Kutztown Bottling Works, Inc., situated in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, stands as one of the city’s most venerable and continuously operating enterprises.
In 1851, Ed Immel began bottling beverages from a renowned spring near Main Street and Constitution Boulevard. Subsequently, in 1888, he transferred ownership of the business to Cyrus Rhode and his son, John. The Rhodes family constructed a bottling facility adjacent to their residences. This facility was strategically positioned near the Kutztown railroad terminal, facilitating the unloading of beer barrels from the defunct Barbey Brewing Company of Reading, Pennsylvania. These barrels were subsequently transported to the Rhodes bottling plant. This practice persisted from 1890 to 1905 under the management of Harry B. Sharadin, and from 1905 to 1920 under the supervision of Joseph Dreibelbis.
Upon the enactment of Prohibition on January 16, 1920, following the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, Keodinger redirected his focus towards the production of soft drinks. He meticulously developed a well-received assortment of 16 flavors, with birch beer, his proprietary recipe, emerging as his most popular product. Following the repeal of Prohibition at the end of 1933, the state assumed responsibility for enforcing liquor laws. Kiesinger submitted an application to the state for a distributor license, which was subsequently granted to him as the 23rd license in the state. Shortly thereafter, soft drink production surged, necessitating the expansion of the facility at Schley Street.
In 1940, Keodinger acquired the Leibovitz Shirt Factory in New York, New York, situated at 78-80 S. Whiteoak St., the current location. The factory had initially been a two-room schoolhouse, with two additional rooms added later. The schoolhouse was subsequently demolished, and the current building was constructed on the site; the schoolhouse's foundation remains intact.
Following World War II, Keodinger’s nephews, Donald “Barney” Bieber and his brother “Elly” Bieber, worked at the bottling works. In 1962, they purchased the business and property from their uncle, Percy Keodinger. The two brothers continued operating the soft drink line. With the expansion of Schmidt’s Brewing Co., Philadelphia, PA, distribution rights were acquired in 1954, enabling Kutztown Bottling Works Inc. to become a supplier of soft drinks and beer to a broader customer base. In 1989, after many years in the business, Barney and Elly decided it was time to retire and sold the company to Barney’s daughter, Audrey, and her husband, Donald “Spike” Miller.
In 2002, the Kutztown Soda Works was incorporated to focus on the Kutztown soda brands. The new corporation was led by Spike and Audrey’s son, Tom. In December 2007, both businesses were sold to Jeff and Dana Taylor, who continued the tradition.
The aroma is robust, making it an excellent beverage to start with. Upon the first sip, the flavor is unmistakably root beer, not a commercial product, but a homemade concoction. As more sips are taken, the flavor becomes intriguing and challenging to pinpoint. It possesses a subtle birch beer taste and a hint of Coca-Cola. The birch beer may be a remnant, as Kutztown has a reputation for producing one of the finest birch beers.
This beverage does not have a trademark. Although it has a head, it dissipates quickly with minimal residue.
This beverage possesses a robust herbal root beer flavor profile. While it does not exhibit the pronounced sarsaparilla dominance that one might anticipate, the combination of ingredients creates a harmonious and distinctive taste experience.
This beverage stands out as a unique choice. Upon reviewing other customer feedback, I discovered that the brew received predominantly positive responses, with only a few individuals expressing dissatisfaction. While it is gratifying, I find myself yearning for it when in the mood, despite a subtle Coke-like flavor that lingers on my palate.
This root beer is worth trying. It is a beverage I enjoy, unlike some others that I find both loved and disliked.
