Lager circles globe

From the Pottsville Republican

Stroll around the rathskeller at "America's Oldest Brewery" and you quickly see that Traditional Amber Lager is a beer of the famous and far-flung.

They populate the pictures about the dark-panelled room.

There are professional athletes like golf pro Ed Dougherty and the legendary Arnold Palmer, offering hand-written words of encouragement and praise.

There are local sports stars turned professional -- like Chris Nabholz and John Flannery -- offering greetings and thanks for support over the years.

There are politicians, Gov. Tom Ridge and Lt. Gov. Mark S. Schweiker among them, toasting Pottsville's home brew.

Even famous actors like Jack Palance are there, offering kudos.

Brewery owner Richard L. Yuengling Jr., himself something of a celebrity these days, takes it all in stride.

"I don't pay much attention to what famous people drink it," said the youthful-looking 55-year-old. "It's such a local beer."

Cans of Yuengling's Traditional Amber Lager are not only touched by famous hands; they travel the country -- and the world.

"After the tours, we have people wanting to buy a case of lager at the brewery before heading home," said Yuengling. "Since we don't sell cases here, we're always directing them to the local distributors -- many stop on their way home."

And judging from the map of the world outside the giftshop -- hundreds of colored push-pins mark where visitors came from -- there are Amber Lager fans fans in Australia, England, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Italy, Russia, Turkey and beyond.

Among the famous hands to grasp a can of lager include the Palmers: The golf legend and wife Winifred are personal friends of the Yuenglings.

During annual trips to the Masters in Augusta, Ga., in recent years, Yuengling's mother, Marjorie, would carry cases of Amber Lager in her trunk for tailgate parties following the Masters.

"That's how (Palmer) started drinking it, through a 35-year relationship with my parents," the son said.

From the links, cans of Amber Lager have crossed the Atlantic Ocean when now-retired Gen. George A. Joulwan was NATO supreme allied commander in Brussels, Belgium.

"General Joulwan has been very instrumental in promoting our products in Europe" -- where it isn't even for sale, said David A. Casinelli, Yuengling executive vice president.