Yuengling (also known as elsewhere!)

[fretlessman71]

I tried a Yuengling Porter 6er about 2 months ago... liked it a fair amount. It's not SN, but then again, who is?

Curious as to what the general feelings are regarding the oldest running brewery in the nation....

[MeridianFC]

I've never been a fan of the Yeungling products. I've always admired them for the whole "oldest family owned brewery in the US" thing, but that's out the window now. I do find their darker beers are better than the lighter.

I'm I correct in remember that they made Chesterfield Ale or is that someone else?

[davesarman]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
I've always admired them for the whole "oldest family owned brewery in the US" thing, but that's out the window now.

Did they sell or something? I was under the impression that they still were the oldest familiy owned brewery in the U.S. (Schell's of New Ulm, MN being second oldest.)

[fretlessman71]

That would be them... Lord Chesterfield Ale. http://rreu.11net.com/yuengling/chesterfield/chesterfield.html

You had it? Is it / was it any good? Looks like it's no longer, but I'm just guessing...

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by MeridianFC
I've never been a fan of the Yeungling products. I've always admired them for the whole "oldest family owned brewery in the US" thing, but that's out the window now. I do find their darker beers are better than the lighter.

I'm I correct in remember that they made Chesterfield Ale or is that someone else?

Yes, you are correct, they made Lord Chesterfield. If you were trying to educate a Molson drinker, this was a good place to start. In fact, I find their line to be a good way to start someone down the path to better beer.

[threecb]

I respect the Yeungling beers. The lager is a good stepping stone beer, and I often use it as my default beer in sports bars with bad choices. I'm starting to choose it over Sam Adams half of the time, because it's usually on draft more often around here.

I don't care for the B&T, though. That shouldn't come in a bottle!

[MeridianFC]

Originally posted by davesarman
Did they sell or something? I was under the impression that they still were the oldest familiy owned brewery in the U.S. (Schell's of New Ulm, MN being second oldest.)

It is my understanding that AB has controlling interest in the brewery.

[chazwicke]

In the 1970s Yuengling made a wonderful porter. It was sold in returnable steinie bottles. But there was not much else to choose from. That porter at least had some flavor. The brewery has a wonderful tour and I have visited a couple of times. And yes they were the brewers of Lord Chesterfield. I have never been a great fan of thier other beers but I respect them for being savvy enough to re position themselves as a premium product and survive the 70s takeovers and even expand. I have never been much in favor of what I call Fake Black and Tans by any brewer including Yuengling and Saranac. I would probably lump Yuengling, FX Matts and Schells all in the same boat as survivers by ingenuity of the bad old days and not necessarily by the taste of some of thier beers. If it is true that AB now has control I would be very sad. Yuengling operated a brewery in Richmond, VA in the 1800s.

[davesarman]

Schell's could most definitely be in the class of "survivers by ingenuity of the bad old days ", but I would have to say in the last 10 years they have made some stellar beers, due in large part to the management of Ted Marti, great-grandson (I think) of the founder August Schell.

They still make their swill brands, that continue to have a loyal local following (which I respect in a certain sense), but also have grown by leaps and bounds with some very respectable craft brews, among them being the Pils, Dopplebock and Alt, all very highly rated by several competitons, among them the Beverage Tasting Institute, as published in All About Beer Magazine.

Also, a few years back I remember going on my first tour of the Schell's brewery (of which I've gone on several times) and it was conducted by a gentleman in his 60's or 70's I'm guessing, and had worked there since Prohibition. The tour was one of the best I've ever been on becuase he spent more time talking about how they went about the business and surived (Indian uprising in the 1800's, prohibition in the 1920-30's, the rise of macro beers in the 1950-70's) than about the technical aspects of brewing.

It's sad to think that Yuengling, the oldest family owned brewery in the U.S. is now under control of the "evil empire". I've never had the good fortune to taste or tour the Yuengling brewery. All the more incentive to get out and taste and see these old breweries while you can!!! (and support them!)

[chazwicke]

I agree. I have been on that quest for a lot of years. If you do get to Yuengling ask them to show you the aging caves that were dug into the mountainside. I do not think it is still part of the tour.

[fretlessman71]

I'm going to have to go back to GA to get some more... can't find it here in TN!

[chazwicke]

I know Schells survived in the late 70s but putting out lot and lots of different beer cans for the collector market. I am glad they are making good brews now. I think that festival that you posted would be fun to go to.

[davesarman]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I know Schells survived in the late 70s but putting out lot and lots of different beer cans for the collector market. I am glad they are making good brews now. I think that festival that you posted would be fun to go to.

Took my father in law there (Bockfest) last year. He had a blast. He always takes me to the county Ducks Unlimited banquet each year around the same time. (A hunting/conservation organization. This year the banquet is on Valentines Day. Told the wife if I win a shotgun, that's her Valentines Day present. How smart were those organizers to put a hunting banquet on Valentines Day? Or maybe they weren't so dumb....)

Hope to go again this year. (To both events that is, actually...)

[hops99]

I don't believe Yuengling has sold any part of the business to AB (about 99% sure); man, that would be sacrilege! Here is a link that shows some basic information on Yuengling:

http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/53/53540.html

Yuengling's Porter, to me, has always been like a nice, smooth, dark lager. Very enjoyable on a Fall afternoon. The lager is drinkable, but certainly not worth seeking out. I've never enjoyed the Chesterfield Ale - it always has a skunked aroma and taste to me. Still, as Chaz mentioned, the brewery tour is very cool, maybe the best I've been to.

[MeridianFC]

I was trying to find information to back up what I'd heard but to this point I have not. I'll withdraw the comment until I can prove otherwise.

[beerturtle]

I'm also 99% sure that DGY has not sold any interests to AB. When i took the tour a few years ago, it was spoken to a few times that the brewery and its interests have traditionally been passed down through the family to whichever family member(s) will buy it. If they had sold out, you'd definitely see a different yuengling line. Used to drink a lot of their black & tan, not anymore, too 'sweet' for me as my tastes have changed. Their draft porter is still one of my favorite dark beers, and i drink a few amber lagers occasionally. Chesterfield is alright, but i haven't drank it enough to feel qualified to comment on it.

If you have a chance, take the brewery tour. It's a neat old place with a lot of original equipment still in use. Too bad you can't go down to the lagering caves anymore...:(

[Stodbrew]

The only beer I've had was the lager. I was at Yankee Stadium and that was the best beer I could find. Didn't want to drink bud. Imagine that.:D It was by no means a stellar beer, but certainly more flavorful than the big three. I wouldn't mind trying some of their others, but you can't get them in CA. Not that I would seek them out, just curious about them.

[chazwicke]

I was at a meeting yesterday with about 30 other Breweriana collectors and beer travelers. None had heard that about AB/Yuengling. Enjoyed some nice beers at Blue Gray Brewing as well.