There used to be a certain magic about Rolling Rock beer,

[Redstone]

drawn from the tap in a steel-town tavern anywhere in Pennsylvania on a hot afternoon; between the air-conditioner that was always turned down to about 50 degrees and the beer served in a frozen mug with small crystals of ice floating on the suds, there was NO better place on earth to be on a hot Saturday at 3 PM.

But now the lable on the Rolling Rock bottle says "Latrobe Brewing Company, St Louis, MO" (Not "Latrobe, PA").

Rest in peace, Rolling Rock, now that you're just Bud in a green bottle.

"33."

Redstone

[taterguy]

1. The ice crystals were because it had a lower alcohol content than other beers

But I agree that once upon a time they were quite tasty and refreshing

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. The times they are a'changin, my dear Redstone...

As we leave our beloved memories behind...

:hug:

[NightWatcher]

3. Strange thing

I think that Sam Adams is now brewed in the brewery in Latrobe where RR used to be brewed. I know that a little while ago, several different breweries shifted around. The next thing you know Yuengling will be brewed in Miami. (gosh I hope not)

[Redstone]

4. Is Yuengling still independent? Or just another "brand?" Amazing how there are

so many small independent breweries these days, but the old-guard ones haven't survived.

Redstone

[Reverend_Smitty]

7. As far as I know it is still being brewed in Pottsville, Pa

[NashVegas]

23. Yeungling Still Rocks

They have a distribution center in Alabama, now. A friend of mine takes road trips.

[Kat45]

27. I think Sam is just doing some of its brewing there, so the

brewery wouldn't have to close. But they still do most of their brewing in Boston.

[Left Is Write]

5. It has recently come to my attention

that Leinenkugel - a family owned brewery for generations - has been sold to a major company (I can't remember which one).

[LynneSin]

6. I remember going to the Rathskeller at State College, PA

You could buy your rolling rock by the case and drink it at the bar

So rolling rock sold out huh?

Well, there's another beer I'll never drink again. What next, Yeungling being made somewhere outside of PA?

[Reverend_Smitty]

8. Uh oh...

Richard L. Yuengling, Jr. took over as company president in 1985. In 1987 the brewery reintroduced a lager they had not made in decades to take advantage of a spike in lighter-style beers. Since this time, Yuengling Lager has become its flagship brand, accounting for 80% of production and much of its rapid growth. In the early 1990s, demand throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware outstripped the existing brewery's abilities. In 1999, they increased their manufacturing capacity by purchasing a Stroh's plant in Tampa, Florida, hiring the former Stroh employees, and began working with a trade union for the first time.<2> In 2000, the company built a third brewery in Pennsylvania, in Port Carbon in Schuylkill County near Pottsville. With production at the Port Carbon, Tampa, and original Pottsville plants, the company has been able to expand throughout the East Coast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuengling

but the stuff we are drinking is probably still made in Pa

[LynneSin]

9. It's not uncommon for brewers to build a plant in a different region

For Yuengling they're probably just trying to tap into the Florida crowd and all that spring break money.

As long as they keep plants in Pennsylvania I'll be fine.

Now if only we could unload Iron City Beer - that has to be the worst crap out there.

[Reverend_Smitty]

10. I've never had the (dis)pleasure of trying Iron City Beer

the cheap frat house beer of my college days was Milwaukee's Beast

[LynneSin]

11. PBRs and Piels

:puke:

[Redstone]

12. Actually RR was sold to Labatt some years ago. Not sure when A-B bought them,

or if A-B bought all of Labatt.

Too confusing to try to track.

Redstone

[Redstone]

13. Good God, it gets worse: They've added a paragraph of weasel words to the text

on the back of the bottle, saying in effect "well, this beer does NOT come from the 'glass-lined tanks of old Latrobe' anymore, but we're going to try to bullshit you and try to make you think it still does."

Kind of makes me ashamed to be in the marketing business when I see such cynical crap.

Furthermore, I'm old enough to remember when those 33 words were actually 36 words, they said "...for your enjoyment and economical usage," probably to placate the Mennonites who were so influential in Pennsylvania in years back.

I'm tired, and I'm rambling, and I'm missing a lot of things that used to be, this evening, because I'm thinking about people who are gone, so I'm missing the things that are gone as well. Not the best of nights.

I'll see you guys later, OK?

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

15. ....

:hug:

I miss RR Pony Bottles...I miss Pittsburgh too. :(

:)

[Redstone]

17. Ah, the 7-ounce Pony Bottles were great; they'd be empty before they got warm.

Just another American Classic gone...

Redstone

[bicentennial_baby]

20. I used to be able to get a case of those for sooo cheap!

In Da Burgh, of course...I wouldn't mind moving back there sometime. :)

[libnnc]

14. First beer I ever had was a RR

Loved, loved, loved it. I was seldom without one in my early 20s.

The A-B ownership is blasphemy.

[seemunkee]

16. We always got the cases of 7oz

slug em down while the rest stayed nice and cold.

[Redstone]

18. The Pony Bottles. Has A-B killed them off?

Redstone

[seemunkee]

25. Haven't seen them around here for years

[Lautremont]

19. So... when mourning a lost beer, what do you pour out?

And do you wipe away a tear for your departed homiebrew?

[Redstone]

21. Thank you for your contribution.

Redstone

[Lautremont]

22. Trying to be in the spirit of things...

I once loved Rolling Rock too. "From the Glass-Lined Tanks of Old Latrobe"! I loved the idea of the glass-lined tanks.

[Redstone]

24. Yes, that implied a certain amount of purity, didn't it? I'm sure that the

'glass-lined tanks' are, now that RR is just another version of Budweiser, gone for good.

Just another bit of Americana lost.

Redstone

[kwassa]

26. From the glass-lined tanks of Old Latrobe, we tender this premium

beer for your drinking pleasure.

33

from distant memories of staring through green bottles. My parents used to buy it by the case.

Now, I am an beer snob and drink local microbrews.

Dogfish Head!

[Lethe]

28. the thing about RR was that it wasn't that consistant

at least in Texas. When we got a good 6 pack of RR, it was fantastic. But we got so many skunky 6-packs that we just stopped buying it. But when it was good it was really good. Really clean and crisp tasting.