The Kutztown Bottling Works, Inc. is
located in Kutztown, PA. It has the
distinction of being one of Kutztown's oldest continually operated businesses.
In 1851, Ed Immel began bottling
beverages from an excellent spring near Main St. & Constitution Boulevard. In
1888 he sold the business to Cyrus Rhode and his son John. The Rhodes built a
bottling plant at the rear of their homes.
The plant was close to the Kutztown railroad terminal, where rail cars
carrying beer in barrels from the defunct Barbey Brewing Co., of Reading, PA.. The barrels were unloaded and taken to the
Rhodes' bottling plant. This practice was continued from 1890-1905 by Harry B.
Sharadin and from 1905-1920 by Joseph Dreibelbis. A
When prohibition was enacted on
January 16,1920, following the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the
constitution, Keodinger focused more on the production of his soft drinks. He
developed a well-liked list of 16 flavors, his most popular item being birch
beer, his own recipe. After the repeal of prohibition at the end of 1933, the
state assumed charge of liquor enforcement. Kiesinger applied to the state for
a distributor license and was granted the 23rd license in the state. Soon after
the repeal, production of soft drinks increased and the building at Schley St.
became too small.
In 1940 Keodinger purchased the
Leibovitz Shirt Factory of New York, New York, located at 78-80 S. Whiteoak
St., the current location. The factory was originally a two room schoolhouse,
with two additional rooms added later. The schoolhouse was then demolished and
the current building erected on the site, the foundation of the school still
remains intact.
After 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 operations
of the soft drink line. With the growth of the Schmidt's Brewing Co.,
Philadelphia, PA, distribution rights were acquired in1954, allowing the
Kutztown Bottling Works Inc. to become a supplier of soft drinks and beer to a
larger area of customers. In 1989, after many years in the business Barney and
Elly decided it was time to retire and sold the business to Barney's daughter
Audrey and her husband Donald "Spike" Miller.
In 2002 the Kutztown Soda Works was
formed and incorporated to focus on the Kutztown soda brands. The new
corporation was spearheaded by Spike and Audrey’s son Tom. In December 2007
both businesses were sold to Jeff and Dana Taylor who continue to carry on the
tradition.
So it is time for the review. (Click here for information on the rating
criteria and a table of all the root beer tested or to be tested.)
Ingredients: Triple Filtered Carbonated Water, Pure Cane Sugar, Caramel Color,
Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate (Preserves
Freshness), Natural & Artificial Flavors, Acadia and Yucca Extractives.
Nutrition 12
oz. serving (from the bottle)
150
Calories
25
mg Sodium.
36
g (13%) of Daily Carbohydrates
0
mg Caffeine
Aroma and Flavor – 2.2 out
of 3 mugs
The aroma is
solid root beer. A great way to start
the beverage! At first sip this is a
root beer. Not a commercial root beer a
home brewed flavor. After more sips the
flavor becomes interesting and hard to place. It has a slight birch beer taste and a touch
of Coke. The birch beer may be a
holdover as Kutztown has been known to produce one of the best birch beers.
Head –1.5 out of 3 mugs
This isn’t a trademark for
this beverage. While it does have a
head, it is fast to dissipated with little remint.
Zip – 2.2 out of 3 mugs
This
has a strong herbal root beer zip. Lacks
the sarsaparilla dominance I would expect.
The blend is pleasing and unique.
Post Consumption Impression – 2.2 out of 3
mugs
This is a unique beverage. Searching other reviews, I found no review
that hated the brew. It was either loved
or middle of the road. This is one if I
was in the mood, would crave significantly yet I can’t get over the slight Coke
taste.
Would I recommend this at 8.1 out of 12 mugs?
This root beer is worth a try. Again, it is a love / like beverage to me as
opposed to some which are love / hate.
OTHER
RATINGS