stars for the 6 beer tastings at the end - having had the steam beer and the summer ale, it was great to try out the other beers Anchor Steam have in their portfolio. Delicious! Definitely a gem that isn't known enough around town. -
Review from Eric L.
Los Angeles, CA
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was a tough review for me. I'm not a big fan of...
1. The beer itself. Anchor Steam Beer "gained a deserved reputation for producing sour, bad beer," says Wikipedia, citing an actual book on American brew history. That hasn't changed much, save for the porter.
2. The fact that it takes 2-3 months to get on a tour. They had no interest in accomodating me coming in from out-of-town, but they'll whore themselves out to bar industry folks who would rather offer better-tasting local beer that actually sells.
3. The size of the groups and kids on the tours. People were letting their snotty children run around the tasting room. And there were at least 25 adults on the tour, which they say is supposed to be limited to groups of 10. Hence, the wait time.
All that aside, I'd still recommend the tour. This brewery has more history than most others, and it was fun to learn about and see the more traditional brewing methods being used. The bottling line was especially neat. I almost expected to see Laverne and Shirley and a glove floating on by. And really, there are worse ways to spend a Monday afternoon. Skip out of work, go at 1:00 and you'll be primed for happy hour. -
Review from Courtney M.
Santa Clara, CA
9/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
First of all...its a brewery...which automatically earns at least 3 stars..
Secondly, I was here for a cocktail week event, so my experience here might be much different than the others that you might be reading. But anywho, I will get right to it.
Great beer. I am not hard to please with beer, but I can definitely appreciate the really great ones. Don't ever give me a coors light to sip on... that should be used strictly for beer drinking games. I have always like anchor steam beer, and so I went straight for my free taste of that. And although this has nothing to do with the brewery itself, the food was amazing! Lots of different little tastes... and they were all SO satisfying. Whoever thought to make little fried balls of risotto was thinking on their feet. They were little drops of heaven!
The only complaint I had was the temperature... it was a hot night in SF so I understand that it was harder than usual to get cool air inside, but holy cow..it was probably 10-15 degrees warmer in that room! But being amongst all the equipment and seeing the brew masters attending to the machines was fantabulous.
Lastly... THE VIEW!!! Holy canoli, that view was stunning at night time. Gorgeous lights from the city and the bay bridge were just a look away. Thank you anchor brewing company for a pleasant visit!! -
Review from Karen K.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011
Free tour, free beer, what's there not to love?
Probably not the best idea to go with an empty stomach as you do get 6 full tastes of beer. I was definitely buzzed toward the end and I was only doing half the tastings. (Cue the lightweight jokes!)
My favorite part of the tour (Besides the whole tasting part) is the hops room. You go in there and you're hit by the complex smells of the hops they put in their beers. I swear my nose and my tastebuds latched onto the citrusy notes of the hops of the first beer I tried (yes, I was so buzzed I forgot the names of what we'd tried). It was sensory delight! -
Review from Dani Z.
Studio City, CA
2011 Homebrew Club of the Year was honored to Pacific Gravity Homebrew Club, and Anchor welcomed us with free beer and an amazing BBQ spread. This company really values it's patrons and it shows. Free posters, pins, food, and beer....SWEET!
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Review from Christine S.
Fremont, CA
7/14/2011
I called on a Monday, asking if they happen to have openings the next day, and the guy said at 10am. 10am seems a tad early for a brewery tour, but when you try to plan of hooky, you take what you can get.
And take is what I/we did.
In our two hours at Anchor Steam, we got:
- An amazing tour from their amazing guide, Joe (and cute too!).
- Samples of six different beers, enough to get buzzed at that time if you haven't eaten breakfast yet, ie: me.
- Poster and postcard for tourists to send to their friends back home to show off a cool thing they did while they visited the Bay Area
- Roommate advice from Joe. How come no one has mentioned his good looks?!
Guess I developed a crush while I was there too. Holler at me, Joe. -
Review from raquel t.
11/30/2011
i didn't really have high expectations for this tour bc i've been to the guinness and heinekin tours.. but at the end of this tour i have to say that this anchor tour was the best..
i wanted to do something for my friend's bday and thought of a 3 part surprise fest.. this was pt 1.
i booked a mid-week morning tour, a couple weeks in advance, for a group of 6. we grabbed a quick bite at a hot dog cart nearby before heading in for our tour. once we got there, i was surprised at how many people were allowed on a tour..it was very intimate, less than 40 i think, which i liked.. so our guided tour begins and we walk through each stage of the process..after about an hour of the tour, our tasting begins! we had six 8oz tastings and were able to get refills.. however, i hear they limit the tasting amounts now..
anchor brewing co is a great thing to experience in the city.. and very informative..i would take friends here if they wanted to..
tidbits:
reservations are free.
friday tours book fast so plan yours way in advance.
they offer two time slots: 11am and 1pm. -
Review from Jennifer A.
San Diego, CA
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
There is a reason Anchor Brewing Company has an average five star yelp rating from hundreds of reviews...their tour and beer are great!
I was lucky to join a group of friends on a tour (which I hear took months to book). Found it very informative and the best thing - beer tastings after. And very generous ones at that. I was very happy.
I love their bottles, their long local history, and their refreshing, yet flavorful beers!Listed in: Beer Time!
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Review from Ken L.
6/28/2011
Great tour, tour guide is knowledgeable, interesting history and fun watching the whole process, complete with functioning conveyor belt.
You get 6 4 oz. tastings at the end of their current tasting menu. All beers are good.
Plenty of parking too!
It's a shame the tours are only on weekdays. -
Review from Nate M.
2/15/2011
For the cost of a couple cab rides, I got drunk on great beer, in San Francisco, before noon.
You've got to make a reservation for the tour as soon as possible, months away if you can. Most people visiting SF stay on the Wharf side of the city cause there's a lot to do and you can walk everywhere. The brewery is on the other side, near the baseball stadium.
The tour is informative and quick, a great way to learn how beer is made, from the hops to the bottle. Once the tour is over, you head back upstairs to the main lobby/bar. Everyone gets 8-oz glasses and the fun begins. Your tour guide is now your bartender. You don't run through all of the beers they brew, you walk. Your guide talks a little about each beer and then you get to have as much of it as you want until everyone is ready to move on the the next one. As far as I could tell, you can drink as much as you want.
Back to the point I first made, pay for the cab rides, you'll need to. -
Review from Brooke T.
3/13/2011
I was so happy when I was here. I had to make reservations months in advance in order to get a Friday at 1pm spot. (That's right, you can only schedule tours M-F, either 10am or 1pm). The tour takes about two hours. You spend about 20-30 minutes talking with one of the brewers and go over the history of the brewery. Then you walk around the brewery and see all their unit operations (nod to the engineers). You don't get to see any of their distillery, but they do talk about it. After that, you spend about an hour tasting the beers. You end up drinking a few beers by the way, so don't plan on going back to work if you don't have to.
I can't wait to go back! Also, don't forget to try the Breckle's Brown, their newest beer. It's sooo freaking good. Now I'm off to my nearest Whole Foods to buy some Anchor Liberty and Breckle's Brown :D -
Review from Lily K.
Sausalito, CA
5/28/2011
I got ridiculously lucky to get a tour of this place.
If you are at all interested in brewery tours and plan on visiting SF, get on a list to take this one asap.
The local history and story is great, seeing the various stages of brewing is cool, and sampling the beer is the best part. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and our guide knew her stuff and was a bit of a bonus because she worked in the distillery so we got to learn about that aspect too.
Also, the beer is really good! I suggest trying the full line up from pale to stout. Also wins points for having so many wheat free varieties. -
Review from moae i.
San Diego, CA
6/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
AMAAAZING!
we walked in randomly on a tuesday, and though the guy at the front desk said they were fully booked for the next three months, he said he could squeeze the two of us in the next day at 1pm (so make reservations in advance!!)
when we arrived we were ushered into the waiting room/bar area. there was a bunch of cool beer memorabilia and lots of fun things to look at while we waited.
when the actual tour began, our tour guide was funny and very knowledgeable and gave an extensive history of the company and brewery.
at the end we got to sample 6 different beers, and pavel ended up walking out kind of tipsy (i drank half of each of mine, and he finished them)
our guide also mentioned that they bought the building next door and are going to expand their distillery. we will definitely come back for that! (we really like their junipero gin)
also, they don't sell any of their products there....hopefully they will soon! -
Review from Xavior G.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2011
Its amazing in here !! 6 stars !! You got to take a tour of the brewery cause its cheap and its a good time.. Took a bud from out of town here last month cause its not far from work and close to freeways and they got good beers. Its a long tour but you get to drink alot after and you could just show up drunk to cause its more enjoyable like that. Didn't know how beer got made before but now I do so thanks Anchor !!
Could be a good place to bring a date or break the ice cause there will be drinks but make sure to ask if she drinks first cause I didn't and got smashed and she didn't like my jokes.. No 2nd date but I don't blame Anchor for that. -
Review from Lucia C.
3/17/2011
Fantastic brewery tour. The whole factory also smells like hops- it's a heavenly aroma..
The tour guide took us through every major step of the brewing process- from extraction to fermentation to bottling& packaging. And they ended it with a free beer tasting- they let us try about 6-7 of their beers. MmMMmm beer.
They only have tours during the week, so make a reservation and try to a day off work (maybe a sick day- because you're sick for some good beer). My tour went from about 1-3:30 pm on a Friday.
Thanks Anchor Steam :)Listed in: Norcal Fun List
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Review from Julie C.
Mountain View, CA
7/19/2011
Awesome brewery tour!
Favorite things about it:
-We got to sample 6 different types of their beer
-Our tour guide was really funny, but still kept the tour short and sweet
-It was totally free!
-Bonus: it was in walking distance to the Mission, so we took the 1:00 p.m. tour and walked over just in time for happy hour : )
Be sure to book early, the tours fill up months in advance! -
Review from Brian A.
San Bruno, CA
5/26/2011
Been on the tour twice.. going a third time next month... yea... it's that good of a tour.
What's not to like about free beer? Free Anchor Steam beer at that, one of my all time favorite beers.
The beer tour is also fun and you learn a lot of info. -
Review from Saunders C.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2011
It's possible that I like Anchor Steam beer just because I live here and I have a soft spot for it. I was fortunate to visit the brewery for a tour that was set up through a friend. Otherwise, you'll have to have major foresight because you usually have to book these tours months in advance. The brewery tour is ok. We're not talking about Disneyland, here. Actually, the whole operation is much smaller than you'd expect. The building is smack dab in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
When you go on the tour, they show you how the beer is made, and the origin of why it's called anchor steam is actually pretty fascinating. If I revealed that fact here, I'd probably ruin the tour for you, so I'll let you find out for yourself. The real highlight, as I'm sure you can guess, is the tasting at the end of the tour. You get to try 4-5 different beers that they brew, some seasonal. The stout was my favorite, but the Liberty Ale is also pretty good. It turns out there's also a distillery here that makes Old Potrero whiskey. It's hard to find in stores because most of the product is sold through bars and restaurants. It just happens that the bar around the corner from the brewery sells it, so I tried it. Nice and smooth.
There are usually two tours per day, but I don't think it's everyday, so make sure to check beforehand. -
Review from Dennis S.
Oakland, CA
Free 99? To experience a staple of San Francisco... The tour was quick and informative to get everybody to their favorite part of their visit, the tasting. After the tour, I have a renewed appreciation for Anchor Brewing. I'm looking forward to this years exclusive Christmas brew.
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Review from Ashley W.
San Diego, CA
5/15/2011
This is one of the better brewery tours I've been on and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in seeing a brewery. It is pretty centrally located in Potrero Hill. You need to make reservations for the brewery tour in advance and they are only given twice/day, Monday-Friday.
Our tour guide, Joe, was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information on both the history of Anchor Brewing and the brewing process. There was a lot of history, which was interesting, as Anchor Brewing has been around since 1896. After seeing much of the production facilities, we got to sample a variety of Anchor's beers. I really enjoyed this, as I had only tried Anchor Steam before the tour. I especially liked Brekle's Brown, a new brown ale, which is not yet available in bottles-- only draft in some bars around San Francisco.
If you're in the Bay Area and get a chance to visit Anchor Brewing, enjoy!
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