Home / Business and Economy / America's Oldest Brewery: A German Immigrant's Dream
America's Oldest Brewery: A German Immigrant's Dream
21 Jun
Summary
- Founded by David Gottlob Yuengling, a German immigrant in 1829.
- The brewery is America's oldest, operating continuously for 197 years.
- It is currently the ninth largest beer producer in the U.S.
David Gottlob Yuengling, a 20-year-old immigrant from Germany, founded America's oldest brewery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1829. Recognizing that immigrants flocking to the coal region needed beer, he established the Eagle Brewery instead of investing in coal mines. Though the original brewery was destroyed by fire in 1831, Yuengling's resilience and dedication led him to rebuild, this time on Mahantongo Street.
Yuengling introduced German brewing techniques, popularizing lager and laying the foundation for preferences for lighter beers. The brewery officially became D.G. Yuengling & Son in 1873 when his son, Frederick, joined the business. David Yuengling was also a prominent figure in Pottsville, involved in local businesses and his church.
Today, D.G. Yuengling & Son is in its fifth generation of family ownership, with Richard "Dick" Yuengling Jr. and his four daughters managing the business. The company operates breweries in Pottsville, Mill Creek, and Tampa, Florida, and ranks as the ninth largest beer producer in the U.S., annually producing an estimated 2.7 million barrels.
