
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A traditional full-flavored lager from America’s oldest brewery is set to make its debut in the Rockford region, and local distributors say its arrival is among the most highly anticipated they’ve seen.
Pottsville, Pennsylvania-based brewery Yuengling announced a month ago its plans to expand into Illinois. Rockford-based Hayes Beer Distributing said this week it will be available on draft at bars and restaurants starting Jan. 27. You can also get it on draft at 815 Ale Fest on Feb. 1. Then, packaged beer sales will begin in grocers, liquor stores and other retailers on March 3.
“I’ve been doing this now for 40 years and I’ve seen a lot of beers come and go, and you don’t generally see a hype like you’ve seen with this,” said John Foley, sales manager for Hayes Beer Distributing. “We’re excited to be able to represent the brand and happy that it’s in our house. The people when they get out and try it are going to be happy that it’s finally made it here.”
Hayes Beer Distributing said it already has more than 100 businesses committed to carrying the brand in its eight and a quarter county territory, which includes Winnebago and Boone counties. It expects roughly 200 by the time the rollout begins. Their territory runs from the eastern edge of McHenry County west to the Mississippi River.
Illinois will be the 28th state where Yuengling is available, the company said in a December news release. It’s not available in border states such as Wisconsin and Iowa.
“They’ve got to come here and get it from our establishments,” Foley said.
Foley and Chad Cook, area sales manager at Hayes Beer Distributing, said Yuengling’s arrival could deliver a boost to area bars and restaurants as people come out to try the drink.
“If there’s something that there’s a hype about for them to actually get out and support all the bars and restaurants in the community it will be a nice little uptick in business,” Cook said. “People don’t go out as much as they used to. So this is a way to generate some hype.”

Kelly Bloomquist, co-owner of Jax Pub in Loves Park and Oscar’s Pub & Grill in Rockford, said he and his wife have been fans of Yuengling for years, often bringing some home with them from their travels.
He’s excited for people to have the chance to try it at Jax and Oscar’s, which he owns with Brad Fosberg.
“We carry lagers but Yuengling has its own unique profile,” Bloomquist said. “It’s a full-flavored beer … It’s a great beer, and it’s nice that we can finally get it here.”
Related: Tickets are on sale now to 815 Ale Fest, a celebration of local brewers that often sells out
Yuengling was founded in 1829 and has been family owned and operated ever since.
Production is handled by two breweries in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and one in Tampa, Florida. Five years ago, a separate joint venture called The Yuengling Company was established to expand production and distribution further west.
In 2023, it expanded into Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma before making its way here. Cook and Foley said fans of the brand have peppered them with questions for years about when Yuengling will arrive here.
“There’s a nostalgia to it. It’s the oldest brewery in the country. It’s family owned, fifth generation now — incredible family,” Foley said. “It has slowly been moving and getting to more and more states … Now, as it’s starting to grow across the country people are getting more excited because it’s becoming more readily available.”
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas