In 1920, with Prohibition the law of the land, Frank D. Yuengling, then the owner of Pottsville, Pennsylvania’s, D.G. Yuengling & Son Brewery, took a step back from the brewing business and branched into ice cream. The unlikely venture proved to be a good one for the Yuengling family; the frozen treat business increased and the ice cream plant expanded several times. Even after Prohibition ended with the 23rd Amendment, the Yuenglings continued to make ice cream, all the way up to 1985, when production stopped and the business was discontinued.
But now the Yuenglings are getting into the game again. Starting in March 2014, ice cream lovers will be able to enjoy iconic Yuengling’s Ice Cream flavors—and a few new ones, too. The announcement came recently from David Yuengling, president of Yuengling’s Ice Cream and the great-grandson of Frank D. Yuengling.
Yuengling’s Ice Cream is not affiliated with the brewery in Pottsville, but David is second cousin to brewery president and owner Dick Yuengling, who put his support behind the endeavor, according to this article from the local Republican Herald newspaper. Family members aren’t the only folks voicing their support for the return of Yuengling’s Ice Cream. “Over the years, people have always asked to bring it back and they say how much they loved it,” David is quoted as saying. “The few people that we have told so far, everyone said it’s a great idea and wish we had done it long ago.”
The ice cream will be produced at Leiby’s Premium Ice Cream in Tamaqua and sold in grocery stores from Pittsburgh to New Jersey and from Scranton to northern Virginia. The milk and cream used will be locally sourced, making the brand PA Preferred. Formulas for the all-natural ice cream will be finalized over the next few months, and then production will begin.
As of now, 10 flavors are in the works: Vanilla, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Vanilla Fudge Chunk with Pretzels, Espresso Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Marshmallow, Root Beer Float, Mint Chocolate Chip and, in a (nonalcoholic) nod to their heritage, Black and Tan (chocolate and caramel).
Curious to learn more? Follow Yuengling’s Ice Cream on Facebook and Twitter, and be the first to know when the flavors hit the stores!
- Photography: Yuengling's Ice Cream
