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The 10 oldest beers in America
The 10 oldest beers in the US have been identified in a new list that outlines which beers established America’s brewing history.
Starting at number 10 and counting down, financial news and opinion company 24/7 Wall St drew from their deeper dive report of the ‘30 oldest beers in America’. Here are the results of the top 10, counting down to the number one oldest beer in the US.
10. Point Special Lager
Year introduced: 1857
State of origin: Wisconsin
Owned by: Stevens Point Brewery
Stevens Point Brewery, the home of the Point Special Lager, celebrated its 160-year anniversary last year. German immigrants George Ruder and Frank Wahle began brewing beer in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, in 1857. Some 40 years later, Gustav Kuenzel bought the brewery and changed its name to the current name in 1902. Despite all of the ownership changes over the past century and a half, Point Special Lager has been reported to have retained its status as the brewery’s flagship brew. Its origins date back to the brewery’s first year in business.
9. Weinhard’s Private Reserve
Year introduced: 1856
State of origin: Oregon
Owned by: MillerCoors
Henry Weinhard, the founder of Weinhard’s Private Reserve was a pioneer brewer of the Pacific Coast. He was born in Lindenbronn in 1830 and moved to the US around 1852, where he worked in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. Weinhard then reportedly made his way to Portland, Oregon, by ship and by 1 April 1856, the Private Reserve was born. Weinhard’s Private Reserve has since been bought by MillerCoors.
8. McSorley’s
Year introduced: 1854
State of origin: New York
Owned by: Pabst Brewing Company
McSorley’s Old Ale House was established in 1854,which means it is New York City’s oldest operating saloon. It was created by John McSorley of Tyrone, Ireland who arrived in New York City just three years before he opened what was then called The Old Ale House at Home, located on 15 E. 7th street. Since its inception, many important figures have waltzed into McSorley’s, including President Abraham Lincoln and Beatles member John Lennon. Pabst Brewing Company now owns the beer brand.
7. Stroh’s
Year introduced: 1850
State of origin: Michigan
Owned by: Pabst Brewing Company
Bernhard Stroh opened Lion’s Head Brewery in Detroit, Michigan, in 1850 after immigrating to the US from Germany in 1849 and bringing his family beer recipe with him. Then, in 1999, it was acquired by Pabst Brewing Company. As such, the brewery’s flagship beer still bears the founder’s family name.
6. Schlitz
Year introduced: 1849
State of origin: Wisconsin
Owned by: Pabst Brewing Company
Schlitz was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1849, eventually gaining both national and international appeal. By 1902, it became the largest brewery worldwide. Schlitz was responsible for several innovations in the beer industry including the brown bottle in 1912 and the 16 oz. “tall boy” beer in a can in 1956. Schlitz is now one of the beer brands resurrected by Pabst Brewing Company. Pabst purchased Schlitz in 1999 as part of the same transaction that involved the acquisitions of Stroh’s, another brand on this list.
5. Old Milwaukee
Year introduced: 1849
State of origin: Wisconsin
Owned by: Pabst Brewing Company
The aptly named Old Milwaukee was first brewed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, over 170 years ago and was formerly owned by the Schlitz Brewing Company before being bought by Stroh’s, which was then acquired by the Pabst Brewing Company. Old Milwaukee Light, a low-calorie version of the classic brew, was introduced in 1980.
4. Blatz Beer
Year introduced: 1846
State of origin: Wisconsin
Owned by: Pabst Brewing Company
Quite a few brews that are still around today got their start in the mid-to-late 19th century in Wisconsin, and Blatz Beer was said to be one of the first. John Braun is cited to be the original founder, having opened what was initially called City Brewery in 1846. However, Braun was able to produce 150 barrels per year until 1851, when a former employee by the name of Valentine Blatz opened his own brewery next door. Braun didn’t live past that year, so Blatz married Braun’s widowed wife and merged the two breweries into one mass production brewery. As such, Blatz became the third largest beer producer in Milwaukee by 1884.
3. Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer
Year introduced: 1844
State of origin: Wisconsin
Owned by: Pabst Brewing Company
Founded in 1844, Pabst Blue Ribbon was initially known as Best Select Lager and yet after earning awards at several international beer competitions, it began tying blue ribbons to its beer bottles. Following years of customers associating the brew with the iconic blue ribbon, the beer’s name officially changed in 1898 to the one US beer drinkers know today.
2. Schaefer
Year introduced: 1842
State of origin: New York
Owned by: Pabst Brewing Company
Frederick and Maximilian Schaefer were two brothers from Prussia when they established F&M Schaefer Brewing Company in 1842. The siblings were able to acquire the small brewery that Frederick had previously worked at in Manhattan. Once Maximilian Scaefer’s son assumed control of the company, he moved the factory to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, in 1919. The factory in Brooklyn closed officially in 1976, and now the Schaefer beer brand is now owned by beer giant Pabst Brewing Company.
1. Yuengling Lord Chesterfield Ale
Year introduced: 1829
State of origin: Pennsylvania
Owned by: Yuengling Brewing
Yuengling is said to be the US’s oldest brewery and was founded by David G. Yuengling in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1829 — two decades before the next oldest widely-available beer that is still sold today. Originally, it was called Eagle Brewery, but the name was changed to D.G. Yuengling & Son in 1873. During Prohibition, Yuengling sold dairy products to remain profitable while riding through tougher times.
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Oldest is also the best lager for the money!
You left out Minhaus in Monre, WI.
Thank you Yuengling between that and Mason beer I’ll never pick a product made by Anheuser-Busch like Budweiser, Corona, and all their other products.