Roscoe Village, Chicago
Old Style is always advertised around Chicago as being “local.” When I hear that something is “local” I think it’s made in Chicago, or IL at least. But Old Style, no matter what they tell you, is made in WI. Take that!
I remember one time we were driving down Irving Park Road with Danny and we passed some bar that was having some kind of promotion where if you brought your Cubs ticket stub in after the game they’d give you an Old Style beer either for free or a penny or something like that. And then on that same sign it said “Drink Local!” I was all like “huh? Old Style is made in Wisconsin.” Dallas agreed, but Danny, who grew up in the Chicago area argued that Old Style was made here. Not so much.
It’s confusing because Old Style sponsors the Cubs, but to me that still doesn’t mean “local.”
Old Style is brewed in Milwaukee by MillerCoors, whose headquarters is moving to Chicago. So in that sense is it going to become local?
but if you move to the east coast, it feels like even the cheeseheads are “friends from home”.
maybe so, but it doesnt explain why they’ve been saying it for … like… ever!
Heh, true. I guess it is relative.
The orginal Old Style Brewing company was La Crosse wi. Heileman Brewing co. Was right on the banks of the river. A few years ago Austrialian Co. bought the company. And went belly up so the brewery wis sold. They made Specail Export there
Dad
Old Sty;le got into the Chicago area in the early 70s after the Schlitz problems with continious brewing process. This is why the most Old Style signs in Chicago are 70s or newer. Old Style was owned and brewed by the G. Heileman Brewing Co, of LaCrosse, WI. Heileman was taken over by the Bond Corporation in 1986 and sold to Stroh in 1996. Stroh sold to Pabst in 1999. The brewery closed in 1999. The Brewery is still opened as a contract brewery under the name City Brewery. They make great products. Old Style was never brewed in Chicago and the only brewery Heileman owned in Illinois was in Belleville (Stag). After the sale of the Stroh/Heileman brands to Pabst all of Pabst’s plants closed and all of their products are contracted. Pabst brews nothing and has very few employees. They are very slick marketers. I have to hand it to them when they can make people think they are buying local products. Pabst’s brands are made in all Miller plants and some of their lower volume brands come from other brewers.
Thanks for all that info Bryan M! Detangling the mystery!