Rolling Rock: Wheat Beer Or Not?

Rolling Rock is an American lager that was first brewed in 1939 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. It is known for its distinctive, full-bodied taste, subtle bite, and light-to-medium body and colour. The beer is made with water, malt, hops, rice, corn and brewer's yeast. It has a light, hoppy aroma and a silky mouthfeel. Although Rolling Rock is not a wheat beer, it does have a unique formula and has been a popular drink choice for many decades.

Rolling Rock is an American lager

The brand was sold to Anheuser-Busch in 2006, and brewing operations were moved to New Jersey. The final batch of Rolling Rock was shipped from Latrobe in July 2006, and union leaders in Westmoreland County organised a boycott of Anheuser-Busch and InBev brands as a result.

The beer is made with water, malt, hops, rice, corn, and brewer's yeast. It is not gluten-free, although it contains no wheat. The original Rolling Rock was brewed using glass-lined tanks and local spring water, which was said to give the beer its distinctive taste.

The number 33 is featured prominently on the bottle and has been the subject of much speculation. Theories include a reference to the year Prohibition was repealed (1933), the number of steps from the brewery floor to the brewmaster's office, and the number of words in the quality pledge printed on the bottle.

Rolling Rock has a fine, white head and decent retention. It has a pale straw to clear golden colour and a light, silky mouthfeel. The aroma is light and hoppy, with hints of bread and biscuits. The taste is similar, with a deeper flavour and a slight bitterness at the end.

Overall, Rolling Rock is a classic American lager that has been a favourite among beer drinkers for over 70 years.

It was first brewed in 1939

Rolling Rock is an American lager that was first brewed in 1939 by the Latrobe Brewing Company. It was initially a local beer in Western Pennsylvania, but it was marketed aggressively and soon became a national product. The beer was founded by the Tito brothers, who bought the Latrobe Brewing Company in 1933, shortly before the end of prohibition. The family started brewing beer again in 1933 and, after six years of development, perfected the Rolling Rock recipe in 1939.

The beer was launched in iconic green bottles with a pony on the boxes and bottles. It was brewed with distinctive soft local water in large glass-lined tanks, which were considered state-of-the-art at the time due to sanitation concerns. The beer was also packaged in 7 US fl oz (207 ml) pony bottles, which became very popular. This bottle size predated Rolling Rock by over 50 years, and the term "pony" in "pony of beer" is due to the diminutive size.

In 1974, Rolling Rock had its best-selling year with 720,000 barrels of the beer produced. By the 1990s, the Latrobe Brewing Company was named the eighth-largest brewing company in the United States. However, in the early 2000s, the brand changed hands several times, eventually being sold to Anheuser-Busch in 2006. The new owners moved the brewing operations to New Jersey, and while they continued to label the beer with the name of Latrobe, many noticed a difference in taste.

It is not gluten-free

Rolling Rock is not gluten-free. While it does not contain wheat, it does contain malt rye, which is a source of gluten. Therefore, people with celiac disease or gluten intolerance should avoid consuming Rolling Rock beer.

Rolling Rock is a classic American lager that was first introduced in 1939 by the Latrobe Brewing Company in Pennsylvania. It is known for its distinctive full-bodied taste, subtle bite, and light-to-medium body and color. The beer is brewed with a blend of pale barley malt, rice, and corn, and it has a unique green bottle color and an iconic label design.

Over the years, Rolling Rock has changed hands several times and is currently owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev. The brewing process was moved from Pennsylvania to their facility in Newark, New Jersey, which led to a noticeable difference in the beer's taste. Many loyal drinkers of Rolling Rock have expressed their disappointment in the change of flavor, claiming that it has been watered down and lacks character.

The beer is often criticized for its lack of flavor, but it still maintains a loyal following, especially among those looking for a cheap, high-quality lager. It pairs well with spicy, roasted, and smoked dishes, particularly those with meat.

While Rolling Rock may not be the best option for those seeking a flavorful craft beer experience, it holds a place in the drinking community as an iconic, affordable, and easily drinkable lager.

It has a distinctive label and bottle design

The Rolling Rock bottle has a distinctive design that sets it apart from other beers. The bottles are green, which is less common than brown or clear glass. The label is not a sticker but is painted on, and it features an eye-catching combination of text and imagery. The text on the front of the bottle includes the words "Rolling Rock" (which appear three times for a total of 33 letters) and the mysterious number "33", which has been the subject of much speculation over the years. The back of the bottle features a 33-word pledge of quality, which has changed slightly over the years but always retains a length of 33 words.

The label also includes a horse head, which ties in with the brand's equine-themed nicknames for its bottle sizes: "horses" for 12oz bottles and "ponies" for 7oz bottles. The green bottle, horse head logo, and distinctive label all contribute to Rolling Rock's unique and memorable packaging design.

It has been featured in several films and TV shows

Rolling Rock has been featured in several films and TV shows over the years. In the 1978 film The Deer Hunter, Robert De Niro’s character offers Meryl Streep's character a Rolling Rock. The beer is also prominently featured in the 1986 film At Close Range, which is set in rural Pennsylvania.

On the small screen, Rolling Rock has made appearances in The Sopranos, That '70s Show, and Mare of Easttown. It is also the beer of choice for the main character in the film Side Effects and is featured in the movie That's My Boy.

The brand has also been associated with internet celebrity James Rolfe, who plays the Angry Video Game Nerd. In the series, the Nerd takes a sip of Rolling Rock to calm himself down when he gets angry at bad games.

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