San Francisco’s iconic Magnolia Brewing Co., a cornerstone of the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, officially closed its doors on Sunday, August 26. It turns out the shuttering is only a temporary closure, as the brewery transitions to new ownership while keeping the Magnolia name, marking the end of one era and the beginning of another for one of the city’s most beloved establishments.

Magnolia, established as the second oldest brewery in San Francisco after Anchor Steam, has long been a symbol of the city’s rich brewing history and countercultural spirit.

The brewery's closure echoes the fate of Anchor Steam, which faced its own challenges in recent years, including a sale to Sapporo and a subsequent closure in July 2023. Anchor Steam was later acquired by the founder of Chobani in 2024, who has plans to reopen with much of its original staff.

Magnolia had itself changed hands in 2017 when it was acquired by Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing. According to speculation in the neighborhood, this acquisition was rumored to have subsidized New Belgium’s now-closed satellite brewery in Mission Bay.

The brewery is now in the hands of Kevin Kynoch, who owned and operated Fish Bowl for some years prior to acquiring Flybar in 2016, alongside Brandon Phillips of 21st Amendment and Brian Reccow of The Specialistas Hospitality Solutions. Kynoch worked with Phillips for years at both Fish Bowl and Flybar, and Reccow's previously worked with New Belgium on their local properties. Reccow and Kynoch are also childhood friends, and they've been working on acquiring Magnolia for five years now.

"Magnolia Brewing Company is one of the great legacy brands in San Francisco," says Kynoch, in an interview with Hoodline. "The brewery was on the forefront of the craft movement in San Francisco. The location is iconic and has a history of fostering community in the Haight. We are excited about the idea of building on these traditions."

The plan is to keep much of the look and feel of the original Magnolia intact, though it did undergo some changes under New Belgium's ownership. 

"Much of the traditional moulding and design remain," Kynoch says. "We plan to create a more open layout to allow for more flexibility in the property. However, the old wood ambiance will continue to be respected."

He adds, regarding his team, "Creating neighborhood bars/restaurants at its core is what we do."

The one big change will be getting a full liquor license, allowing them to sell cocktails and spirits alongside the beer  — adding a Type 47 liquor license in addition to the small beer manufacturing, Type 23, license.

"While we love beer, and plan to continue brewing great beers (some new, some classics), we appreciate that some folks prefer spirits or wine," Kynoch says. "Our goal is to create a destination for all, and adding spirits will enable us to create a more well-rounded offering."

Magnolia Brewing’s influence on the character of San Francisco's beer scene is undeniable. For decades, it served not just as a purveyor of exceptional beer but as a pillar of the community, housed in a historic building, nestled on the corner of Haight and Masonic. And Magnolia's original owner and brewmaster, Dave McLean, has gone on to become a significant, respected figure in the beer world, who went on to co-found Alameda-based Admiral Maltings, which produces high-quality, hand-crafted malts for beer-making using local grains.

McLean told the Chronicle last month, after news broke about the latest sale, that he attempted to buy Magnolia back himself, but was unsuccessful.

The building’s storied past includes its time as a drugstore, deliberately misspelled with an “o” to avoid police scrutiny. It was once operated by the legendary Thunderpussy, a former burlesque dancer known for hand-delivering suggestively named ice cream to locals — a playful nod to the neighborhood’s marijuana-infused culture of the time. This colorful history became the stuff of local legend, even capturing the attention of renowned Chronicle columnist Herb Caen.

Locals and fans of Magnolia may have feared the worst as the business changed hands yet again, but Kynoch and his partners say they want to "absolutely preserve the neighborhood character of Magnolia." And as seasoned veterans of the bar and restaurant industry, they share an understanding of and appreciate the unique fabric of San Francisco.

Kynoch also says they plan to continue brewing Magnolia's popular beer recipes, like the California Kolsch, and will add some new beers to the roster as well. 

Kynoch adds, "The food will move toward small plates to allow the customers to have options at various price points, but also mix in Magnolia staples."

As he told the Chronicle last month, "With our experience in San Francisco, we want to continue showing that hospitality and craft beer are still strong and there’s a market for that."

Look for the new iteration of Magnolia Brewing to open in the coming months, once the liquor licenses come through.