By now, most San Franciscans are well aware that one of the city’s most cherished businesses—Anchor Brewing—closed its doors in 2023 after more than 127 years of operation. The SFHS Museum’s newest exhibit showcases some of the artifacts from the brewery, but there is much more of the story to be told. Join us for an evening with Anchor historian Dave Burkhart, who will share stories, anecdotes, and memories from his thirty-plus years of experiences at Anchor Brewing.

We all know that Anchor Brewing became famous for its steam beer—but not everyone knows that spinoff company, Anchor Distilling (now Hotaling & Co.), made a variety of distilled spirits, including Old Potrero Rye Whiskey and Juniper Gin. In addition to Dave Burkhart’s extensive knowledge of craft beer, he’s also an expert on San Francisco cocktails. His presentation will include a demonstration of how to make the famous Boothby Cocktail, As served at San Francisco’s Palace Hotel by the Honorable William T. “Cocktail Bill” Boothby (1862–1930) and as described in Fritz Maytag and David Burkhart’s edition of Cocktail Boothby’s American Bartender, which was originally published in San Francisco in 1891.