Sapporo Buys Anchor Brewing, America's First Craft Brewery

Another craft brewing company has been bought by a larger corporation. Japan's Sapporo has bought out San Francisco's Anchor Brewing, America's oldest craft beer, making it no longer a craft product by the Brewers Association's definition.

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that operations won't expand beyond the San Francisco locations.

Anchor Brewing is one of three Northern Californian brewers to have been sold to larger brands in recent years. It follows Lagunitas and Speakeasy.

In his guide to the history of the brand, Food Republic contributor Tom Acitelli called Anchor one of the most influential breweries in the past 50 years.