End of an era
Around Pittsburgh the recent closing of the Rolling Rock plant in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, has been big news. Their former parent company sold the brand and the recipe to Anheuser Busch, but not the Latrobe facility. As of this week, Rolling Rock will be brewed in Newark. Needless to say, I will be among those never touching it again.
The origins of the Rolling Rock beer has reached urban legend proportions. In my travels ('way back when I was working and traveled to such exotic locations as Saginaw, Flint, and even Ft. Wayne) , I would have people (who had no idea that I was from Western PA or graduated from college near the Rolling Rock world) tell me the true stories of Rolling Rock. Like how the original owner in the 20s bet all his money on a horse at the local horse track and its number was 33 and after he won he started Rolling Rock Beer. (Clarification: This is not true. The "33" remains a mystery. The beer was originally brewed by these guys in 1893 and then commercially after 1895 as noted below. Wikipedia has some more plausible theories)
My mom sent over this email today, quoting an Indiana, Pennsylvania newspaper. It is much more telling of the actual beginnings of Rolling Rock Beer.
The origins of the Rolling Rock beer has reached urban legend proportions. In my travels ('way back when I was working and traveled to such exotic locations as Saginaw, Flint, and even Ft. Wayne) , I would have people (who had no idea that I was from Western PA or graduated from college near the Rolling Rock world) tell me the true stories of Rolling Rock. Like how the original owner in the 20s bet all his money on a horse at the local horse track and its number was 33 and after he won he started Rolling Rock Beer. (Clarification: This is not true. The "33" remains a mystery. The beer was originally brewed by these guys in 1893 and then commercially after 1895 as noted below. Wikipedia has some more plausible theories)
My mom sent over this email today, quoting an Indiana, Pennsylvania newspaper. It is much more telling of the actual beginnings of Rolling Rock Beer.
"The Benedictine monks, of Westmoreland County, who created so much discussion in the late Catholic Total Abstinence convention, have arranged to sell their brewery and thus set the matter at rest.
The Indiana Democrat, Indiana, PA Oct 19 1895
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