Yuengling: A History of America's Oldest Brewery [Hardcover]

Mark A. Noon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0786419725 | ISBN-13: 978-0786419722 | Publication Date: February 8, 2005

Can you name America’s oldest brewery? If visions of outsized draft horses plod to mind, you’re way off. Instead, head for the mountains—of northeastern Pennsylvania. In 1829, in Pottsville, German immigrant D.G. Yuengling set up shop to slake the thirst of immigrants flocking to the region’s booming anthracite coalfields. Five generations have steered the family-owned brewery through fires, temperance, depressions, Prohibition, and the whims of changing tastes; outlasted hundreds of local competitors; and turned Yuengling from a regional name into a national institution. For 175 years, the hard-working, hands-on approach of Yuengling has kept it going, and growing, while thousands of other brands vanished into history’s recycling bin.

Kick back, relax, and crack open a cool history of Yuengling and Son, Inc., America’s oldest brewery. It begins with the brewery’s founding in 1829 by German immigrant D.G. Yuengling, who saw an opportunity in the region’s growing, beer-loving immigrant population. Subsequent chapters follow the brewery into the age of bottled beer and advertising; through the dark days of Prohibition; the age of consolidation, when a few big names swallowed up or buried most regional brews; and into the age of microbrews, when consumers turned away from bland brands in search of a beer with character, leading to Yuengling’s resurgence on the national scene. An epilogue gauges the company’s current status and immediate future, and a chronology lists key events in the brewery’s existence. Notes and copious illustrations supplement this history, which also includes a list of reference works, and an index.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Outstanding...an important contribution to brewing history...well-written and enjoyable."--Mid-Atlantic Brewing News

"Detailed."--Pennsylvania Magazine

"As you read through the six generations and a company that stayed the course, you will be amazed and cheer how Yuengling has earned the honor of being America's oldest beer."--All About Beer

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

Mark A. Noon is a composition instructor at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. He lives in Conyngham, Pennsylvania.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 221 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (February 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786419725
• ISBN-13: 978-0786419722
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.7 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,716,950 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great coffee table book., April 10, 2006

By 

G. Richey (DELAWARE) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Yuengling: A History of America's Oldest Brewery (Hardcover)

Unlike the other reviewer, I have read it and I like it better than the beer. It's obvious the author spent many a long night at the local Pottsville pubs interviewing the Yuengling employees and faithful, probably while sucking down a great many black and tan's in the process. Loved the book. So as I sit here sipping a Lord Chesterfield, here's to you Mr. Noon and to you Dick Yuengling; keep up the good work!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yuengling Brewery, February 18, 2008

By 

Samuel J. Bell "hammer dude" (Church Hill,Md) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Yuengling: A History of America's Oldest Brewery (Paperback)

This book is a must read for any one who is both a Yuengling drinker and who wants to learn the history of brewing beer in NE PA.

The Yuengling is both the oldest merican Brewery--est in 1829 and also it has been run by the Yuengling family since that time.

For anyone planning to visit Pottsville,PA the home of Yuengling,reading this book wil give abroader insight into both the brewery and the overall area.

Overall author Mark Noon has done an excellant "job" in his research of the history of both NE Pa and the Yuengling Brewery.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Brewing History, December 1, 2009

By 

K. Newcomer (New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Yuengling: A History of America's Oldest Brewery (Paperback)

I recently finished the History of the Yuengling Brewery. The book was filled with history of Eastern Pennsylvania, especially around Yuengling. Much of the book is about the founders and the 19th century. I wanted to read a little bit more about the late 20th century, but realize the book is about their history.

Some great photographs throughout the book make for a pleasant read. The only part really missing were some interesting stories about the brewery passed down from the founders, the town, or people who worked there. Some stories exist, but would have liked to seen more throughout the book. With that said, the book is a great biography of a cool brewery that continues to go strong and have a major presence in Pennsylvanie and the Northeast.