Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale…and Many More…

Looks like today’s approval may confirm the upcoming fall release of Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale from our friends at Lion Brewery.  We showed off the Bottle packaging back in May, so today’s keg packaging confirms we’re likely to see a seasonal release.  It’s also worth noting that Stegmaier also received keg approval today for Summer Stock, Oktoberfest, Porter, Winter Warmer, Pale Ale, IPA, Belgian White, Gold and Amber Lager.

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Lion Brewery Stegmaier–NEW Pumpkin Ale !

I’m excited to be the first to show you the new packaging for Lion Brewery Stegmaier Pumpkin Ale (ale brewed with pumpkin and spices)…the first new brew to come out of the Stegmaier line in over a year.  We’ve been showing you the new Stegmaier packaging, but this is an actual new beer.  Looks like it will be packaged in 12oz bottles and come in at 5.5% ABV.

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Lion Brewery–Stegmaier Oktoberfest 2011

here’s your first look at the new Lion Brewery Stegmaier Oktoberfest packaging for 2011.  I brought you the IPA & Amber and White Ale…so why not show off the new Stegmaier Brewing Oktoberfest packaging.  Yep it’s still a 12oz bottle and 6.1% ABV (with a pretzel)…and here’s the neck label too.

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Lion Brewery–Stegmaier NEW Packaging IPA and Amber Lager

We were the first to show off the new can design for Stegmaier IPA…and at first I concluded it was only a radical change in the packaging that would be used on the specialty cans.  Today we see approvals for 12oz bottles for Stegmaier IPA and Stegmaier Amber Lager.  This new design uses a wood plank backing with the traditional and historical Stegmaier Brewing Company initials logo (SBC) with the tagline “Brewed in the Honorable Tradition of Charles Stegmaier.”  Since the Lion Brewery recently re-designed all of it’s Stegmaier Packaging this was initially a surprise, however I can say there was some dissatisfaction at how recognizable the former packaging was.  At 6.7% ABV for the IPA and 5.2% ABV for the Amber Lager, these appear to be the same recipes for these brews.

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Lion Brewery–Stegmaier IPA NEW CAN Packaging

With all of the new packaging Lion Brewery just completed for their Stegmaier Line (Summer Stock, IPA, Pale Ale, Oktoberfest, Winter Warmer…) it was a huge surprise to see this new label approval for Stegmaier IPA with radically different can packaging.  This 12oz label carries the tag “Brewed in the honorable tradition of Charles Stegmaier” and the original Stegmaier initials logo.  “When the Lion acquired the Stegmaier family of brews in 1974, we vowed to continue the rich brewing tradition started by Charles Stegmaier.  Each of our lagers and ales are brewed in small batches with the finest hops and malts available to guarantee the highest quality and freshness.  These original recipes were especially created to deliver a fuller flavor than ordinary beers.  This a proud brewing history dating back to 1905, you can taste the difference that a century of brewing experience can make!” 

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Scranton Police–Dumping Beer!

No it’s not what you’re thinking based on my headline….but Thank you again to our old pal Stashu Milski for providing us with another local historical beer-photo.  This one is labeled Scranton Police dumping Beer during prohibition, Scranton PA and it’s from the 1920 to 1933 timeframe according to the label.

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Lion Brewery–Cottonwood Frostbite Winter

A few weeks ago I brought you the first two labels from Cottonwood (Carolina Beer Co), and today I’m excited to bring you Frostbite Winter Ale.  These beers are contract brewed out of our very own Lion Brewery and packaged in 12oz bottles.  Frostbite is a “Winter Warmer” with a “hearty blend of six malts perfectly balanced with three hop varieties” and comes in at a warming 8% ABV.

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Stegmaier Brothers Inc.

Thank you to my pal Stashu Milski for sending in yet another cool local brewing history photo.  Today’s photo shows the Stegmaier Brothers Inc. (Hanover Twp., Wilkes-Barre PA) fleet of 8 trucks.  Looks like they’re lined up at the Burnaford Chevrolet Co, most likely as they were purchased new.  Lots of cool details from the trolley tracks and brick paved streets to the Shell & Coca-Cola signs.  If anyone has any additional details on the photo or location please feel free to comment in.

UPDATE:  Thanks to my pal Tom for sending in this photo of the same street today.  Burnaford Chevy was at 693 Hazel Ave (1933)—across the street from Lehman Funeral Home and next to Hanlon’s Drug Store.

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Lion Brewery–Label Fun Gibbons 32oz

Here’s a vintage 32oz Gibbons Premium Beer label that we haven’t shown off yet.  “A special blend of finest barley malt and choicest hops assures the full, smooth flavor of this Premium Quality Beverage.”

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Lion Brewery–Carolina Beer Co Cottonwood Endo IPA & Carolina Blonde

Today we have two new labels from Carolina Beer Co that are brewed and packaged at our very own Lion Brewery.  These are licensed by SBT Corp and will both be packaged in 12oz bottles.  The Endo is brewed and dry-hopped with Cascade & Chinook hops, and the Carolina Blonde (their flagship beer) uses 100% malted barley and American hops.

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Lion Brewery - Lionshead IPA?

Here’s an interesting and confusing packaging approval from this morning.  This is the keg packaging for something called Lionshead IPA.  The ABV certainly matches up to their regular Stegmaier IPA so I’m not sure what the Lionshead designation is doing on the packaging, but stay tuned for further details.

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Lion Brewery–Label Fun Rheingold Cans

Here’s one that almost quietly snuck by today.  This is the new 12oz can packaging for Rheingold Lager Beer  This one will be brewed and canned by our very own Lion Brewery so stay tuned.

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Lion Brewery–Label Fun Gibbons Deposit

We haven’t added to our Lion Brewery label collection in some time, so thank you to Jess Kidden for passing on this great Gibbons 12oz returnable bottle labeling for Gibbons Famous Light Lager.

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Old Reading / Lion Brewery / Ruckus Brewing 125th Anniversary Special Packaging!

Old Reading, aka Ruckus Brewing, aka our very own Lion Brewery, is celebrating their 125th Anniversary with some VERY historical and cool packaging.  1886 to 2011 and here is your first peek at some of the label designs just approved today.  As you can see, each label commemorates a specific year or years in Old Reading production.  Very Cool!

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Lancaster Brewing–Rumspringa NEW 12oz CAN

Here’s your VERY first look at the new 12oz CAN packaging for Lancaster Brewing Co Rumspringa Golden Bock Beer Brewed with Honey.  “Embrace your rebellious side!  Our fiesty Golden Bock Lager is brewed with real Lancaster County honey and has a subtle malt flavor complimented by a flawless balance of domestic & European hops.”  Apparently Rumspringa is an Amish term for when a young man is ready to head out on his own.

Sumspringa was released in June 2010 for Philly Beer Week as a tap only brew so it’s exciting to see it will now be canned and of course it will be brewed and packaged by our very own Lion Brewery.

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Lion Brewery–70 New Employees $15M Expansion

From the Citizens Voice:

WILKES-BARRE - Inside the Lion Brewery, workers bustle around new equipment that has created more than 70 jobs over the last 18 months.

The Lion Brewery, one of the oldest breweries in Pennsylvania, has undergone a $15 million expansion and now has a new can production line and an automated racking system, which cleans and fills half-kegs of beer.

Cliff Risell, president and CEO of the Lion Brewery, Brewmaster Leo Orlandini and Tom Farina, senior vice president of sales and marketing, recently led a tour of the new equipment at the 106-year-old brewery on North Pennsylvania Avenue. The state, Luzerne County and the City of Wilkes-Barre assisted with funding the $15 million expansion, Risell said.

The state-of-the-art racking system cleans and fills 40 to 60 half-kegs of beer an hour. The new line produces about 800 16-ounce cans a minute and about 1,100 12-ounce cans a minute and packages them.

"We felt there was a large opportunity to get into the can business," Risell said. "A lot of our customers were asking for cans. We also needed to upgrade our racking system."

Risell and a group of investors purchased the Lion Brewery in November 2007. Together, they have facilitated the brewery's growth without sacrificing any of its work force, which consists of about 175 people. They have focused on restoring the roar of Lionshead and Stegmaier beer brands. They also pack for a number of customers, including other beer brands and soda.

"We thought it was a great opportunity for this area of the country, Northeastern Pennsylvania, to expand and to run a business and obviously, make a decent business return," Risell said. "That was the worst of times when the economy went south, but we stuck it out and we weathered the storm for the last couple years and we made a strategic decision that we were going to invest in our business."

When Risell and investors purchased the Lion Brewery in 2007, it had two bottle lines. Since then, the investment in new equipment has grown business by about 20 percent, Risell said.

"We've added a significant number of large customers on a national basis. Our business has grown quite well," Risell said. "At the same time, we've been able to maintain our profitability and we've also added jobs."

The 70 to 75 jobs added thanks to the investments have included supervisors, managers, brewers, bottlers, mechanics, forklift operators and quality control staff.

"Since Cliff took over, it has been magnificent what they're doing," said union President Clarence Gallagher. "They're hiring people. Before, they were laying off people."

The Lion Brewery is the only remaining brewery in Luzerne County and the second largest in the state after Yuengling.

Farina has assisted in the growth by expanding territory where brewery sells its products to 17 states. In 2007, its brands were sold only in Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey and New York. Working with Scranton-based distributor LT Verrastro President Pat Verrastro, Farina also has assisted in expanding the Lion Brewery's brands to more bars and restaurants throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania as well.

The Lion Brewery got into the craft brewing business about a year ago and decided to revamp its Stegmaier brand, keeping the traditional Gold Medal label that has been around since 1857.

"We're going to continue focusing on the craft side because the craft side of this industry is where it's at today," Farina said.

The Lion Brewery bought the Stegmaier name in 1974. About a year ago, Risell said he and other officials at the Lion Brewery decided "we're going to make Stegmaier work or we won't have Stegmaier."

"Since that time, with Leo's help and Tom's help, we have fixed that brand from a quality standpoint and a recipe standpoint," Risell said. "With Tom's selling and marketing, we have had tremendous growth."

Among the other growth at the Lion Brewery, its offices have moved to Laird Street in Wilkes-Barre.

"We continue to invest every year in our business," Risell said. "We're investing in our brewhouse to make us more efficient and capable. We buy new cleaning equipment every year, including trucks and forklifts. We're spending a significant amount of money every year to make our business better. Our business is growing. Our customers are demanding more and we're spending more."

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Lion Brewery–Label Fun Calvin Cooler

We straying a little from the beer borders here, but I thought you’d want a peek at the latest contract brew coming out of our beloved Lion Brewery.  Today we have Calvin Cooler Strawberry Daiquiri, Lemonade Slam, and Screwdriver (all are 12oz 5.9% ABV).

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Hudepohl–Original Bock (Lion Brewery)

We posted out on Jan 7th, the newly approved Hudepohl Festival Bock packaging.  Hudepohl is a brew coming out of our very own Lion brewery, so it was exciting to see approval for their Original Bock keg packaging.

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Lion Brewery–Label Fun Gibbons Porter

Here’s one we haven’t posted before….this is the Gibbons Porter

12oz with IRS tax stamp and a 1937 copyright.

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Lion Brewery–Hudepohl Festival Bock NEW (Schoenling)

Here’s an exciting label approved today for Hudepohl Festival Bock to be brewed at our very own Lion Brewery.  “Bock to our lips and spring to our souls".”  This looks to be from Hudepohl-Schoenling Brewing Company out of Cincinnati OH and it will be packaged in 12oz bottles.  Hudepohl is owner by Christian Moerling Brewing.  This is a new spring seasonal for Hudepohl following up on their original Bock (released in 2007) and their Amber Lager (released in Aug 2010).

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