Alcohology: "Yuengling, America’s Oldest Brewery"

Curious about how America's oldest brewery managed to thrive for nearly two centuries? Discover the captivating journey of Yuengling, from its founding by German immigrant David Gottlieb Yuengling in 1829 to its modern-day success. Join us as we explore the brewery's clever strategies for surviving Prohibition, including the production of near beer and even a foray into the dairy business. We'll also uncover the pivotal role Dick Yuengling Jr. played in reviving the brand with the reintroduction of the iconic Amber Lager in 1987.

Our episode goes beyond history to discuss Yuengling's evolution and steadfast commitment to quality and heritage. Whether you're a beer connoisseur or a history buff, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the enduring spirit of Yuengling, a name synonymous with quality beer in Pennsylvania and beyond.

Transcript

Matt: 0:01

Proudly presented by matt and friends, drink the universe. Welcome to alcohology. I wonder why they call it a cocktail. Yes, I'd like to know more about the venus vinifera. I'm very interested in the terroir. We talking about two carbon, six hydrogen and one oxygen atom. We talking about ethyl alcohol today, the oldest, the oldest brewery in America . The story of the oldest brewery in America begins with David Gottlieb . David Gottlieb , or DG, was a German immigrant. He grew up in Germany and his father owned a brewery. Being the youngest of five children, he knew that he would never be the owner and operator of his father's brewery, so he chose to immigrate to the United States. Never be the owner and operator of his father's brewery, so he chose to immigrate to the United States For his brewery. He chose Pottsville, Pennsylvania, for its rapidly growing coal mining population as well as its hilly terrain, which would allow him to hire the local coal miners to hollow out caves where he would be able to lager and store his beer. Dg began the Eagle Brewery on Center Street in Pottsville in 1829. His eldest son, David Jr, left the Eagle Brewery to establish James River Steam Brewery along the James River in Richmond, Virginia. The brewery burned down in 1831 and was relocated to 5th and West Mahatango Street, where it remains to this day. The Eagle Brewery changed its name to DG Son in 1873 after Frederick joined his father, David, in running the company. During Prohibition, times were tough for , as they were for most breweries. They survived by producing near beer, a .5% alcoholic beer-like beverage. I can't imagine how many of those it would have taken to get a buzz. They also operated a dairy which made ice cream and other dairy products. When Prohibition ended in 1933, celebrated by sending a truckload of their winter beer to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I'm sure he appreciated that. In 1985, Richard L, better known as Dick Jr, the fifth generation of the family, took over the company. Under his leadership, the company rapidly expanded distribution beyond Pennsylvania to several other states, becoming a widely recognized brand in the eastern US. In 1987, perhaps their best decision ever, they reintroduced their Amber Lager, which had not been made in the decades since Prohibition. They did this to take advantage of a spike in the popularity of heavier-style beers in the 80s. Since that time, Lager has become its flagship brand, accounting for 80% of the company's production and much of its rapid growth. In February 2014, Ice Cream returned to the market after nearly 30 years. The Brewery expanded its operations, opening a second brewery in Tampa, florida, in 1999 to better serve its growing customer base in the Southeast. Although operated by the family, it is operated by David , a cousin of Dick and descendant of David Gottlieb . is legally a separate company from the brewery, as was the case during Prohibition. continues to maintain its reputation for producing traditional lagers and other beer styles, always focusing on quality and heritage. continues to produce Premium Beer, Premium Light Beer, original Black and Tan Dark Brew, porter Lord Chesterfield Ale, better known as Chetty, locally Golden Pilsner, Oktoberfest, Bach. And in 2020, they introduced Flight, their new light beer, which they deemed the next generation of light beer being lower in calories and carbohydrates than other beers of its type. And, of course, they're still brewing their traditional lager, served in its recognizable green bottles. The Amber Lager is in the style common before Prohibition. It was brought back to the market by longtime New England brewmaster Anne Rae Norbert. It quickly became the company's flagship beer and prominently displays the words lager on its label. If you live in one of the 26 states where distributes its beer. You know that you can go to a bar, order a lager and expect to receive a . As you may know, this podcast is recorded in Pennsylvania. We're about an hour away from the Brewery here. is synonymous with quality beer In Pennsylvania. Whether it's a celebration or a not-so-great day, we reach for and, on a personal note, this podcast host will always proudly ask for a lager. This podcast is a production of Unfiltered Studios. If you would like to know more about joining Unfiltered Studios, please visit our website at unfpodcom for more information. Matt and Friends Drink the Universe is proudly sponsored by the Poppins Travel Company. Please visit our sponsor at poppinstravelcompany. com. If you enjoyed this short and want to spend more time with us, please check out our full-length episodes wherever you get your podcasts from. For more information about Matt and Friends Drink the Universe, please visit us at mattandfriendsdtu. com. That's mattandfriendsdtu. com. You.