Latrobe Brewing Company

Latrobe Brewing Company in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, founded in 1939, was one of the largest breweries in the United States and the maker of Rolling Rock beer (famous for its small green bottles). It was purchased by Labatt Brewing Company in 1987, which in turn was purchased in 1995 by the Belgian brewing conglomerate corporation Interbrew, which merged later into InBev in 2004.

Latrobe Brewing Company
Latrobe Brewing Company viewed from Ligonier Street
LocationLatrobe, Pennsylvania
United States
Opened1939
Owned byCity Brewing Company
Active beers
Name Type
Iron City Various

In May 2006, InBev announced that it was selling the Rolling Rock brands to Anheuser-Busch, (Budweiser), the largest brewer in the United States. This sale, however, excluded the brewery,[1] 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.[2]

On June 21, 2006, InBev signed a letter of intent with City Brewing Company from La Crosse, 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 La Crosse.[3] 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 La Crosse, Wisconsin agreed to purchase the brewery.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6] Boston Beer Co. has since moved their operations to an old Schaefer plant[7] they purchased near Allentown, PA.[8] In May 2009, Iron City Brewing signed a deal with City Brewing Co to once again begin producing beer at the plant,[9] with brewing started in June and bottling/kegging production resumed in July 2009.[10]

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 was expected to be completed in early 2010.

In 2012, Diageo moved production of the U.S. supply of Red Stripe from Jamaica to the U.S.; City Brewing Company is producing the supply in their Latrobe brewery. Guinness Blonde is also currently being brewed in this brewery.

On September 7, 2016 Diageo returned production of Red Stripe to Kingston.


References
  1. "InBev said to put Rolling Rock beer on the block". MSNBC/Reuters. March 22, 2006. Archived from the original on April 15, 2006. Retrieved May 19, 2006.
  2. Boselovic, Len (May 19, 2006). "Sale puts Latrobe Brewing jobs up in air". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 19, 2006.
  3. Boselovic, Len (June 22, 2006). "Wisconsin brewer may buy Rolling Rock plant". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved June 25, 2006.
  4. City Brewery buys Latrobe Brewery
  5. "Latrobe brewery produces first beer in a year". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. May 21, 2007. Archived from the original on September 10, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
  6. "Latrobe brewery to lay off 70 workers". PennLive LLC. October 16, 2008.
  7. Lehigh Valley Brewery
  8. "City Brewing not closing Latrobe plant". The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. February 24, 2009. Archived from the original on February 26, 2009.
  9. "Goodbye, Iron City: Latrobe's Gain Is Pittsburgh's Loss". The PittsburghChannel. June 11, 2009. Archived from the original on August 15, 2009.
  10. Todd, Deborah M. (July 30, 2009). "Latrobe Brewery reopens to bottle Iron City". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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