February 2013
On the way home from Jim Thorpe, we were looking for something to do. Thanks to the iPad and free Hampton Inn Wi-Fi, we found that the Yuengling Brewery offered tours. I'm not a beer drinker, but factory tours have always been something we enjoy, so we stopped in Pottsville and took the tour. The tour was much better than we even expected. The tour was about an hour and half long and the very knowledgeable guide took us everywhere from the brewing and bottling areas to the caves under the brewery. It all ended up with free beer samples. It's definitely worth a visit if you're ever in the area.
I thought only glacial ice was blue, but there was plenty of spectacular blue ice on the mountains as we headed south
The Schuylkill County Courthouse is an imposing structure
During prohibition Yuengling made ice cream
During prohibition Yuengling made ice cream
The Yuengling Brewery is built right into the hill
Yuengling is america's oldest brewery
This is how beer kegs were filled a very long time ago
The hand dug caves under the Yuengling Brewery were once used to keep the beer cool
This brick wall in the hand dug caves under the Yuengling Brewery was built by the government at the beginning of prohibition
The hand dug caves under the Yuengling Brewery were once used to keep the beer cool
Some very old Yuengling kegs
These kegs make the ones in the previous picture look modern!
The stained glass ceiling was installed in the breweing room to cut down on glare from the original copper kettles
Interior oif a breweing kettle. No brewring was going on because it was a holiday.
You've got to store the hops somewhere
The government cellar is where the government tracks beer output and taxes Yuengling accordingly
The Yuengling bottling plant was idle the day we were there due to the holiday
The Yuengling bottling plant was idle the day we were there due to the holiday
The Yuengling bottling plant was idle the day we were there due to the holiday
The Yuengling bottling plant was idle the day we were there due to the holiday
Only one tour guest banged his head into the Yeungling eagle in the tap room after sampling the beers
The tour concludes in the Yuengling tap room so you can sample a few beers
The Yuengling brewery is built close (8 inches!) from St. Patrick's church
The Yuengling brewery is built close (8 inches!) from St. Patrick's church
The Yuengling brewery is built close (8 inches!) from St. Patrick's church
America's oldest brewery from the outside
Downtown Pottsville has a lot of cool building facades
Good Intent Fire Fire Company house in Pottsville