Time Passages - Rolling Rock RIP

PENNSYLVANIA TOWN SHAKEN AS ITS MAINSTAY SLIPS AWAY By Daniel Lovering By Associated Press May 20, 2006 (abridged)
PITTSBURGH --- The departure of Rolling Rock beer from the tiny Pennsylvania town it has come to symbolize has left the future of local brewery workers --- and the town's identity --- in question. The owner of the Rolling Rock brand, a U.S. subsidiary of the Belgium-based brewing giant InBev SA, announced Friday that it had sold the brand to Anheuser-Busch Cos. for $82 million.

But the Latrobe Brewing Co., which has churned out the beer since 1939, is not part of the deal. It will be sold and Anheuser-Busch will begin making Rolling Rock and Rock Green Light elsewhere in August. This news that Rolling Rock will be leaving Latrobe, a town of about 9,000 people, spells trouble for the local economy and has upset residents who have seen generations of local people go to work at the brewery. Tom Marflak, Latrobe's mayor, called the move "an injustice for the city. It goes without saying how disappointing it is to hear the news that Rolling Rock will no longer be brewed in Latrobe," Rolling Rock and Latrobe, they go together.

Having gone to school in Washington, PA, dr. lenny is well familiar with Rolling Rock Beer and Latrobe PA. It was my favorite beer from 1976-1987. The latter seven years it had to be acquire in Oregon, which took some real tricks, until a friendly tavern owner started stocking (or not be able to keep up with the demand of trying to stock) for me. Smooth taste - mmm!! Now its going to be just another form of Clydesdale piss. Fortunately, dr. lenny doesn't drink beer any more - just good dark coffee and lots of lattice water. Still - we note the passing. When my friends were drinking iron city, my cheap local beer of choice was Rolling Rock!