Yuengling

History

German brewer David Gottlieb Jüngling (1808–1877) immigrated to the United States in 1828 from Aldingen, a suburb of Stuttgart, in the Kingdom of Württemberg. He anglicized his surname from Jüngling to Yuengling and began the "Eagle Brewery" on Center Street in Pottsville in 1829. His eldest son David, Jr. left the Eagle Brewery to establish the James River Steam Brewery along the James River in Richmond, Virginia. The first brewery burned down in an 1831 fire and the company relocated to W. Mahantongo Street at 5th Street, its current location. The Eagle Brewery changed its name to "D. G. Yuengling and Son" in 1873 after Frederick Yuengling joined his father David in running the company. Although the company's name changed, the bald eagle remained the company's emblem. During the late 19th century, breweries were also opened in Saratoga Springs, New York City, and Trail, British Columbia, although they were eventually merged with the Pottsville plant.

Frank D. Yuengling began heading the company in 1899 after his father Frederick died. During the Prohibition era, Yuengling survived by producing "near beers" (beverages with a 0.5% alcohol content) called "Yuengling Special", "Yuengling Por-Tor", and "Yuengling Juvo". The company also ran a dairy which produced ice cream and opened dance halls in Philadelphia and New York City. In 1933 when the nation's breweries and disgruntled beer lovers finally won the fight against Prohibition, Yuengling introduced its symbolic Winner Beer, celebrating Prohibition's repeal, and the brewery shipped a truck load of its popular brew to the White House to show their appreciation to President Roosevelt. Richard L. Yuengling Sr. and F. Dohrman Yuengling succeeded Frank Yuengling after their father's death in 1963.

Yuengling experienced an increase of sales after a renewed interest in history owing to the United States Bicentennial in 1976. Yuengling bought the rights to use the Mount Carbon (Bavarian Premium Beer) name and label when Mount Carbon Brewery went out of business in 1977. Yuengling initially brewed beer at Mount Carbon but eventually abandoned it. The dairy remained in business until 1985.

Richard L. ("Dick") Yuengling, Jr. took over as the 5th-generation company president in 1985, the same year its Pennsylvanian brewery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the oldest in the United States. It was also so listed in the Pennsylvania Inventory of Historic Places at some unspecified date. (The company's website mentions only a vague national and state registration in 1976). Yuengling has been a registered trademark for a variety of merchandise, including beer, since 1995. The Pottsville brewery was featured on an episode of The History Channel's American Eats.

In 1987, the brewery reintroduced a lager they had not made in decades to take advantage of a spike in popularity of heavier-style beers. Since this time, Yuengling Lager has become its flagship brand, accounting for 80% of production and much of its rapid growth. In 1990, the brewery sold 138,000 barrels; within a year, the company was calling itself a "major microbrewer", reflecting a resurgence in interest in craft breweries happening nationally. At the time, Yuengling was the largest brewer of porter in the United States.

In the early 1990s, demand throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware outstripped the existing brewery's abilities. In 1999, they increased their manufacturing capacity by purchasing a Stroh Brewery Company plant in Tampa, Florida, hiring the former Stroh employees, and began working with a trade union for the first time. In 2000, the company built a third brewery in Pennsylvania, in Port Carbon in Schuylkill County near Pottsville. With production at the Port Carbon, Tampa, and original Pottsville plants, the company has been able to expand throughout the East Coast.

Yuengling employees filed for union decertification in 2006. As a result, Yuengling did not renew a contract with Teamsters Local 830 of Philadelphia in March 2006. In response, the trade union began boycotting Yuengling products.

As of 2017, Yuengling is a moderately priced beer popular northward through New York, westward until Illinois and Kentucky, and southward through Georgia, where it has a large following. The Tampa brewery supplies the Florida Gulf Coast, the Florida Keys, Central Florida, North Florida, the Florida Panhandle as well as Alabama and Tennessee. The brewery uses corn from Minnesota and hops from Washington as ingredients in its products. Yuengling beer returned to Massachusetts on March 3, 2014, after having circulated among some bars and restaurants beginning in February.

Yuengling began distribution in the state of Georgia on October 27, 2008. Yuengling also expanded distribution into West Virginia in May 2009, Ohio in October 2011, Rhode Island in June 2014, and Connecticut in September 2014.

Owner Dick Yuengling spoke in Harrisburg, PA on August 26, 2013 and made his anti-union beliefs clear, calling for Pennsylvania to be a "right-to-work" state, and praising Republican governor Tom Corbett.

A fire broke out at Yuengling's Tampa brewery on October 26, 2013. The extent of the damage was unknown.

In February 2014, Yuengling Ice Cream returned to the market after a near 30-year absence. Although operated by the Yuengling family, it is operated by David Yuengling, a cousin of Dick Yuengling and a direct descendant of David Gottlob Jüngling. It is legally a separate company from the brewery, as was the case since 1935.

In October 2016, Dick Yuengling sparked calls for boycotts of Yuengling after endorsing Donald Trump for President.

Yuengling will transfer at least 51% control of the company in the future to either of his daughters that are currently executives Jennifer or Wendy, he told them which one privately but not publicly. His other two daughters, Wendy and Debbie, are also involved in the company.

Products

Traditional Lager

An amber lager in the style common before Prohibition (commonly called pre-Prohibition lager). This is the company's flagship beer, and what is received if a "lager" is ordered throughout many parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. It is usually sold in green bottles prominently featuring the word "LAGER" on the label, but is also available in cans, brown quart bottles, and 24 ounce cans. It was previously offered in 22 ounce bottles, colloquially known as "bombers". The "bomber" name is still used for the large cans. Yuengling Lager is 4.4 percent ABV.

Light Lager

A lower-calorie version of the Traditional Lager.

Yuengling Premium Beer

A standard American pilsner.

Yuengling Premium Light Beer

A lower-calorie version of the Premium Beer.

Original Black & Tan

This black and tan is a mixture of Yuengling Premium Beer (40%) and Dark-Brewed Porter (60%). It was introduced in 1986.

Dark-Brewed Porter

A Baltic porter with a very dark cola color, appearing almost black in the glass with a pale tan head, and a strong malt flavor. Rather than using the traditional top-fermenting ale yeasts used in most porters, Yuengling's porter is bottom-fermented; few mainstream breweries produce this style. Originally known as "Pottsville Porter," this beer is notable for being one of the few porters commercially available from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.

Lord Chesterfield Ale

Named for Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, this is Yuengling's hoppiest beer. This is not a true ale as it is brewed with, "bottom-fermenting" type, lager yeast. Like the Traditional Lager, it is usually sold in green bottles (but also in cans) and has an element of corn in its profile. It is very carbonated and tends to sprout a large but short-lived head when poured. As of 2007, Lord Chesterfield is no longer sold in kegs. However, quarter kegs were put back on the market in October 2008.

Yuengling Oktoberfest

Produced for the Oktoberfest season, beginning in 2011.

Summer Wheat

Yuengling introduced a Summer Wheat beer in 2014. It is 4.5% ABV and is less hoppy than the normal brew. It's described as "a southern true authentic Bavarian-style wheat beer.

Yuengling IPL

At 5% ABV, this India Pale Lager is bright in color and loaded with Bravo, Belma, Cascade, and Citra hops on a balanced lager base. The IPL was first brewed in 2015.

No longer produced

Yuengling Bock

Introduced in February, 2009, this was a return of a discontinued beer last brewed in the 1970s. According to company sources, it was to be sold as a draught-only, spring seasonal beer. Due to its popularity Yuengling Bock beer was made available for kegs and cases in January 2010. Bock Beer was discontinued in early 2015 after not meeting sales expectations.

Old German

It was a slightly sweet lager sold in short brown bottles that resembled barrels. Its inexpensive retail price ($1.15 for a six-pack in 1986, equal to $2.51 today) made it a favorite of college students. Old German is still made by Iron City Brewing Company.

Half & Half

Originated from Reading's Northeast Taproom where they mixed a 50/50 blend of Dark-Brewed Porter and Lord Chesterfield Ale. The local bar then requested that Yuengling sell the draft pre-mixed and the official "Half & Half" was born. It was replaced by Original Black & Tan in 1986 and was discontinued.