Recently, I was sharing a beer (or two) with a friend over at Otto’s Pub & Brewery and I was looking around at all the posters, banners, and other memorabilia that showcase Pennsylvania’s brewing history. Although I have sat there numerous times before (way too numerous), this time I began to get especially interested in that history (perhaps because I was in the middle of watching Ken Burns’s latest documentary on the Revolutionary War; I will probably still be in the middle of the very long but good documentary when you are reading this, lol).
So, I started to do a little internet research about the history of beer in our commonwealth. From old William Penn encouraging brewers to take up production in Philadelphia to the craft beer revolution that started in the 1980s and is still going strong today, there is a lot to think about when it comes to beers in Pennsylvania (which I will not dive too deep into here for the sake of brevity and your sanity).
But, two interesting things (or breweries) stood out to me — D.G. Yuengling & Son brewery and Straub Brewery. Now, it is well known and advertised that Yuengling (really going to have to focus so I can spell that correctly through this whole story) is America’s oldest continuously operated brewery, with a history that dates back to 1829. Straub, though, is not that far behind (or ahead, depending on how you look at it), operating since 1872, making it the ninth oldest in the U.S.
That means that two of the oldest breweries in the United States are within a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Centre County, perfect for a historical and tasty day trip. Each of them offers a unique brewery tour experience that is sure to satisfy both history and beer lovers.
America’s Oldest Brewery
It was well over a decade and a half ago that my old buddy Ryan and I made a little pilgrimage out to Pottsville to tour the Yuengling brewery. At the time, we may have been one of the brewery’s biggest supporters, as Yuengling Lager was our go-to beer back when we were roommates. We made the drive out to take the tour, show our respect, and get some merch.
However, we made the mistake of going on Black Friday, and it was way busier than we anticipated. It seems like we were not the only ones who really liked this beer. Nonetheless, we battled the crowd and got ourselves on a tour. Even all these years later, I remember the old beer caves that were cool enough to allow the brewery to produce a lager — which requires cold fermentation — before the advent of refrigeration.
This tour was back when Yuengling’s reach was still very regional, and you could not find the beer outside of the area. Now they have branched out up and down the East Coast and Midwest, even planning to venture into my home state of Wisconsin this year (I will have to teach my friends back home how to correctly say Yuengling).
The free tour was a lot of fun and should be on every beer lover’s bucket list, especially since we are not that far from it here in Centre County. For kids and non-beer lovers, there is the opportunity to try some Yuengling ice cream, which the brewery started making during Prohibition (I just got an idea: Yuengling beer and ice cream float).
Beer lovers will be happy to try Yuengling’s many flavors (I think you get two samples with the tour). Or just stick to the old classic lager that helped my buddy and I make so many memories back in the day. I might have to see if he wants to go back out sometime and make some more (but not on a day when everyone is off work).
Straub Brewery’s Eternal Tap
Straub Brewery, located up in the small mountain town of Saint Marys, is not as well-known as Yuengling, but it sounds every bit as fun to visit. I have not been there yet, but there is something that is calling me to make the trip out to this little historic brewery in the Pennsylvania Wilds and its storied Eternal Tap.
Housed in the visitor center and tap room and flowing since 1872, the Eternal Tap is sometimes referred to as Pennsylvania’s fountain of youth. From the tap, visitors to the brewery are allowed to pour themselves two free beers or pour for 15 minutes from the ever-changing line of beers offered on the tap. Sounds like fun to me.
Beyond that little bit of wonderfulness, the tap room offers a wide variety of bar-style food that looks like it alone would make the trip worth it. Tours of the historic brewery are also available and can be reserved on the website. On tap you will find a mix of their classic German-style lagers and a selection of craft styles that are sure to please every palate.
Yes, indeed, I may just need to find my way up to the Eternal Tap sometime soon. We are lucky to live in a state with so much (brewing) history. Go check it out. Cheers! T&G
Vincent Corso enjoys drinking local and meeting new people at Central Pennsylvania’s many interesting establishments.
