Lucky Lager is an American lager with US brewing and distribution rights held by the Pabst Brewing Company. It was originally launched in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company. Lucky Lager grew to become one of the most popular beers in the Western United States during the 1950s and 1960s. The beer brand was revived in 2019 and is currently brewed by 21st Amendment Brewery, based in San Leandro. Lucky Lager is also available in Canada, where it is brewed by Labatt Brewing Company Ltd.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type of Beer | American Lager |
Brewer | Pabst Brewing Company |
Introduced | 1934 |
Brewed by | 21st Amendment Brewery |
Brewed in | San Leandro |
Select Ingredients | Hops |
Beer Style | Clean, Crisp-Tasting |
ABV | 5% |
Volume | 355 ml |
Pack Size | 6, 12, 24, 30, 32, 36 |
What You'll Learn
Lucky Lager is available in the US and Canada
Lucky Lager was first introduced in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company, which also opened a second brewery in Azusa, California, in 1949. The beer grew to be one of the most prominent in the Western United States during the 1950s and 1960s.
In Canada, Lucky Lager is brewed by the Labatt Brewing Company. It was originally brewed on Vancouver Island in Victoria until 1982, when the brewery was demolished to prevent competition. It is now brewed in Edmonton, Alberta, in the same brewery that produces Budweiser for Western Canada.
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It is an American adjunct lager
Lucky Lager is an American adjunct lager, first introduced to drinkers in 1934. It is a light-bodied, pale, fizzy lager, with low bitterness, thin malts, and moderate alcohol content. The focus of this style of beer is on mass production and consumption, rather than flavour, and adjunct cereal grains like rice and corn are used to cut flavour and costs.
American adjunct lagers were made popular by large macro-breweries in America after Prohibition. The best-known American lagers worldwide are Budweiser and Bud Light, produced by Anheuser-Busch InBev. However, Lucky Lager was, at one time, the number two-selling beer in California, and the sales leader in the entire Western region of the US.
Lucky Lager was originally launched in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company, with the aim of rivalling beers made in Europe. It was brewed to follow the tradition of German beers, using high-quality ingredients, aged thoroughly, and made in a high-quality brewery. The beer was a success, and by 1937, it was the second best-selling beer in California. The General Brewing Company continued to expand, opening a second brewery in California in 1949, and then expanding into Vancouver, Washington, and Salt Lake City, Utah, in the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1971, millionaire beer baron Paul Kalmanovitz bought Lucky Lager Brewing and merged it with the Maier Brewing Company to form the General Brewing Company, with the S&P Corporation as its parent. However, the brand's fortunes began to decline, and after the closure of the Vancouver brewery in 1985, Olympia Brewing Company in Tumwater, Washington, took over production of Lucky Lager in the US. Lucky Lager continued to be sold in its original Northern California range at Lucky Stores supermarkets, which were not affiliated but sold the beer as an unofficial value store brand.
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Lucky Lager was originally launched in 1934
Lucky Lager, an American lager, was originally launched in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company. It was the company's first beer and was introduced to drinkers following a name-search contest.
The General Brewing Company was founded in San Francisco, California, by Eugene Selvage, who remained the owner and CEO until 1961. Selvage teamed up with Paul C. von Gontard, a grandson of Aldophus Busch, and German brewmaster Julius Kerber, to launch a state-of-the-art brewery. The brewery aimed to rival European beers by using high-quality ingredients and a high-quality brewing process, including thorough aging.
Lucky Lager was launched with a series of newspaper, billboard, and streetcar advertisements, promising a beer of high quality. The launch generated significant fanfare, and Lucky Lager grew steadily in popularity, becoming the second best-selling beer in California by 1937.
The General Brewing Company invested $1,000,000 to open its first brewery in San Francisco, which was the most modern of its time, with a capacity of 100,000 barrels per year and the capability of doubling production. The company's success with consumers was largely due to the high quality of its beer, which was adequately aged, unlike many of its post-Prohibition competitors.
Lucky Lager continued to grow in popularity and expand its distribution in the following decades, particularly in the 1950s and 1960s, when it became one of the prominent beers of the Western United States.
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It is brewed by the Pabst Brewing Company
Lucky Lager is an American lager with U.S. brewing and distribution rights held by the Pabst Brewing Company. The lager was originally launched in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company. Lucky Lager was the first beer of the General Brewing Company and was launched to significant fanfare. It was positioned as a high-quality beer, made with high-quality ingredients, in a high-quality brewery, and with thorough ageing.
The General Brewing Company invested $1,000,000 to open its first brewery in San Francisco. The brewery was planned and designed by San Francisco architect Frederick H. Meyer, in partnership with Chicago brewery engineer George L. Lehle. This construction was the most modern brewery of its time, with a capacity of 100,000 barrels per year and the capability of doubling production.
The main reason for its success with consumers was the high beer quality, which came from ageing the beer adequately, unlike many of its post-Prohibition competitors of the time. The production was set up in a way that no hands touched the beer or its container until the final step (bottling). The General Brewing Company posted a bond of $1,000 as a guarantee that the age-date of the beer was authentic.
In 2019, Pabst announced that the beer brand would be revived and would be brewed by 21st Amendment Brewery, based in San Leandro.
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Lucky Lager is available in cans and bottles
Lucky Lager is available in both cans and bottles. The beer was first introduced in 1934 and has been a prominent beer in the Western United States during the 1950s and 1960s. Lucky Lager is an American lager with brewing and distribution rights held by the Pabst Brewing Company.
Lucky Lager is available in various pack sizes, including 6-packs, 12-packs, and 24-packs. It is also available in different can and bottle sizes, such as 11 oz, 12 oz, and 16 oz. The beer can be found in many locations across the United States, including California, Washington, and Utah.
The distinctive packaging and label of Lucky Lager have played a crucial role in its marketing strategy. The original label featured a very distinctive red cross with the words "Lucky Lager" printed on both arms. This design covered the whole surface of the can, creating a sophisticated look when the cans were piled together. The label has undergone several changes over the years, with the large red cross being made less prominent and eventually replaced by a large cursive "L" in the late 1960s.
Lucky Lager has a long history and has been a favourite among beer drinkers for decades. It is known for its high-quality ingredients and ageing process, which sets it apart from its competitors. The beer is widely recognised and has even made appearances in several films and television shows.
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Frequently asked questions
Lucky Lager is available at various liquor stores in Canada, including Bob's Liquor Discounter, Horseman Liquor Store, and Alberni Liquor Store.
Lucky Lager was originally launched in the US in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company. However, it appears that the beer is no longer brewed in the US. The last US brewery to produce Lucky Lager was the Olympia Brewing Company in Tumwater, Washington, which closed in 2003.
Lucky Lager is an American lager with 5.0% ABV. It is known for its clean, crisp taste, achieved through full fermentation and the use of select ingredients and hops.
Lucky Lager was first introduced in 1934, with the name "Lucky" being chosen through a name-search contest. It quickly gained popularity in the Western United States during the 1950s and 1960s. The brand has changed hands several times and has undergone multiple revivals, with the most recent revival announced by Pabst in 2019.