Yuengling - Red, White, and Booze Artwork

Matt and Friends Drink the Universe

Welcome to Matt and Friends Drink the Universe, the comedy podcast where great drinks meet great stories. Join host Matt and a rotating crew of friends as they share laughs, taste unique craft beers, cocktails, wines, and spirits, and dive into the stories, history, and science behind every sip.

Every episode brings something different — from fan-favorite Stellar Sips (the drinks we love) to those dreaded Cosmic Chugs (the ones that crash and burn). You’ll also find a mix of fun episode themes like Alcohology, Think or Drink Trivia, Rocket Rankings, Bar Chats, and How Did We Get Beer? to keep every listen fresh and entertaining.

Packed with hilarious banter, fun facts, and plenty of libation inspiration, this show is perfect for anyone who enjoys discovering new flavors while kicking back with great company.

So grab your favorite drink, relax, and join us as we drink our way through the universe — one unforgettable pour at a time. Cheers!

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Matt and Friends Drink the Universe

Yuengling - Red, White, and Booze

July 22, 2026 • "The President's Own" United States Marine Band • Episode 72

0:00 | 6:07

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America’s oldest brewery has a survival story that reads like a crash course in U.S. history, and we’re pouring it up as part of our Red, White, and Booze celebration for America’s 250th birthday. From the jump, Yuengling is not just a brandbto us. It’s a living thread that runs through history, industry, and the way certain beers become part of a place’s identity, especially here in Pennsylvania.

We follow the brewery back to 1829, when German immigrant David Gottlieb Yuengling picks Pottsville, Pennsylvania and starts what was first called the Eagle Brewery. Coal country demand, cool storage caves for lagering, a devastating fire, and a relocation that still defines the brewery’s home base all shape the foundation. Along the way, the company becomes D. G. Yuengling and Son, locking in a family legacy that keeps the story personal and surprisingly resilient.

Then comes the big test: Prohibition. We talk through how Yuengling stays alive by brewing Near Beer and even running a dairy that makes ice cream, plus the celebratory flex when Prohibition ends in 1933 and beer gets sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. We also trace the modern era, from Dick Yuengling Jr.’s expansion beyond Pennsylvania to the return of the amber lager in 1987, the flagship green bottle that helped turn “lager” into a shorthand order at bars across much of the East.

If you love beer history, American lager culture, or the behind-the-label business moves that keep a legacy brewery thriving, you’ll get a lot out of this one. Subscribe, share with a fellow lager drinker, and leave us a review so more people can find the show.

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Welcome And The Big Birthday Toast

Matt 0:01

Welcome to Matt and Friends Drink the Universe! Hello, listeners. This is Matt, the unilaterally elected president of this podcast.

Gemma 0:15

Uh, that's not how this works.

Matt 0:18

Thanks, wife. I'd like to invite you to sit back, relax, grab a drink, and join us in celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America.

Gemma 0:29

Hello, hello, hello. What's going on here then? Looks like somebody's got a celebration. I'm gonna start talking to him with my own voice now. I'm not Michael Caine or a very bad impression of Michael Cain. I am Gemma from the Talking Cod Swallop Podcast, wishing you a very happy 250 years of being free from my country. Yeah, you colonial bastards.

Matt 0:51

Thank you, Gemma from Talking Cod Swallop, yet another country

Red White And Booze Series Setup

Matt 0:55

heard from. To get this party started, we're going to release a series of episodes called Red, White, and Booze that celebrate the brands that helped build this great nation. Please enjoy episode three in our Red, White, and Boo series, The Oldest Brewery in America, Yingling.

The Immigrant Founding Story In 1829

Matt 1:12

The story of the oldest brewery in America begins with David Gottlieb Yingling. David Gottlieb Yingling, or DG, was a German immigrant. He grew up in Germany and his father owned a brewery. Being the youngest of five children, he knew that he would never be the owner and operator of his father's brewery, so he chose to immigrate to the United States. For his brewery, he chose Pottsville, Pennsylvania for its rapidly growing coal mining population, as well as its hilly terrain, which allowed him to hire the local coal miners to hollow out caves where he would be able to lager and store his beer. DG began the Eagle Brewery on Center Street in Pottsville in 1829. His eldest son, David Jr., left the Eagle Brewery to establish James River Steam Brewery along the James River in Richmond, Virginia. The brewery burned down in 1831 and was relocated to 5th and West Mahatango Street, where it remains to this day. The Eagle Brewery changed its name to DG Yingling and Son in 1873 after Frederick Yingling joined his father David in running the company.

Fire Rebuild And The Family Name

Matt 2:10

During Prohibition, times were tough for Yingling as they were for most breweries. They survived by producing Near Beer, a 0.5% alcoholic beer-like beverage. I can't imagine how many of those it would have taken to get a buzz. They also operated a dairy which made ice cream and other dairy products. When Prohibition ended in 1933, Yingling

Prohibition Survival With Near Beer

Matt 2:30

celebrated by sending a truckload of their winter beer to President Franklin Delanore Roosevelt. I'm sure he appreciated that. In 1985, Richard L., better known as Dick Yingling Jr., the fifth generation of the Inglam took over the company. Under his leadership, the company rapidly expanded distribution beyond Pennsylvania to several other states, becoming a widely recognized brand in the Eastern U.S. In 1987, perhaps their best decision ever, they reintroduced their amber lager, which had not been made in the decades since Prohibition. They did this to take advantage of a spike in the popularity of heavier-style beers in the 80s. Since that time, Yingling Lager has become its flagship brand, accounting for 80% of the company's production and much of its rapid growth. In February 2014,

Expansion Flagship Lager And New Releases

Matt 3:17

Yingling Ice Cream returned to the market after nearly 30 years. The Ingling Brewery expanded its operations, opening a second brewery in Tampa, Florida in 1999 to better serve its growing customer base in the Southeast. Although operated by the Inglam, it is operated by David Yingling, a cousin of Dick Yingling and descendant of David Gottlieb Yingling, is legally a separate company from the brewery, as was the case during Prohibition. Yingling continues to maintain its reputation for producing traditional lagers and other beer styles, always focusing on quality and heritage. Yingling continues to produce Ying Premium Beer, Yingling Premium Light Beer, original black and tan, dark brewed porter, Lord Chesterfield Ale, better known as Chetty, locally, Golden Pilsner, Yingling Oktoberfest, Yingling Bach, and in 2020 they introduced Flight, their new light beer, which they deemed the next generation of light beer, being lower in calories and carbohydrates than other beers of its type. And of course, they're still brewing their traditional lager. Served in its recognizable green bottles, the Amber Lager is in the style common before Prohibition. It was brought back to the market by longtime Yingling brewmaster N. Ray Norbert. It quickly became the company's flagship beer and prominently displays the words lager on its label. If you live in one of the 26 states where Gingling distributes its beer, you know that you can go to a bar, order a lager, and expect to receive a Yingling.

Why “Lager” Means Yuengling In PA

Matt 4:44

As you may know, this podcast is recorded in Pennsylvania. We're about an hour away from the Yingling Brewery. Here, Gingling is synonymous with quality beer. In Pennsylvania, whether it's a celebration or a not so great day, we reach for Yingling. And on a personal note, this podcast host will always proudly ask for a logger.

Sponsors Listener Links And Socials

Unfiltered Studios Guy 5:06

This podcast is a production of Unfiltered Studios. If you would like to know more about joining Unfiltered Studios, please visit our website at unfpod.com for more information.

Matt 5:17

Would you like to take a boozy trip across the country, the planet, or the universe? Call our sponsor, the Poppins Travel Company, at 407-494-4070. That's 407-494-4070. Would you like to suggest something for us to drink, give us some feedback, or have your brand featured on Matt and Friends Drink the Universe? We would love to hear from all of our listeners. Please check our episode descriptions down below for links to send us a text, support the podcast, and visit our merch store. To keep up with our latest news or share your stellar sifts with us, please like and follow Matt Friends DTU on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Threads, Blue Sky, and Reddit. For more information about the podcast and links to all of our episodes, please visit www.matfriendsdtu.com. That's Matt and FriendsDTU.com. Cheers, friends!