Latrobe Brewing Company
Encyclopedia
Latrobe Brewing Company in Latrobe, Pennsylvania
, founded in 1893, was one of the largest breweries in the United States
and the maker of Rolling Rock beer
. It was purchased by Labatt Brewing Company
in 1987, which in turn was purchased in 1995 by the Belgian brewing conglomerate Interbrew
, which merged into InBev
in 2004.
In May 2006, InBev announced that it was selling the Rolling Rock brands to Anheuser-Busch
, the largest brewer in the United States. This sale, however, excluded the Brewery, leaving an uncertain future for the Latrobe brewery, which only continued producing the Rolling Rock Brands through July 31, when production was moved to an Anheuser-Busch facility in Newark, New Jersey.
On June 21, 2006, InBev signed a letter of intent
with City Brewing Company
from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, "giving it exclusive rights for an undetermined time to negotiate a purchase of the plant." City Brewing currently operates the historic G. Heileman Brewery
in LaCrosse. However, with the sale of the plant still in limbo, the Latrobe Brewing Company plant officially shut down on July 31, 2006, and the plant sat idle.
In September 2006, City Brewing Company
from LaCrosse, Wisconsin agreed to purchase the brewery http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2006/09/25/daily31.html.
In March 2007, the brewery reopened its doors and produced Samuel Adams
. The Boston Beer Company
signed a deal with the plant's current owners, City Brewing Company
in April 2007 to produce beer in the plant. The Boston Beer Company had pledged $3 to 7 million dollars to upgrade the plant. It is estimated that 200,000 to 250,000 barrels of beer would be produced in the plant during the remainder of 2007.
In late October 2008, City Brewery-Latrobe laid off 70 workers forcing a temporary shutdown, and has not brewed beer at the plant since November. Boston Beer Co. has since moved their operations to an old Pabst brewery they purchased near Allentown, PA. In May 2009, Iron City Brewing signed a deal with City Brewing Co to begin producing beer at the plant, with brewing started in June and bottling/kegging production resumed in July, 2009.
In July 2009 some Southampton brands (Double White, IPA, Altbier, Pumpkin, Imperial Porter) were moved to Latrobe from Lion Brewing.
In addition to Iron City Beer, City Brewing also produces Stoney's and Stoney's Light.
On December 8, 2009 City Brewing completed the installation of a can line and started canning in 12 and 16 ounce packages.
A 24 ounce can line is expected to be completed in early 2010.
Latrobe, Pennsylvania
Latrobe is a city in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania in the United States, approximately southeast of Pittsburgh.The city population was 7,634 as of the 2000 census . It is located near the Pennsylvania's scenic Chestnut Ridge. Latrobe was incorporated as a borough in 1854, and as a city in 1999...
, founded in 1893, was one of the largest breweries in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the maker of Rolling Rock beer
Rolling Rock
Rolling Rock is a 4.5% abv pale lager launched in 1939 by the Latrobe Brewing Company. Although founded as a local beer in Western Pennsylvania, it was marketed aggressively and eventually became a national product. The brand was sold to Anheuser-Busch of St...
. It was purchased by Labatt Brewing Company
Labatt Brewing Company
Labatt Brewing Company Ltd. is a Canadian beer company founded by John Kinder Labatt in 1847 in London, Ontario. In 1995, it was purchased by Belgian brewer Interbrew; it is now part of Anheuser-Busch InBev...
in 1987, which in turn was purchased in 1995 by the Belgian brewing conglomerate Interbrew
Interbrew
Interbrew was a large Belgium-based brewing company which owned many internationally known beers, as well as some smaller local beers. In 2004 Interbrew merged with Brazilian brewer AmBev to form InBev, which is the now largest brewer in the world by volume, with a 13% global market share now...
, which merged into InBev
InBev
InBev is a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev. The company existed independently for several years - since the merger between Interbrew and AmBev and until the acquisition of Anheuser-Busch. InBev has operations in over 30 countries and sales in over 130 countries...
in 2004.
In May 2006, InBev announced that it was selling the Rolling Rock brands to Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. , is an American brewing company. The company operates 12 breweries in the United States and 18 in other countries. It was, until December 2009, also one of America's largest theme park operators; operating ten theme parks across the United States through the...
, the largest brewer in the United States. This sale, however, excluded the Brewery, leaving an uncertain future for the Latrobe brewery, which only continued producing the Rolling Rock Brands through July 31, when production was moved to an Anheuser-Busch facility in Newark, New Jersey.
On June 21, 2006, InBev signed a letter of intent
Letter of intent
A letter of intent is a document outlining an agreement between two or more parties before the agreement is finalized. The concept is similar to a heads of agreement...
with City Brewing Company
City Brewing Company
City Brewing Company is a large brewery located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. It also goes by the trade name of City Brewery.- History :In 1999 the old G...
from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, "giving it exclusive rights for an undetermined time to negotiate a purchase of the plant." City Brewing currently operates the historic G. Heileman Brewery
G. Heileman Brewing Company
The G. Heileman Brewing Company of La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA, was a brewery firm that operated in 1858-1996. It was acquired in the latter year by Stroh's, and its independent existence ended...
in LaCrosse. However, with the sale of the plant still in limbo, the Latrobe Brewing Company plant officially shut down on July 31, 2006, and the plant sat idle.
In September 2006, City Brewing Company
City Brewing Company
City Brewing Company is a large brewery located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. It also goes by the trade name of City Brewery.- History :In 1999 the old G...
from LaCrosse, Wisconsin agreed to purchase the brewery http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2006/09/25/daily31.html.
In March 2007, the brewery reopened its doors and produced Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams (beer)
Samuel Adams is an American brand of beer brewed by the Boston Beer Company and its associated contract brewers. The company was founded in 1984 by Jim Koch, Harry M. Rubin, and Lorenzo Lamadrid in Boston, Massachusetts, USA...
. The Boston Beer Company
Boston Beer Company
Samuel Adams is an American brand of beer brewed by the Boston Beer Company and its associated contract brewers. The company was founded in 1984 by Jim Koch, Harry M. Rubin, and Lorenzo Lamadrid in Boston, Massachusetts, USA...
signed a deal with the plant's current owners, City Brewing Company
City Brewing Company
City Brewing Company is a large brewery located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. It also goes by the trade name of City Brewery.- History :In 1999 the old G...
in April 2007 to produce beer in the plant. The Boston Beer Company had pledged $3 to 7 million dollars to upgrade the plant. It is estimated that 200,000 to 250,000 barrels of beer would be produced in the plant during the remainder of 2007.
In late October 2008, City Brewery-Latrobe laid off 70 workers forcing a temporary shutdown, and has not brewed beer at the plant since November. Boston Beer Co. has since moved their operations to an old Pabst brewery they purchased near Allentown, PA. In May 2009, Iron City Brewing signed a deal with City Brewing Co to begin producing beer at the plant, with brewing started in June and bottling/kegging production resumed in July, 2009.
In July 2009 some Southampton brands (Double White, IPA, Altbier, Pumpkin, Imperial Porter) were moved to Latrobe from Lion Brewing.
In addition to Iron City Beer, City Brewing also produces Stoney's and Stoney's Light.
On December 8, 2009 City Brewing completed the installation of a can line and started canning in 12 and 16 ounce packages.
A 24 ounce can line is expected to be completed in early 2010.