CENTRAL ILLINOIS (25News Now) – Coveted Pennsylvanian beer, Yuengling, will be available in Illinois bars starting Jan. 27.
Originally made in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, the beer is the product of the country’s oldest brewery, starting production in 1829.
Family-run RJ Distribution in East Peoria will soon deliver the beer in kegs across the Central Illinois area.
Vice President and General Manager Brian Jockisch said Yuengling was able to distribute to Illinois thanks to a well-known Colorado-based brewery.
“In 2020, they did a joint venture with Molson Coors,” Brian said. “It allowed for production capabilities to make it so they can distribute it throughout the entire United States.”
RJ Distributing will be the only company servicing the area with the beer.
Vice President of Sales Rob Jockisch said it’s an honor for their family-owned business to partner up with Yuengling’s family-owned business and make the distribution possible.
“This is a journey we started over 15 years ago,” Rob said. “Over the years, we stayed in contact with [Yuengling] and developed that relationship with them.”
He said Yuengling will be going to just four Central Illinois counties: Peoria, Woodford, Tazewell, and Logan.
“There are going to be well over 200 accounts that are probably going to be serving Yuengling in the first couple of weeks, easily,” Rob said.
Rob said their phones have been ringing with customers asking when the beer is coming in, and so have local bars. Employees of Mike’s Tavern in West Peoria said people are looking forward to getting their hands on the lager.
“People are excited because it’s a 194-year-old beer that hasn’t been sold here, ever,” said Mike’s Tavern bartender Taelor Moore. “It’s also just a classic lager that people have liked for a really long time, two centuries almost.”
“[The distributors] are bringing everybody in, and they’re just shipping it out to the city, everywhere you go,” said Mike’s Tavern owner Mark Donahue. “I’d imagine, like us, it’ll be on tap as soon as you get in.”
Brian said Yuengling will only be distributed to bars in the first five weeks. People will also only be able to get the classic lager and Flight beers on draft.
Delivery will begin Monday at 7 a.m. Packaged beer will be available in bars and stores on March 3.
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