Anchor Brewing shutting down

BlueRidgeSmokers

It's interesting that Anchor Brewing really was the first craft brewery (regardless of what Jim Koch used to annoyingly claim in radio ads) and was definitely priced higher than the alternatives in 1980. Not a lot more, but was pricier. The beer that Fritz Maytag sought to craft was intended to be honest recreations of historically significant beers; the craft brewers that followed, started amping-up the brews. For example, actual IPAs in the UK when I lived there 1982-1983 were not super heavy, super bitter, or high ABV - but that's what they became in the US craft industry. Sure, exciting beers, but nearly 2x the alcohol of the traditional IPAs. So costing 2x, probably isn't such a bad thing.

I was fortunate in 1983-1985 to sample many of the first-wave craft brews, and they were always interesting, but they were more recreational than the medical-grade stuff we see today. (Anyone else remember Thousand Oaks Brewing? Literally someone's basement in Berkeley). 

Likely it can be said that Anchor didn't keep up with the trend it had a large hand in starting, and that's OK. A typical high-ABV brew is about $1.20/12oz can at Costco these days, if Anchor Steam Beer was $7.20/six-pack, it likely would have sold more than at $12.

When people say "craft beer is dead", they mean it's not growing any longer. It will still be made, new breweries will open, but the overall volume consumed will be flat or go down.

Business-savvy brewers will make seltzers because that's the growth segment today. I won't hold it against them, though I won't buy that stuff.