Biggest news of the week is that the Anchor Brewing site is having workers on site with repairs and renovations, hopefully to reopen soon. Since Sapporo announced the closure and Hamdi Ulukaya, the founder of Chobani, purchased the company there has been no news publicly. Bay area writers and brewers would post stories every few months asking if it was really going to happen. Just as when a new brewery announces they have a location determined but there is no timeline of opening, it takes patience. Especially given how regulatory heavy California is, I am certain there were a number of public officials who had to sign off on the project.

Getting confirmation of the news is hampered likely due to Non Disclosure Agreements (NDA). The last thing Ulukaya’s lawyers want is the wrong thing being said in the press. I’m still honoring the NDA on some projects. Don’t expect to see Anchor on shelves anytime soon in the Carolinas. When it does reopen, I would expect limited distribution sales largely in North California, then once they reestablished themselves expand to a comfortable size. In the current market conditions, it may well be that they never return to being a national brand. I wish them every success and California friends expect me to be reaching out to get that first Christmas beer release.

In regional news Stone Richmond has closed, now with the acquisition by Firestone Walker it was unexpected. Seems it was done in harsh fashion, but considering how they treated Anchor Brewing as a brand I am not surprised. The Richmond taproom was quite the space, I suspect a reduction in size and scope when the fizzy, yellow beer company reopens the space. 

South Carolina

In Myrtle Beach we Ole Smoky Distillery and Yee-Haw Brewing will be opening a joint taproom. Also in Myrtle we have more on the South Coast Beer Project.

North Carolina

Asheville

Highland Brewing celebrates Founder’s day to honor Oscar Wong.

Charlotte

Heist Brewing is set to fully reopen its NoDa taproom, Congratulations!

In Events we have Carolina Malt having a field day Wednesday but otherwise a quiet week.