Yuengling – Traditional Lager and Black & Tan

First, another shout-out and thank you to Dennis for bringing back some beer from Georgia on a recent trip he had.  Two that he brought back were from Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, and they were Traditional Lager (4.4% ABV) and Black & Tan (4.7% ABV).  The brewery started as the Eagle Brewery in Pottsville, PA and I think my favorite story of this brewery is their shipping a truckload of beer to FDR after prohibition ended in 1933.  These beers are not bad, they are a step above the macro brews, but not quite up to the level of the new American craft brewers.  I would love to see these guys take some chances and do some experimentation and add some new offerings to their line-up.  They seem to be taking it safe and sticking with the beers they are comfortable making and their sales are doing well.  These are not bad beers, but they are not great beers. 

Website description – “An iconic American Lager famous for its rich amber color and medium-bodied flavor – with roasted caramel malt for a subtle sweetness and a combination of cluster and cascade hops, this true original delivers a well-balanced taste with very distinct character. “

Website description – “Black & Tan combines our popular Dark Brewed Porter with Premium Beer.  Rich and dark in color, it has a well-balanced flavor, with hints of caramel and coffee from the dark roasted malt that finishes smooth and satisfying. “