Mention an American brewery with a long history in the business and one company that is certain to come to mind is Yuengling. The Pennsylvania brewery has been in operation for more than 180 years and it continues to inspire those who appreciate its family history, brewing tradition, and stick- to- it perseverence that has kept the company going for so many decades.
But in spite of Yuengling’s long history, one product it has not produced is Oktoberfest, or Marzen. Yuengling brews its flagship lager, a light beer, black & tan, porter, and a few others, but the company has never ventured into the land of Oktoberfest. But this is about to change very soon- in a matter of weeks, in fact.
In 2011, Yuengling has announced its plans to brew its first ever Oktoberfest beer and fans of both Yuengling and the Oktoberfest style couldn’t be happier. Many craft beer lovers have wondered why Yuengling has waited so long to produce a beer in the Marzen tradition but they need not wait any longer. Yuengling is going to produce, package, and sell its first ever Oktoberfest in a matter of weeks.
So, how will the latest addition to the Yuengling family taste? Will it measure up to the Oktoberfest products brewed by other craft breweries? These are not easy questions to answer with certainty, but if I had to place a bet, I would say that Yuengling Oktoberfest will be a little lighter than similar offerings by other breweries (like Sam Adams Oktoberfest). However, I predict it will still flavorful and memorable and with a character that is German- influenced, like one would expect from Yuengling- a company with a German heritage.
Yuengling has been brewing beer for almost two centuries and it is nice to see that the company is ready to brew and bottle a beer in the Marzen/Oktoberfest tradition. It remains to be seen (or shall I say, tasted) how this beer will stack up with other Oktoberfest products, but with Yuengling’s name on the label, I have no doubt that it will be a beer of character and quality.
Look for Yuengling Oktoberfest very soon in stores where Yuengling products are presently sold.
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