Where To Buy Piels Beer: Availability And Options

Piels Beer, also called Piel Bros. Beer and Piel's Beer, is a regional lager beer originally brewed in Brooklyn, New York. The beer was founded in 1883 by the Piel brothers: Gottfried, Michael, and Wilhelm Piel. The brand was discontinued by Pabst Brewing Company in 2015. However, a new company, Piels Brewing Company, based in New York, tried to acquire the rights to the brand and relaunch it in the New York region in 2018. While it is not clear if Piels Beer is currently available for purchase, vintage Piels Beer cans and bottles are available on eBay, indicating that the brand has a dedicated following.

Piels Beer history

Piels Beer, also known as Piel Bros. Beer and Piel's Beer, is a regional lager beer originally brewed in Brooklyn, New York City, at 315 Liberty Avenue. The beer was founded in 1883 by the Piel brothers: Gottfried, Michael and Wilhelm Piel. Michael, the brewer, was born in Germany in 1849 and descended from a long line of farmers. However, he moved away from farming and became interested in brewing, inspired by the new science of modern refrigeration. After completing an apprenticeship as a brewer in Dortmund, Westphalia, he joined his brother Gottfried in New York City, where they founded their brewery.

The Piel brothers secured a small old-style brewing plant and set to work converting it to newer ideas, utilising the soft water from Long Island that was preferred by German brewers. By 1888, the brewery was prospering, and by 1898, the partnership became a corporation, gaining a national reputation. The demand for their beer, a typical German novelty in the American brewing industry, led to the construction of a new, enlarged plant with modern refrigeration. Michael contributed many ideas of his own, and the brewery's reputation spread abroad, with brewing experts from Europe and South America visiting to study his work.

In the 1950s, Piels had a successful television advertising campaign featuring Bert and Harry Piel, fictitious animated owners of the brewery. The characters were voiced by comedians Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding. However, like many regional breweries, Piels faced increasing competition from national brands such as Schlitz, Pabst, and Budweiser, which infiltrated their primary sales territory. This, coupled with a disastrous 81-day brewery strike in 1949, allowed out-of-town brewers to establish a foothold in New York City and ultimately contributed to the end of the Piels dynasty.

The Piel Bros. plant in East New York closed down in 1973 after 90 years of operation, and the licensing was eventually transferred to Pabst, which shed the brand in 2015. The brand was then purchased by Shannon Degnan and his family, with the intention of restoring its integrity and improving taste and quality. The Piels brand was relaunched in the New York region in 2018, marking a return to its roots as a family-owned business.

Where to buy Piels Beer

Piels Beer, also known as Piel Bros. Beer or Piel's Beer, is a regional lager beer originally brewed in Brooklyn, New York. The Piels brand has changed hands several times since its founding in 1883, and it is currently owned by Pabst Brewing Company, which acquired the brand in the 1970s.

While Piels Beer was discontinued by Pabst in April 2015, there are still some ways to purchase it. Here are some options for where to buy Piels Beer:

Online Options

One option for purchasing Piels Beer is to check online retailers, such as eBay. A recent search on eBay revealed various Piels Beer cans and bottles available for sale, including vintage and empty cans, as well as some newer options. These listings include a range of prices and shipping options, so be sure to read the descriptions carefully before making a purchase.

Local Beer Retailers

Another option is to check with local beer retailers in your area. Some specialty beer stores may have Piels Beer in stock, especially if they carry a variety of regional or craft beers. You can call or visit your local beer stores to inquire about their selection and availability of Piels Beer.

BeerMenus

BeerMenus is a website and app that allows you to search for specific beers and find nearby places that carry them. However, a recent search on BeerMenus for Piels Lager yielded no results, indicating that no nearby places on BeerMenus currently have this beer in stock. You can sign up on the BeerMenus website to be notified when local businesses get Piels Beer in stock.

Piels Brewing Company

Finally, you may want to contact Piels Brewing Company directly to inquire about purchasing options. The company is based in New York and relaunched the Piels brand in the New York region in 2018. They may have information on specific retailers or distributors that carry Piels Beer, or they may be able to direct you to online purchasing options.

Piels Beer reviews

Piels Beer, also known as Piel Bros. Beer or Piel's Beer, is a regional lager beer that was originally brewed in Brooklyn, New York City. Founded in 1883 by the Piel brothers, the beer has since changed hands several times and was discontinued by Pabst Brewing Company in 2015. However, the brand was relaunched in the New York region in 2018 by the Piels Brewing Company, which is owned by the descendants of the former Piel Bros. LP President, Thomas P. Hawkes.

Reviews of Piels Beer are mixed, with some drinkers praising its affordability, drinkability, and smooth taste, while others find it unremarkable or mediocre. Here is a more comprehensive look at what people have to say about Piels Beer:

Reviews on BeerAdvocate.com range from 1.3 to 3 out of 5 stars, with an average rating of 2.26. One reviewer, atomicben from Canada, gave it 2.25 stars, noting that it was cheap, light in colour and flavour, and affordable when they were 19-20 years old. They also mentioned that they would still buy it for "old times' sake." Another reviewer, tekstr1der from New Hampshire, gave it 2.5 stars and recalled drinking it in high school since it was budget-friendly. They considered it a good alternative to Budweiser, stating that there are far worse adjunct lagers on the market. WaterBoar from Pennsylvania, who rated it 2.71, described it as a smooth and good beer for those on a budget.

On the other hand, KACK1533 from Massachusetts gave it 2.64 stars, commenting that the beer had a pale straw colour, a fleeting head, and a corny and sweet taste. They also mentioned that they might try it again. VABA from Virginia gave it 2.5 stars, noting that it had a slight malt aroma and flavour, with a medium body and decent carbonation. JacketAudio from Pennsylvania rated it 2.4 and mentioned that it was not as bad as they expected.

Overall, while some reviewers have fond memories of drinking Piels Beer, especially for its affordability, others seem to find it unremarkable or give it average ratings.

Piels Beer advertising

Piels Beer, also known as Piel Bros. Beer or Piel's Beer, was originally brewed in Brooklyn, New York, and founded in 1883 by the Piel brothers: Gottfried, Michael, and Wilhelm Piel. The brand enjoyed a successful advertising campaign in the 1950s, creating the fictitious animated owners and pitchmen for the brewery, Bert and Harry Piel. These characters were voiced by the comedians Bob and Ray and appeared on television from 1955 until 1960. Merchandise and memorabilia from this campaign, such as signs, trays, and coasters, have become collectors' items.

In the 1960s, Piels Beer advertisements featured New York City journalist Jimmy Breslin. However, the brand struggled to compete with the influx of national brands such as Schlitz, Pabst, and Budweiser, which were backed by massive advertising campaigns. A disastrous 81-day brewery strike in 1949 further contributed to the decline of Piels Beer, allowing out-of-town brewers to establish a foothold in New York City.

Despite challenges, Piels Beer expanded in the 1950s, acquiring other breweries and plants. However, by the 1960s and 1970s, the brand changed hands several times, facing closures and declining sales. In the late 1980s, the brand was bought by the Stroh Brewery Company, and sales stabilized due to improved package designs and effective point-of-sale advertising. Unfortunately, the pressure from industry giants remained strong, and the brand was eventually licensed to Pabst Brewing Company, which discontinued the Piels label by April 2015.

A new company, Piels Brewing Company, based in New York and owned by the descendants of the former Piel Bros. LP President, Thomas P. Hawkes, relaunched the brand in the New York region in 2018.

Piels Beer ingredients

Piels Beer, a regional lager, was originally brewed in Brooklyn, New York City, by the Piel brothers: Gottfried, Michael, and Wilhelm Piel. The beer was founded in 1883 and was known for its successful advertising campaigns in the 1950s, featuring the fictitious animated owners Bert and Harry Piel.

Piels Beer is currently owned by the Piels Brewing Company, which is based in New York and run by the direct descendants of the former Piel Bros. LP, President, Thomas P. Hawkes. The company relaunched the brand in the New York region in 2018.

The beer has a 4.7% ABV and is described as a "perfectly balanced Lager – clean and crisp with an attitude." It is brewed with Zeus and Crystal hops and packaged in throwback 12-ounce cans.

Unfortunately, I could not find specific information on the ingredients used in Piels Beer. However, it is a lager, which is typically made with barley, water, hops, and yeast.

Frequently asked questions