Lucky Lager is an American lager with a history that dates back to 1934 when it was first introduced to beer drinkers. Over the years, it has been brewed and sold in various locations across the United States and Canada, including California, Washington, Utah, and British Columbia. The brand and distribution rights have changed hands several times, and it is currently associated with the Pabst Brewing Company and Labatt Brewing Company. So, if you're looking to buy Lucky Lager, your best bet is to check local stores or retailers in these regions or reach out to the respective brewing companies for more information on their distribution networks.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Country | USA, Canada |
Brewer | Pabst Brewing Company, Labatt Brewing Company, General Brewing Company |
ABV | 5% |
Type | American Lager |
Year Launched | 1934 |
Current Status | Active |
What You'll Learn
Lucky Lager in the US
Lucky Lager is an American lager with U.S. brewing and distribution rights held by the Pabst Brewing Company. Lucky Lager was first introduced in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company and grew to be one of the prominent beers of the Western United States during the 1950s and 1960s.
The General Brewing Company was founded in San Francisco, California, by Eugene Selvage, who teamed up with Paul C. von Gontard and German brewmaster Julius Kerber to launch a state-of-the-art brewery. Lucky Lager was the company's first beer, commercially introduced in 1934. The same year, the company also formed a strategic partnership with Coast Breweries in Vancouver Island, Canada.
In 1949, the General Brewing Company expanded and opened a second brewery in Azusa, California, followed by further expansion to Vancouver, Washington, and Salt Lake City, Utah, in the 1950s and 1960s. By 1962, Lucky Lager was producing and selling over two million barrels of beer per year.
In 1971, millionaire beer baron Paul Kalmanovitz bought Lucky Lager Brewing and merged it with the Maier Brewing Company. The brand changed hands several times over the years, and in 2019, Pabst announced that the beer brand would be revived and brewed by 21st Amendment Brewery in San Leandro.
Today, Lucky Lager is available for purchase in the United States, with distribution rights held by Pabst Brewing Company. It can likely be found in supermarkets and liquor stores, as well as establishments serving alcohol, in the states where it was historically brewed and sold, such as California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, and Washington.
Alabama's Sunday Beer Buying: Pelham's Unique Law Explained
You may want to see also
Lucky Lager in Canada
Lucky Lager is an American lager with U.S. brewing and distribution rights held by the Pabst Brewing Company. It was originally launched in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company and grew to be one of the prominent beers of the Western United States during the 1950s and 1960s.
In 1958, the Canadian Labatt Brewery purchased Coast Breweries and continued to brew Lucky Lager. Lucky Lager was brewed on Vancouver Island in Victoria until 1982, when Labatt moved off the island and demolished the brewery to prevent any competition. Labatt then brewed Lucky Lager in Edmonton, Alberta, in the same brewery where they produced Budweiser for all of Western Canada, and it is still brewed there today.
Lucky Lager was once famous for its 11-ounce stubby bottles featuring a rebus puzzle under the cap. The lager was also known for its distinctive packaging and label, which won awards for its design. The original label featured a very distinctive red cross, with a circle in the centre and the words "Lucky Lager" printed on both arms of the cross.
Reviews for Lucky Lager are mixed. While some people enjoy its crisp, clean taste and consider it a refreshing beverage, others have described it as watery and tasteless.
Buying Beer Bongs: Age Requirements and Legalities Explained
You may want to see also
Lucky Lager's history
Lucky Lager is an American lager with U.S. brewing and distribution rights held by the Pabst Brewing Company. The lager was first introduced to beer drinkers in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company. The name "Lucky" was selected from 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, grandson of Adolphus Busch, and German brewmaster Julius Kerber, to launch a state-of-the-art brewery that could rival beers made in Europe.
Lucky Lager was the first beer produced by the General Brewing Company and was commercially introduced in 1934. The same year, the company formed a strategic partnership with Coast Breweries in Vancouver Island, British Columbia, as part of a consortium of several Canadian breweries.
The General Brewing Company invested $1,000,000 to open its first brewery in San Francisco. It 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.
Lucky Lager was launched in San Francisco with a series of newspaper, billboard, and streetcar advertisements. The ads announced that Lucky would be a high-quality beer, following the tradition of German beers, made with high-quality ingredients and thorough aging. It was launched to significant fanfare and grew steadily, becoming the second best-selling beer in California by 1937.
In 1949, the company expanded and opened the Lucky Lager Brewing Company, a second brewery in Azusa, California. This was followed by further expansion to Vancouver, Washington, and Salt Lake City, Utah, in the 1950s and 1960s.
Lucky Lager's heyday was in the 1950s and 1960s, when it became the sales leader in the entire Western region, with over two million barrels of beer produced and sold annually by 1962. However, with the rise of national brands moving into California in the early 1960s, Lucky Lager's sales began to decline.
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. Over the years, the brand changed hands several times, and the original Lucky Lager Brewery in San Francisco closed in 1978.
In 2019, Pabst announced that the Lucky Lager brand would be revived and brewed by 21st Amendment Brewery in San Leandro, California.
Ocean City, NJ: Beer Availability and Restrictions
You may want to see also
Where to buy Lucky Lager merchandise
Lucky Lager merchandise can be purchased from various online retailers. Wear Your Beer offers a vintage retro Lucky Lager T-shirt in heather grey, which is made from a high-quality cotton/polyester/rayon blend fabric. MerchandisingPlaza also offers Lucky beer t-shirts, clothing, and gadgets at what it claims to be unbeatable prices. CafePress offers a large selection of custom Lucky Lager t-shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, and more.
Carrying a Gun and Buying Beer: What's the Law?
You may want to see also
Lucky Lager's taste
Lucky Lager is an American lager with a taste that has been described as clean and crisp. It was introduced to drinkers in 1934, with the name "Lucky" being chosen through a name-search contest. The lager is fully fermented and uses select ingredients and hops to deliver its distinctive flavour.
Reviews of Lucky Lager's taste are mixed. Some drinkers praise its taste, with one review stating, "Amazingly good beer, not at all like the Lucky in the black label can. Much better than Coors banquet!". Another review describes it as "a good beer [with] great taste [and] great hops". However, other reviews are less favourable, with one describing it as "thin-bodied" and another stating that it tasted like "a can of PBR and tap water".
Lucky Lager was originally launched in 1934 by the San Francisco-based General Brewing Company, with the goal of creating a beer that could rival those made in Europe, which were considered superior at the time. The lager grew in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s, becoming one of the prominent beers of the Western United States. The company invested in advertising campaigns that emphasised the high quality of their beer, with slogans such as "aged just right" and "slow-brewed Western-style for man-sized taste".
In 2019, the Pabst Brewing Company announced that the Lucky Lager brand would be revived and brewed by 21st Amendment Brewery in California.
Buying Beer on Sundays: Sulphur, LA Laws Explained
You may want to see also