San Francisco, CA — Anchor Brewing Company is encouraging beer enthusiasts to help parks nationwide by purchasing Anchor California Lager┬«, California’s first genuine lager reborn. Through two unique partnerships, a portion of proceeds from Anchor California Lager sales will support the National Parks Conservation Association and the California State Parks Foundation.
Anchor’s history, California’s first genuine lager, and our country’s state parks were born in the second half of the 19th Century. Today, California is home to 280 state parks and 26 of America’s 401 national parks. To celebrate that unique heritage, Anchor Brewing Company has partnered with the National Parks Conservation Association and the California State Parks Foundation to support their efforts to conserve and enrich the natural beauty and history of parks nationwide.
Beginning in May 2014, Anchor California Lager (4.9% ABV) will also be available in 6-pack cans both nationally and year-round, offering greater convenience and versatility for outdoor activities.
“Parks are one of our most precious resources that everyone from coast-to-coast can enjoy,” said Keith Greggor, CEO of Anchor Brewing Company. “Anchor California Lager already has tremendous success supporting parks in our home state and we look forward to supporting the National Parks Conversation Association’s work protecting our national parks.”
Supporting National Parks
In February 2013, Anchor California Lager and its program to support state parks were introduced in California. Based on the success of the California State Parks Foundation partnership and the expansion of Anchor California Lager nationally, we wanted to develop a program to also benefit parks nationwide. We are proud to announce Anchor California Lager sales outside California will support the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), the leading nonpartisan national park advocacy organization, and their work to protect and enhance America’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for present and future generations.
“As we continue to look for new ways to connect more Americans with our national parks, we appreciate the support of Anchor Brewing and look forward to partnering with one of America’s oldest breweries,” said Clark Bunting, president and CEO of the National Parks Conservation Association.
Supporting California State Parks
Anchor California Lager sales within California have been supporting California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) since February 2013. A portion of proceeds from each case sold in California goes to the Anchor California Lager Grants, which are part of the CSPF’s Discretionary Grant Program. CSPF is awarding three grants from 2013 donations to parks across California, supporting a number of programs including habitat and landmark restoration and research and educational programs.
The Coastside State Parks Association — Perched on a cliff on the central California coast, 50 miles south of San Francisco, the 115-foot Pigeon Point Lighthouse, one of the tallest lighthouses in America, has been guiding mariners since 1872. Its five-wick lard oil lamp, and first-order Fresnel lens, comprised of 1,008 prisms, was first lit at sunset, November 15, 1872. Our grant will be used to expand and ensure the future of a native plant nursery at Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Half Moon Bay State Beach.
Empire Mine Park Association — Beginning in the late 1970s, staff and volunteers at the Empire Mine State Historic Park recorded interviews with former miners and supervisors to capture some of the history of the operation of the mine. Those interviews were recorded on cassette tapes that are now quite aged and fragile. Our grant will allow Empire Mine Park Associate to digitize many of these interviews and materials, including selected text translations and articles on the Association’s website where they will be readily available to the public.
Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks — Built in 1891/1892, the historic Wilder horse barn is a key element of the interpretive experience at Wilder Ranch State Park and a major teaching and functional tool of the Farm Animal Program. Wilder Ranch State Park’s uniqueness as a working dairy farm with both an 1840 adobe and a Victorian farmhouse situated on the California Coast is not duplicated anywhere in the State Park system. Our grant will support a painting project to preserve and restore the exterior of the barn.
Anchor Brewing Company has renewed its partnership with California State Parks Foundation for 2014. Anchor California Lager sales within California will continue to support CSPF and we look forward to supporting even more projects within our home state.
About Anchor California Lager
Anchor Brewing Company’s roots go back to the Gold Rush, long before icehouses and modern refrigeration made traditional lagers a viable option. In 1876—thanks to an ice pond in the mountains and a belief that anything is possible in the Golden State—a little brewery named Boca created California’s first genuine lager. Anchor California Lager is a re-creation of this historic beer.
Crisp, clean, and refreshing, its rich golden color, distinctive aroma, lingering creamy head, balanced depth of flavor, and incredibly smooth finish are like no other lager today. Made in San Francisco with two-row California barley, Cluster hops (the premier hop in 19th-century California), and Anchor’s own lager yeast, Anchor California Lager is kr├ñusened and lagered in the cellars of the brewery. This all-malt brew is a delicious celebration of California’s unique brewing heritage.
Anchor California Lager is available year-round in 6-pack cans, 6-pack bottles, 12-packs bottles, 22-ounce bottles, and on draught at select bars and restaurants nationwide.
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.
About National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its 800,000 members and supporters, and many partners work together to protect the park system and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for our children and grandchildren. For more information, please visit www.npca.org.
About California State Parks Foundation
With our 130,000 members, California State Parks Foundation is the only statewide independent nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, enhancing and advocating for California’s magnificent state parks. Since 1969, California State Parks Foundation has raised more than $209 million to benefit state parks. CSPF is committed to improving the quality of life for all Californians by expanding access to the natural beauty, rich culture and history, and recreational and educational opportunities offered by California’s 280 state parks. For more information, please visit www.calparks.org.