In 1989 the company produced a limited edition of beer ( known in Sumerian as '' sikaru '' ) which they named Ninkasi after the Sumerian goddess of beer . It was based on a scholarly reconstruction of an ancient Sumerian recipe known as the " hymn to Ninkasi " . The recipe started with a twice-baked bread known as bappir as well as malt , and was sweetened with honey and dates . It did not include hops or other bittering ingredients , so it was considerably sweeter than modern beers . The recipe is described by Charlie Papazian . Also in 1989 , the brewing process for a batch of Steam was interrupted during the Loma Prieta earthquake . The resulting ( altered ) brew was released as normal '' Anchor Steam '' , but with an inverted label ; this beer has come to be referred to as '' Earthquake Beer ''
Loma Prieta earthquake
1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Anchor Brewing Company