'STEAM BEER' IS SMOKY NOW
4 ALARM FIRE RUINS BEER
(San Francisco Call, February 20, 1934)

Fire department investigators today sought a cause for a fierce four alarm fire which destroyed the Anchor Brewing Company plant at 1610 Harrison street, ruined 3000 gallons of beer and injured four firemen.

The blaze, starting in the malt and hops storeroom, spread so swiftly through the new plant that firemen were unable to save the structure, and damage was estimated at $35,000. Adjoining buildings were saved by the desperate efforts of almost half the city fire department.

The fire was discovered shortly before 9:30 o'clock last night by a watchman, and fire Chief Charles Brannan, among the first arrivals, promptly turned in four alarms.

In two hours the flames ate through the upper floor, destroying the grain storage room, and soon reached the bottling and boiler rooms below. Almost the entire equipment of the two story plant was damaged.

The plant reopened recently, specializing in steam beer, for which San Francisco was once famed. Joseph Kraus, owner of the brewery, said one-third the loss was in finished brew, ready for market.