Yuengling breaks ground on new Tampa, Florida brewery expansion and tourist attraction
From a press release:
D.G. Yuengling & Son has two breweries in its native Pottsville and one in Tampa to keep up with current and rising demand. On Monday, the Florida location broke ground on the revitalization of the company’s Tampa Campus, which expands its footprint in the Sunshine State.
The new campus, slated to open in early 2022, marks Yuengling’s continued commitment to the Greater Tampa Bay community and the area’s growing tourism and local craft beer markets.
“Since purchasing the brewery in Tampa in 1999, we have been proud to be a member of the Greater Tampa Bay community,” said Wendy Yuengling, Chief Administrative Officer and sixth generation family member at D.G. Yuengling & Son.
“We continue to look for meaningful ways to show our support for this thriving area, from our work with the University of South Florida’s Brewing Arts Program, which provides scholarships for veterans interested in pursuing brewing education, to our partnership at The Yuengling Center, where we’ve been able to increase our support of the local community over the years. We consider Florida our second home, and we are excited to invest further in the Tampa community by offering Floridians and tourists an immersive experience into our brands, how our beers are made, and our rich history as America’s oldest brewery.”
The Tampa brewery is Yuengling’s largest production facility of its three breweries. The revitalization will feature an array of first-class amenities that will appeal to the Greater Tampa Bay community and tourists from around the country, including:
- State-of-the art pilot brewing system
- Restaurant serving fresh local cuisine
- Private dining and conference rooms
- Digital interactive history, artifacts, and advertising memorabilia from Yuengling’s 191-year history as an American-owned and family-operated brewery
- Outdoor recreation area and beer garden
- Multi-use concert and entertainment pavilion
- Expanded gift shop and coffee bar
- On-site hotel
- Design character that reflects Yuengling’s rich history
To lead the new Tampa Campus, Yuengling has hired Brent Wertz as the new vice president of hospitality. Wertz will oversee the development and opening of the new campus. He brings 30 years of extensive experience in food and beverage and is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.
“I am honored to lead the new Yuengling Tampa Campus,” Wertz said.
“I look forward to leveraging my 30 years of hospitality experience to build a world-class destination for America’s oldest brewery here in Tampa by bridging the local Tampa culture with the unparalleled history of Yuengling.”
The new campus is being developed by Alliant Developers and Capstone Development, LLC. Construction and design for the project are being managed by Schuylkill Haven company Miller Brothers and Tampa-based firm Alfonso Architects, respectively.
“This project by the Yuengling family is a keystone for the continuing revitalization of the Innovation District and will complement the incredible growth and development of the University of South Florida, Moffitt Cancer Center, and the rest of the growing Tampa Innovation Partnership District,” said Carlos Alfonso, founding principal and CEO of Alliant Partners and Alfonso Architects.
Located at 11111 N. 30th Street, Yuengling’s Tampa Campus is less than two miles from Busch Gardens and the University of South Florida. Future guests of the campus will also be a short drive from the Tampa International Airport and within 30 minutes of ZooTampa and the Florida Aquarium, as well as downtown Tampa’s live entertainment, fine dining, and shopping outlets.
The campus groundbreaking commemorates a strong year for Yuengling, in which the brewery released its new low calorie, low carb upscale light beer called Flight by Yuengling, re-released its fan-favorite Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter in bottles across its 22-state footprint, and announced plans for future distribution further west through a long-term brewing partnership with Molson Coors.
Family-owned and operated since 1829, D.G. Yuengling & Son is America’s oldest brewery and the No. 1 craft brewing company in the United States and the sixth top-selling brewing company overall based on beer sales volume, according to the Brewers Association. Originating in Pottsville, Pennsylvania and sold in 22 states, its principal beer brands include Yuengling Traditional Lager, Light Lager, Black & Tan, Golden Pilsner, Premium, Light, Dark Brewed Porter, Lord Chesterfield Ale, Oktoberfest, Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter, and Flight by Yuengling.
Alfonso Architects, Inc. is an award-winning design firm providing superior service and design to clients for two generations in Tampa, Florida. The basic philosophy of Alfonso Architects is to provide a superior design product while maintaining outstanding service and strict cost controls. It has developed its practice by creating a stable client base and a diverse mixture of project types. These include hospitality, retail, food and entertainment, educational, industrial, office, single and multi-family residential, aviation and transportation, ecclesiastical, historical rehabilitation, and interior design.
