I am fortunate to live just a few miles away from America’s Old Brewery, Yuengling . Located in scenic Northeast Pennsylvania, Yuengling Brewery has become a national landmark and tourist attraction.
The brewery was founded by David G. Yuengling in 1829 when the Pottsville area was thriving on coal-mining. The brewery survived the prohibition period by producing other products and was able to resume business after 1933. In 1987, Yuengling began producing its Traditional Amber Lager, which has become its most popular product. In 1998, to meet the demands for its products, Yuengling opened a second brewery three miles from the original brewery. In 1999, a third plant in Tampa, FL began producing beer. Today Yuengling is the second largest American-owned brewery.
The original brewery, located in the heart of Pottsville, is still open and thriving today. The brewery offers daily tours. Monday – Friday the brewery offers tours at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday tours are offered seasonally at 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The guided tour includes a walk through the caves used for refrigeration and education on the entire beer making process. Tourists even get to walk through the canning and bottling facility. The on-site gift shop offers great memorabilia and signature items.
The brewery currently offers eight brews. Premium is a traditional light-colored pilsener. Light is a low-calorie version of Premium. Traditional Lager is Yuengling’s most popular brew, served in green bottles throughout the east coast. Light Lager is a low-calorie version of the traditional Lager. Porter is a dark beer with a strong malt flavor. Black & Tan is a mixture of Premium and Porter. Lord Chesterfield Ale is a true ale. Yuengling’s Bock and Oktoberfest are brewed seasonally. Of all the brews, Light Lager is my favorite. With less calories than the traditional Lager, it still retains the same great taste. Nothing quite compares to Light Lager and wings after a hard day of work.
As a fan of Yuengling and life-long resident of the area, I have visited the Pottsville brewery several times. The tour is packed with information and includes free tastings at the end. I have also visited and toured the Tampa brewery, which is equally fascinating (and includes samples). If you’re looking for a great weekend or day-trip destination, Yuengling Brewery is perfect.
For more information on Yuengling, visit their website: http://www.yuengling.com/
References:
http://www.yuengling.com/
