[In so many ways this man was the hero of The Great Beer Trek. He was the grown-up who recognized that the game was afoot, meaning that a beer revolution was fermenting … er, fomenting. He turned his back on the family appliance business, and a ready-made fortune, in favor of rescuing a tradition brewing company on life support, the Anchor Steam Brewing Company. Without Fritz Maytag, there are no McMenamins, Kochs, and Papazians. SB SM]
by Charlian Papazian
Fritz Maytag! I can’t think of any brewer & brewery that had more impact on quality craft beer & brewing than the resurrector of San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Co. Beginning in the late 1970’s emerged an immense tidal wave of admiration for the accomplishments & quality beer Fritz championed. Some begrudgingly claimed money being an heir to the Maytag family (re:washing machines, blue cheese, etc) enabled his success but that thinking couldn’t be farther from the truth. Fritz, never trained as a brewer. He learned quality and the brewing business the hardest way at a time when there were few resources for small brewers. His challenges were many & immense. Read the amazing story here: https://a.co/d/dg3nqlO
Also brewed firsts: American style porter, American brewed barleywine ale, American style IPA (originally a special Christmas Ale turned into Liberty Ale). He & his talented staff always welcomed & extended brewing advice to homebrewers, small brewers & beer enthusiasts. They participated in countless Homebrewer & Craft Brewer events & conferences. Always had a presence since the first 1982 Great American Beer Festival.
Little known: Early years he rode his bicycle across America before there were Interstate Hiways. Toured Japan for almost a year on a Motorcycle in his restless youth. “Hosted” Janis Joplin and the Holding Company at Anchor Brewery on Janis’s arrival day in SF.
A fascinating life. An iconic Brewery. A world class staff. Fritz Maytag a legend that will endure for generations. His is a fascinating story!
Thanks! I knew about blue cheese but not the beer.