Visit Yuengling Brewery: America’s Oldest in Pottsville, PA

When David G. Yuengling arrived in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1829, he found a bustling boomtown along the Schuylkill River.

In the late 1820s, Pottsville experienced a “coal rush,” attracting thousands of newcomers seeking work and fortune as the anthracite coal industry exploded in the rugged hills and valleys roughly a hundred miles northwest of Philadelphia.

Pottsville, PA in 1833 — *Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1833*

Mining and shipping anthracite was exhausting – and thirsty – work. Recognizing the demand for beer, Pottsville residents advertised for experienced brewers in Philadelphia newspapers. Yuengling, a German-born brewer, answered their call, establishing the Eagle Brewery in 1829.

Nearly 200 years later, the Yuengling family remains a cornerstone of the Pottsville community. Known today as “America’s Oldest Brewery,” Yuengling continues producing beer at the historic brewery on Mahantango Street, the site they moved to in 1831 after a devastating fire destroyed the original Eagle Brewery on Centre Street.

Yuengling Brewery in 2019 — *A photograph of the Yuengling Brewery on Mahantango Street in Pottsville in 2019.*

A visit to the Yuengling Brewery is an essential experience for history enthusiasts and beer aficionados traveling through Pennsylvania’s Coal Region.

Guests can enjoy a free brewery tour, learn fascinating insights into the Yuengling family’s history, and witness the brewing and canning processes firsthand. The gift shop and tasting room, housed in the historic Yuengling dairy and ice cream shop, offer the perfect conclusion to your visit.

The Museum and Gift Shop

Your Yuengling journey in Pottsville begins across the street from the brewery, in the former Creamery building. In 1920, Frank Yuengling opened this creamery to produce ice cream, one element in keeping the family business afloat during Prohibition.

Restored and reopened in 2016, this charming building now houses a gift shop and museum, welcoming the increasing number of brewery visitors.

The museum offers an impressive collection of Yuengling memorabilia, including artifacts from their historical brewery operations in Pottsville and Richmond, Virginia in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Yuengling Museum exhibits - Pottsville, PA — *Yuengling artifacts on display in their small museum next to the gift shop at the Creamery.*

Expect to find photographs, vintage barrels, old telephones, family heirlooms, and decades of unique brewing memorabilia. While waiting to begin your tour, explore the extensive array of Yuengling-branded merchandise.

The Historic Beer Caves

After meeting your guide, you’ll cross Mahantango Street and step into the brewery itself, encountering distinct aromas and temperature shifts. Soon you’ll reach my favorite part of the tour: the beer caves.

The Yuengling Beer Caves in Pottsville PA - Coal Region History Brewery — The beer caves at Yuengling were dug by hand tools for more than a decade – D.G. Yuengling didn’t want them to use explosives beneath his brewery, especially after the 1831 fire at the original Eagle Brewery.

Schuylkill County coal miners carved these caves into Sharp Mountain between 1831 and 1841 to store Yuengling’s beer, taking advantage of the constant 50-degree temperatures before refrigeration existed.

Jake Wynn and Rich Condon in the Yuengling Beer Caves under the Yuengling Brewery Pottsville PA — *Jake Wynn (me, left) and my friend Rich Condon (right) inside the Yuengling beer caves in March 2025*

As you explore, you’ll also encounter a remnant of a brick wall built during Prohibition to seal off access, complying with regulations enacted under the 18th Amendment in January 1920. Yuengling managed to keep operating during this time by producing “near beer” containing just 0.5% alcohol.

Ladder to the Yuengling Brewery in the beer caves Pottsville PA — *A ladder once used to transport barrels between the brewery upstairs and the cool, dark beer caves beneath the Yuengling brewery.*

Famously, Yuengling marked the end of Prohibition on April 7, 1933, by delivering a truckload of beer directly to President Franklin D. Roosevelt at the White House.

The Brewery Experience

Emerging from the caves, visitors head upstairs into the heart of the brewery. Here, heat emanates from enormous brewing kettles, providing quite a contrast to the cool caves below.

Brewing in the kettles at Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville, PA - Schuylkill County beer — *Brewing was underway while we visited – the sights, smells, and high temps are a unique experience.*

Visitors then navigate through the brewing process, continue through a historic machine shop, and enter an adjacent area housing Yuengling’s active canning line.

Watching cans of Yuengling Lager speed by is a mesmerizing experience, highlighting the efficiency of modern brewing operations. The machine’s operator gave us a wave as we watched the efficiency of a modern brewing operation.

Canning line at Yuengling Brewery — *A Yuengling employee working on the canning line at the Pottsville brewery.*

Unlike more polished corporate tours, Yuengling offers a uniquely authentic experience. Friendly employees greet visitors, making small talk and bringing a personal, welcoming atmosphere to the historic tour as you walk shoulder-to-shoulder with them in the historic buildings dating back to the mid-19th century.

Sampling Yuengling’s Brews

After the tour, visitors return to the Yuengling Creamery building for complimentary beer samples and the opportunity to purchase pints.

Sampling Yuengling beer in Pottsville, PA — *Samples are the concluding activity of any Yuengling tour for those 21+. For those younger, you’ll find birch beer on draft.*

On our recent visit, my beloved Bock Beer was on tap, along with two delightful temporary brews – including a revival of the “Winner Beer,” originally crafted to celebrate the end of Prohibition.

A visit to the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville is an essential stop in Schuylkill County. Discover firsthand the captivating history and enduring legacy of America’s oldest continuously operating brewery.

Rich Condon and Jake Wynn sampling Yuengling Beer at the Yuengling Brewery in Pottsville PA — *Enjoying some samples of fresh Yuengling across the street from the historic brewery.*

Plan Your Visit

Explore the historic hand-dug beer caves and modern brewing operations. Tours are free and last approximately 1 hour.

March–December:
Tours run Monday–Saturday, 10 AM to 3 PM (every half hour on Saturdays).
Closed Sundays.
January–February:
Tours run Monday–Friday, 10 AM to 3 PM (hourly).
Closed weekends.

Know Before You Go

Footwear: Closed-toe shoes are required – sneakers are best.
Accessibility: The tour includes 150 stairs and is not wheelchair accessible. Strollers are not permitted.
Safety: Be prepared for temperature changes and elevated noise levels.
Age Requirements: All ages are welcome, but 21+ with valid ID is required for beer sampling.
Groups: Reservations required for groups of 25 or more – call 570-628-4890 or email giftshop@yuengling.com.
Parking: Street, meter, and additional lot parking available at 5th & Norwegian Street.

For full information about visiting – head over to Yuengling’s website.

For more trip planning options while you are in Schuylkill County, head on over to Explore Schuylkill!

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Jake Wynn – Public Historian

Exploring the history of Pennsylvania’s Coal Region