Beer Can Blog

From the website of the D. G. Yuengling Brewing Co., the future of the company is largely in the hands of the four daughters of Dick Yuengling, Jr. The four Yuengling family women will represent the sixth generation of family operation of America's Oldest Brewery.

From its founding in 1829, by a combination of growth and attrition, Yuengling is now the 6th largest brewing company in the nation. From its three breweries in Pottsville, PA; Port Carbon/St. Clair, PA; and Tampa, FL - Yuengling produces a little under 1.5 million barrels of beer and ale per year, for their Eastern Seaboard (New York to Florida) + Alabama markets.

They are not in Georgia currently, but rumor has it that they will be here in the Fall. We have been waiting for years.

This reprinted New York Times article tells the story of their long journey from one of many local Pennsylvania breweries to a survivor that almost didn't make it to a new, risky growth plan that included the new brewery in Port Carbon/St. Clair and purchasing the old Schlitz/Stroh brewery in Tampa, FL.

Yuengling Traditional Lager is their flagship brand, accounting for more than half of their sales. Yuengling Porter and Lord Chesterfield Ale were two of the brands that tided us over before the days of microbreweries.

So if you live in their distribution area, why not pass on by the national brands and imports and try a bit of American brewing history?

After resisting the temptation for a number of months, I have crossed over to the "dark side" and have started collecting the infernal 16 oz. aluminum beer bottles being produced predominantly by Anheuser Busch.

At 9 and 1/2 inches high, they don't fit any of my existing shelves and for that I "curse them", but their thicker walls allow for more striking graphics than aluminum cans. And as they have only been on the market for 2 years or so, I am sort of getting in on the "ground floor", keeping it as a trade-only habit, as I don't have the cash to drop on the rarer varieties. That keeps the fun a part of it.

[As I have to get to work, more will be added to this post later...]

If you are not familiar with the brands of the Flying Dog Brewing Co. of Denver, CO, they are certainly worth a try. The various names include year-round brands - Doggie Style Ale, Road Dog Scottish Porter, seasonals - Heller Hound Bock, K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale, and specialty brands - Horn Dog Barleywine, Gonzo Imperial Porter - named after Hunter S. Thompson, and the new Double Dog Double Pale Ale.

If you have seen them, maybe you have been put off by the strange artwork on the labels, courtesy of Ralph Steadman, who did the "artwork" for the books written by Hunter S. Thompson. I guess we could speculate about the legality of the inspirations for Steadman's artwork, but that could wait for another time. Look at some of their labels and draw your own conclusions.

It is what is inside that is so distinctive. The new Double Dog Double Pale Ale is a hophead's delight. Once opened, it needs to be carefully poured into a wide-mouthed glass, so as to let it "breathe" and warm. As it warms, the hop flavors become more well-defined. It is 10.5% alcohol, so enjoy one after the kids are in bed and when you don't have to drive anywhere.

Double Dog Double Pale in its original incarnation was called Wild Dog Double Pale Ale as was issued to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the brewery in 2005. Now the Wild Dog name is applied to a special limited edition series in 750 ml bottles.

So give some of these brands a try and enjoy getting bitten (in moderation of course).