The Oldest Brewery In The States Has Been Pouring Beer Since 1829

While there are plenty of once-popular beers you can't find anymore, there's one in particular that's so old, and so legendary, that it's survived almost two centuries in America. Yuengling might not be the biggest brewery in the U.S., but it is the oldest, having started in Pennsylvania in 1829.

David Gottlieb Yuengling immigrated to America from Germany in 1828 and, just a year later, started Eagle Brewery. In 1873, he changed the name of the company to D.G. Yuengling & Son, making it a family business in a tradition that has survived six generations well into the 21st century. Over the next 60 years, the company modernized by adding a bottling plant and even managed to survive Prohibition-era policies, shipping a case of "Winner Beer" to President Franklin D. Roosevelt when the law was overturned.

Still, by the mid-1980s, the brewery experienced quite a bit of hardship, producing only 137,000 barrels a year. The fifth generation of family leadership, Richard L. Yuengling Jr., brought on staff that revolutionized everything from its packaging to its sales structure, but most notably produced its famous traditional lager. While the company has always produced different varieties of beer, the lager swiftly became its best-seller and set the stage for its long-term success. While it eventually started a joint venture with Molson Coors, it remains a privately owned, and family-operated business in 2026.

Yuengling's basic traditional lager is like many of the same variety: easy to drink, and with a reliably mild taste that pairs well with most anything. However, it holds on to a couple of its centuries-old recipes while also diversifying into modern creations, like its Bongo Fizz mango product.

When the brewery first started, it specialized in two beers: Lord Chesterfield Ale and a dark porter. One difference between ale and lager is the history, with ale coming in such incredible variety after centuries of brewing that it's difficult to pin down an exact flavor profile. Yuengling's Lord Chesterfield, however, is a crisp, malty beer with generally lighter, more earthy characteristics than its original lager. The porter, however, is a chocolatey, nutty brew that, while lighter than most other porters, is still one of the company's heavier offerings.

Like most major breweries, Yuengling also got in on the light beer market. Its Flight, premium light, and light lager options are exceptionally flavorful, but still have remarkably low alcohol and carb contents. Ever the innovator, the company also partnered with a popular pierogi brand, Mrs. T's, to release its Polska pilsner, a limited-time offering with a touch of spice, and floral notes to round out the crisp mouthfeel.