31 Mar 2015 --- Anchor Brewing Company announces the release of Anchor IPA in cans; a new package for the adventurous brew in Anchor’s core lineup of distinctive, hand-crafted beers.
Anchor IPA marks the third beer to be canned by Anchor in the brewery’s 119 years of operation. Anchor first began canning beer with Anchor California Lager in 2014 followed by the limited release of Brotherhood Steam Beer cans, a collaboration with the band Chris Robinson Brotherhood.
“We are thrilled to finally bring Anchor fans one of their favorite core beers, Anchor IPA, in cans,” said Mark Carpenter, Brewmaster at Anchor Brewing. “When we first released Anchor IPA the popularity of the beer took off quickly, so it only made sense to also offer consumers a convenient way to enjoy this tasty beer. Anchor IPA was brewed in the spirit of adventure, using 6 different hop varieties and 3 types of malt. With this in mind, I encourage beer lovers to grab a can and seek out their own exciting adventure.”
Its bright amber color, distinctively complex aroma, spiky bitterness, malty depth, and clean finish unite to create a uniquely flavorful, memorable, and timeless IPA. First released on draught, in 6-packs, 12-packs, and 22 oz. bottles in February 2014, Anchor IPA gained national esteem thanks to the beer’s unique and balanced flavors of hops and malts, fruity and floral aromas, and unbeatable drinkability. Now Anchor fans nationwide can enjoy this unique IPA in the convenience of cans.
The elephant seen on Anchor IPA cans was hand-drawn by long-time Anchor label artist James Stitt. It was inspired by the expression to “See the Elephant,” a 19th-century metaphor for the hopeful but risky pursuit of happiness, adventure, and fortune. The expression originates from a tale that predates the California Gold Rush. As a result, the elephant became the universal symbol of the Gold Rush, representing the spirit of adventure, as evidenced by the journals, letters, and sketchbooks of the forty-niners hoping to discover their long sought after treasure. Whether or not they struck it rich in the diggings, those plucky pioneers would forever treasure their California adventure as the defining moment of their lives.
Anchor IPA 6-pack cans began shipping nationwide in the beginning of March alongside 6-pack bottles, 12-pack bottles, 22-ounce bottles, and on draught in select restaurants and bars as well as the Anchor Brewing Taproom in San Francisco.