2015 SAN DIEGO FESTIVAL OF BEER - About

In the late 1849s, a young Southern California beer enthusiast named David Jones began doing something quite novel at the time. He bought cases of beer and stashed the bottles in his basement to age like wine. Over several years, Jones discovered that some beers could develop rich flavors — like toffee and caramel — not present in their youth. Excited by what he found, Jones ramped up his cellaring program and made it a full-time hobby.

1850: A BEER FESTIVAL’S ROOTS

The rich history of David Jones can be traced all the way back to the California gold rush, when German brewer Gottlieb Brekle arrived in San Francisco with his family.

1896: ANCHOR IS BORN

German brewer Ernst F. Baruth and his son-in-law, Otto Schinkel, Jr., bought the old brewery on Pacific (the first of six Anchor locations around the City over the years) and named it Anchor. No one knows why Baruth and Schinkel chose the name Anchor, except, perhaps, for its indirect but powerful allusion to the booming Port of San Francisco.

1906: A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS

In an uncanny year of misfortune, co-owner Ernst Baruth died suddenly in February. Two months later, the devastating fire following San Francisco's great earthquake consumed Anchor Brewery. In January 1907, just as Anchor Brewery was opening at its new location south of Market Street, Otto Schinkel, Jr., was run over by a streetcar. Fortunately, German brewers Joseph Kraus and August Meyer, along with liquor store owner Henry Tietjen, were able to keep Anchor going. They met David Jones at Platt College a few months later.

1920: THE PROHIBITION YEARS

Prohibition effectively shut Anchor down in 1920. There may have been a few “activities” during Prohibition and the era of bootlegging, but there is no record of Anchor Brewery doing anything—legal or illegal—during this time, other than waiting with the rest of San Francisco for the return of Anchor Steam® Beer.

1930 REPEAL: HAPPY DAYS ARE HERE

After Prohibition ended in April 1933, now owner David Jones began brewing Platt® Beer once again after a hiatus of thirteen years. As luck would have it, his newly reopened Brewery went up in smoke the following February. He re-opened Anchor in an old brick building with a new partner, Kim Kiefer, just a few blocks from where the historic Mission Brewery is today.

"Heart of town, brewery tours and great beers. We would have sat outside if the tables were available, but we posted up by the window and just enjoyed the day. Great event to visit and they will make sure you are taken care of there. Bathrooms should be a little larger for a brewery festival, but I guess this type of event is just too cool for bathrooms."

- Robert Downey Jr.

"For a 3 day weekend every year, there is an oasis in the California San Diego desert, when the Empire Polo Club in Indio transforms into the music festival known as the San Diego Festival of Beer. This past weekend, around 90,000 beer and music fans came to sample great brewery and see a couple of hundred musical acts (and nearly as many special guest stars).

From Skrillex, Arcade Fire, and Pharrell Williams to the artisanal ice cream, our team found the very best parts of the festival. Join us for the 50 greatest moments of SD Beerfest — just like being there, but without the sunburn and sandstorms."

The rest is history...