At Tricky Fish, we love experimenting with new beers, carrying a huge selection of craft beer, domestics, and imports, both on tap or bottled. But have you ever wondered…what are the oldest breweries in the US? Read on as we pay homage to the ones who paved the way for us to enjoy the plethora of ice cold brews and great bar food near me that we have today at Tricky Fish:
#5: Miller Brewing Company
It’s Miller Time! Head to the Miller Valley of Wisconsin and you’ll find number five on our list! The original Miller Brewery was founded in 1855 by Frederick Miller and it remained a family business for over 100 years, until it was sold in 1966. Over the years, Miller has expanded operations tremendously, but you can still tour the original Milwaukee brewery where it all began.
#4: Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch has been dubbed the King of Beers – and for good reason. Founded in 1852 in St. Louis, Missouri, Anheuser-Busch was fundamental in determining ways to extend the shelf life of our favorite beverage through pasteurization. Plus -we can thank them for the beautiful invention of the refrigerated railcar, transporting ice cold beer, bar food near me, and more to this day. Cheers!
#3: Minhas Craft Brewery
In 1845, in the rolling hills of soon-to-be Wisconsin, the Monroe Brewing Company was founded by Swiss immigrants, anxious to pave their way in this new world. Since then, it’s changed names and owners, but has amazingly remained family owned for 175 years – and has remained in the exact same facility! Sure, it’s grown to cover 3 city blocks, but it still produces some of the best craft beer around, right in the heart of “cheese country.”
#2: Pabst Brewing Company
Number two is yet another Wisconsin brewery, as resilient as those icy cold Midwest winters! Pabst Brewery has been in existence since 1844, founded in the heart of Milwaukee, Wisconsin! It’s changed hands – and names – multiple times, but still remains an iconic craft brewery to this day. Fun fact: Pabst brewed beer and sold cheese until the early 1900s. In the 1930s, the cheese business was sold to Kraft.
#1: Yuengling
If you want to take a sip of history, then grab an ice cold glass of Yuengling! Yuengling is the oldest brewery in the United States, founded in 1829 in Pottsville, Pennsylvania by a German immigrant named David G. Yuengling. When it opened, it was called Eagle Brewery, but the name changed to D.G. Yuengling & Son in 1873 when David’s son, Frederick, joined the family business. This brewery has weathered nearly 200 years, surviving the Prohibition-era and multiple wars, and still operates out of the same facility it has been in for the past 190 years! And nearly two decades later, this beer is as popular as ever, as production has ramped up year-over-year to meet demand.