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Anchor Brewing Debuts Anchor Barrel Ale™, a Unique Barrel Aged Brew and Third Addition to the Argonaut Collection™

October 26, 2015

San Francisco, CA (October 26, 2015) – Today, Anchor Brewing Company announces the release of Anchor Barrel Ale™, the third release in the Anchor Argonaut Collection™.

“Anchor Barrel Ale is a welcome departure from the norm of barrel aged beers,” said Anchor Brewmaster Mark Carpenter. “We took four well-loved Anchor beers and aged them separately in our used Old Potrero® Whiskey barrels. The beers don’t undergo fermentation, though, so the aging process focuses on picking up flavors and aromas from the barrels. Next we blended the aged beers in a cellar tank with charred barrel staves for a secondary fermentation, allowing the beer to naturally carbonate, pick up characteristics from the staves, and let the flavors marry. The result is a robust dark beer with a gentle whiskey note and flavors of charred oak and burnt caramel that’s remarkably smooth. The brewers at Anchor had a great deal of fun developing and brewing this beer, and we hope Anchor fans enjoy it as much as we do.”

Anchor Barrel Ale (7.5% ABV) was brewed as a tribute to pioneer brewer, distiller, and visionary Fritz Maytag. In 1965—at twenty-seven years old—he rescued America’s smallest, most traditional brewery from closure, igniting a revolution in craft brewing that continues today. With the founding of Anchor Distilling in 1993, Fritz blazed a new trail toward the creation of craft-distilled whiskeys and gins. The Anchor Argonaut Collection honors that pioneering spirit with unique and daring beers, available for a limited time in 4-packs. Anchor Barrel Ale joins Flying Cloud Stout™ (7.4% ABV) and Double Liberty IPA™ (8.2% ABV) as the third brew in the Argonaut Collection.

Aged in used Old Potrero® Whiskey barrels and on their charred staves, this full-flavored beer delivers a rich complexity with whiskey notes and woody aromas that are well balanced by its coffee, toffee, and roasted malt flavors. Anchor Barrel Ale is a blend of beloved Anchor ales, each aged separately before combined. The intricate aging process and harmonious blend of Anchor beers results in a full-bodied brew with subtle charred oak flavors and a remarkably smooth finish.

Anchor Barrel Ale is available now nationwide in 4-packs and on draught for a limited time as well as on tap at the Anchor Brewing Taproom and the Anchor Beer Garden at The Yard in San Francisco. Find a brew near you using the Anchor Beer Finder.

Learn more about this unique beer by visiting www.AnchorBrewing.com.

About the Anchor Argonaut Collection

Argonauts were the legendary heroes who sailed with Jason on the Argo in quest of the Golden Fleece. During the California Gold Rush, this ancient word was reimagined to include those hardy pioneers who journeyed westward by ship or prairie schooner in search of adventure, fortune, and a new life. In the spirit of this timeless quest, America’s first craft brewery is proud to launch the limited release of uniquely Anchor brews, the Anchor Argonaut Collection.

The Anchor Argonaut Collection marks the first time since 1971 that Anchor has released an Anchor beer in a 4-pack. To honor the spirit of adventure, The Argonaut Collection will showcase adventurous new brews for a limited time, starting with the release of Flying Cloud San Francisco Stout™ followed by Double Liberty™ IPA and now Anchor Barrel Ale™.

About Anchor Brewing Company

Anchor Brewing Company’s roots date back to the California Gold Rush making it one of America’s oldest breweries. Its Anchor Steam® Beer is San Francisco’s original since 1896. In 1965, Fritz Maytag acquired and revived the struggling brewery at a time when mass production of beer dominated and seemed unstoppable. Maytag started a revolution in beer that originated today’s craft beer movement. An undisputed icon, Anchor is America’s first craft brewery where beers are handmade in our traditional copper brewhouse from an all-malt mash. At Anchor, we practice the time-honored art of classical brewing, employing state-of-the-art methods to ensure that our beers are always pure and fresh. We know of no brewery in the world that matches our efforts to combine traditional, natural brewing with such carefully applied, modern methods of sanitation, finishing, packaging and transporting. See what we are brewing today at www.anchorbrewing.com.