Yuengling Brewery Tour, Pottsville PA

Reading the PA map as we whizzed along I-81 my eyes landed on Pottsville which set me to thinking... isn't this the home of the Yuengling Brewery?  Tours are given at 10:00 AM and 1:30 PM, hmm it is now 3:00 PM so we missed the tours not to mention the heavy rain so we drive on. Shortly past to the exit to Pottsville we cross over the mountain, the rain stops, and we find the Echo Valley Campground. 

Yuengling, Bill's favorite brewery

The next day we drop the trailer (off the truck) and drive the "short" 14 miles to Pottsville.  Now I say short as once you leave the Interstate the roads are all curvy up and down the mountains.  The drive is memorable as you wind through farms with planted fields, dairies with ample cows, fields of baled hay, forests, cross roads, and small stores. Eventually we arrive in Pottsville and locate the brewery.

Brewery loading dock
Note everything is downhill from here

The tour is a trip through the history of Yuengling, Pottsville, and US beer making.  Walking through the cramped rooms, caves, and bottling facility is a living history journey and our tour guide pulled out all the stops.  An in-person tour is the best but baring that you can take the online tour at their website.

The barrel filler took a crew
to fill 4 barrels at a time.
These days it is automated.

David Yuengling started the Eagle Brewing Company in 1829 after immigrating from Germany.  In 1831 the wooden structure burned and David moved the brewery up the hill where he could dig caves into the mountain side for temperature control.  Another reason for this location was access to water from a free flowing spring.  

Caves
Closed in 1919, prohibition
Reopened in 2004

The brewery was renamed to Yuengling in 1837 when Frederick joined his father, David, in the business.  Now don't think the family gets a free ride, each new owner must purchase the business from the current owner.  The next generation of Yuenglings are women, four, who currently work in the business.  It will be interesting to see how they finance their purchase as the current owner, Dick, has greatly expanded the business and value.

Copper door from the original cooking vats.
Today all but one tank are stainless steel due
to the intense cleaning required after each brew cycle.

About prohibition, the 18th Amendment, which in my opinion was a horrid law.  It was in effect from 1919-1933, to survive Yuengling made near beer, medicinal tonics, and ice cream.  Yes you can still purchase Yuengling ice cream, the business closed in 1985 but reopened in 2014 by a cousin.

Bottling section of the brewery

After touring the cooking room with the stained glass ceiling which acts as a huge sunglasses, we proceed to the bottling facility.  Then finally to the tasting room for samples of those brews that never leave Pottsville.