CHICAGO (CBS) — Pennsylvania-based Yuengling, the oldest brewery in America, announced early next year that it is expanding into Illinois and bringing its beers to bars and restaurants across the state.
Beginning in late January, Yuengling brand beers will be available on tap at bars and restaurants in Illinois, with the brews hitting store shelves in the following weeks.
“For years, we have seen an overwhelming desire for our portfolio among our most loyal fans in Illinois, who have eagerly awaited the brand’s arrival,” said Wendy Yuengling, a sixth-generation family owner and chief administrative officer at the brewery. “We are incredibly proud to announce our expansion into a great beer market like Illinois in the new year and as the oldest brewery in America, we look forward to delivering on our promise to deliver high-quality beer drinking experiences across the state.”
Yuengling is currently available in 26 states, primarily on the East Coast and Southeast. The expansion to Illinois comes after the brewery expanded to Indiana and Arkansas in 2017, to Texas in 2021, and to Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma in 2023.
“We look forward to continuing our work with our skilled partners to bring Illinoisans the rich tradition and quality that America’s oldest brewery is known for,” Colin Callahan, general manager of Yuengling, said in a statement .
Yuengling first opened in 1829 with its flagship Eagle Brewery in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where it remains headquartered about 90 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
