RED, WHITE, & BREW

An American Beer Odyssey

Excerpt from Chapter 1, “The Beer Starts Here.”

         The people, the dedication, the historical turn of events, all conspired to deliver D. G. Yuengling & Son to where it is today, approaching its own bicentennial.

        And none of  it—not its size, not its products, not its beloved place in the mouths and minds of beer drinkers up and down the Atlantic  coast—assures its safety or longevity.

        “You’re always under the threat of being steamrolled by the Big Guys,” cautioned Dick.

        I asked if he has received buyout offers and, if so, are they still coming in?

        “I think they pretty much understand that  we’re going to remain in de pen dent. But you always gotta be careful about the Big Guy in St. Louis. I respect what [Anheuser-Busch] has accomplished. They sell fifty percent of the beer sold in the U.S. Their products are good even if they’ve lightened their beers up to the point where there’s not a lot of character or taste to the domestic premium beers. I think that’s why the imports and craft brewers are doing so well. People don’t drink as much, but they’re drinking better.”

        Amen.

        Dick then put away his cigarettes and pulled out a piece of gum. He reflected on a trip he’d made to Aldingen, where the Jüngling family’s Eagle Brewery remains in structure only. Though it’s now a public notary, it is still adorned with an eagle set against a blue sky, the same that can be found far away in Pottsville.

        “It’s eerie and unique at the same time,” Debbie had ruminated. “Sitting up in that office, knowing that everyone sat there. It’s a nice feeling.”

        “They are still hanging out. On the wall,” I said, referencing the portraits.

        Debbie responded, “Sometimes I wish they could talk and give you advice and tell you what’s going to happen.”

        Earlier, Dick concluded, “I would imagine they’d be awed by the fact that the company’s still going and to see what  we’re doing today,” noting that the only way to know what D.G. would think would be to ask him in heaven.