Yuengling bests Sam Adams, now No. 1 craft brewer in the nation

[kscarbel2]

The Morning Call / April 2, 2015

Pottsville-based D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. has been named the king of craft beers after beating out Boston Beer Co., the maker of Sam Adams, as the country's top-selling craft brewing company in an annual list compiled by the Brewers Association.

The Brewers Association, a nonprofit trade group based in Boulder, Colo. that represents small and independent brewers, released its list of the top U.S. 50 U.S. craft brewing companies this week, and the brands at the top are no strangers to Lehigh Valley beer connoisseurs. The list is based on 2014 beer sales volume.

Yuengling became eligible for the designation for the first time this year after the Brewers Association changed its definition of the craft brewery in early 2014 to include brewers that use "adjunct grains," such as corn, in its flagship beers, said Paul Gatza, director of the Brewers Association.

Yuengling, which uses corn, made its inaugural appearance on the list at No. 1. Boston-based Boston Beer, which has been busy expanding its footprint and workforce at its Samuel Adams Pennsylvania Brewery in Upper Macungie Township, placed second on the list while the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. of Chico, Calif., placed third. Sam Adams has been on the list for years.

Sam Adams' brewery employs more than 500 in the Lehigh Valley while Yuengling employs about 300 in Pottsville. Yuengling, established in 1829, is available in 18 states.

"The companies on this list include the vanguard of the craft industry. They are exposing new beer lovers to craft, opening new markets and creating opportunities for the entire category. As they continue to grow, so will the availability of innovative and high-quality beers produced for all to enjoy," said Bart Watson, the Brewers Association's chief economist.

Meanwhile, the Brewers Association also ranked Yuengling and Boston Beer among the top 50 overall brewing companies in the U.S. at No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch Inc., Chicago-based Miller Coors and Los Angeles-based Pabst Brewing Co. were the top 3 in the overall category.

At 2,000 workers strong, the Lehigh Valley region's beverage business has been booming in recent years, with craft brewers in particular becoming a force as their beers continue to surge in popularity among consumers.

The region comprises 20 beverage manufacturing companies, making it the second highest out of 22 regions in Pennsylvania, according to the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp.

Lehigh County, with 17 companies, is home to more beverage manufacturers than any other county statewide.

[RowdyRebel]

My preferred "adult beverage" ranks #5 on the craft brewery list and #10 overall...

[Maddog13407]

nice to see PBR up there along with Yuengling. don't care for anything Anheuser busch or anything from Boston....

[chief doug]

if anyone has a chance to go to the brewery in pottsville I would reccomend it. it's the oldest brewery in the nation. My wife took me there last summer and I wanted to stay. It's great being able to buy it in Connecticut, I got tired of going out of state for my beer.

[vision386]

Nice! Yuengling is "my" beer,it's good stuff for sure,i was SO glad it recently became available here in Virginia,or I may have had to re-do Smokey And The Bandit 2015!........................................................Mark

[j hancock]

A pair on the right, a pair in the middle and a pair on the left.

Yup, that's a six pack!

[other dog]

I might give that Yuengling a try. I like PBR all right too, but I bought a six pack of Sam Adams once to try it and I thought it sucked. And I could have almost bought a 30 pack of Old Milwaukee for what that 6 pack of Sam Adams cost. Old Milwaukee is good too, or at least it used to be, haven't drank any for a long time.

[hatcity]

I don't drink at all, BUT
I like that six pack

[Brocky]

We have had Yuengling in South Carolina for about 3 years now.. Can have it regularly now instead of just when I brought it home from the daughters..

[Maddog13407]

Yuengling is way down in Fla. had it there this past winter when we were down. been by the brewery in Pottsville by accident, got lost, should have stopped.

[vision386]

Tom,give that Yuengling lager a try sometime,bet you will like it! if not,just send me the difference and I will "dispose" of it! I also tried Sam Adams but didn't like it,had a real bitter taste to it........................................Mark

[57 bcr]

Had Yuengling in Pa. while there for the shows. Enjoyed it. The waitress at an Italian resturant in Lititz,kept our pints full! God bless her! Al

[Coenut]

The tour is a must. Amazing history and not to mention a pretty town with lots of great food.

[other dog]

Tom,give that Yuengling lager a try sometime,bet you will like it! if not,just send me the difference and I will "dispose" of it! I also tried Sam Adams but didn't like it,had a real bitter taste to it........................................Mark

Exactly, I thought it was bitter too- I don't like bitter!

[yarnall]

I always have a case or two of Yuengling Lager around. It is how I get my father to work on my stuff. Maybe if they were sober they could have gotten it running. Mike

[RowdyRebel]

Actually, a good brew is my "thinkin' juice". When I'm stumped, or when I'm starting to get a little frustrated with something, I crack open an ice cold, sit back, and sip on it a while 'til a solution comes to me. It's amazing some of the Redneck Engineering marvels that come about that way.

[Green Dash]

One of my Uncles chose his beer based strictly on price. If it tasted somewhat like beer, gave him a buzz, and the price of a 6 pack was under $2, he was in. He was a Piels drinker for a long time and I don't know if it was because they went under or he found something cheaper, but he started drinking Pathmark "No Frills" brand. It was a white can with the word BEER in black letters. I'm almost certain a 6 pack was 99 cents in the mid-70's.

[vision386]

I remember that crap! (Pathmark Beer) Shop-Rite in Jersey also marketed what they called beer,as I remember,it was beer in name alone! that stuff was friggin' awful! Lol!......................................Mark

[AdirondakMack]

This will get you thinking

[j hancock]

Maybe it just needed a little salt added.....?

[Green Dash]

I remember that crap! (Pathmark Beer) Shop-Rite in Jersey also marketed what they called beer,as I remember,it was beer in name alone! that stuff was friggin' awful! Lol!......................................Mark

How bad could it be?

[mowerman]

i heard he was quite a guy did a lot for the community,,,,but i dont like the beer at all,,,its too bitter...bob

[mowerman]

Nice! Yuengling is "my" beer,it's good stuff for sure,i was SO glad it recently became available here in Virginia,or I may have had to re-do Smokey And The Bandit 2015!........................................................Mark

holy shit,,,like the display model....lol.bob

[RowdyRebel]

Always makes me wonder when I see somebody old enough to buy their own beer with a case of nasty light...that's the cheap crap underage kids drink from plastic cups at the keggers because they're too young to know what beer is supposed to taste like and the host doesn't want to pay more than he has to for stuff that's just going to be puked up later by most of the attendees.

I don't miss college. Beer is SO much better these days...

[mowerman]

Always makes me wonder when I see somebody old enough to buy their own beer with a case of nasty light...that's the cheap crap underage kids drink from plastic cups at the keggers because they're too young to know what beer is supposed to taste like and the host doesn't want to pay more than he has to for stuff that's just going to be puked up later by most of the attendees. I don't miss college. Beer is SO much better these days...

now that was just friggen hilarious,,,and very well put...bob