Yuengling’s ice cream to return, but won't taste like beer

The Yuengling family plans to bring back its line of ice cream next year with flavors such as Black and Tan, according to a company press release.

The ice cream is from a branch of the family separate from the Yuengling brewery, so don't expect a beer flavor. However, Yuengling's Ice Cream will playfully offer the Black and Tan, which will combine caramel and chocolate – not porter.

Yuengling ice cream was first sold in the 1930s, but the family stopped making it about 30 years ago. Another branch of the family operates the brewery.

"We are extremely proud to be reintroducing such a beloved product," said David Yuengling, president of Yuengling's Ice Cream. "Started by my great grandfather, Frank D. Yuengling during Prohibition, our ice cream brand is steeped in history. We plan to build on the family legacy, maintaining the highest standards of quality and value."

Among the flavors planned: vanilla, espresso, chocolate chip, chocolate fudge brownie, chocolate marshmallow, root beer float, mint chocolate chip, and vanilla fudge chunk with pretzels.

Yuengling says the ice cream will be made with "all-natural ingredients" and that the milk and cream will be sourced locally in Pennsylvania. Production would also remain in the Commonwealth - at Leiby's Premium Ice Cream in Tamaqua.

It would be sold in grocery stores from Pittsburgh to New Jersey, and from Scranton, PA to northern Virginia, the press release states.

Yuengling's says 3 percent of profits will go to charity.

The Pottsville-based family opened the Yuengling Dairy in 1920 during Prohibition as a way to compensate for the loss of beer sales.  It closed the ice cream operation in 1985.

According to a previous story in the Republicanherald.com, the dairy - a 40,000-square-foot concrete, brick and steel structure -  was donated to St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Pottsville when it was closed. Then, Yuengling family bought it back in the 1990s for about $125,000.

In April, Yuengling rejected a plan submitted in 2012 by Barefield Development Corp. to build 25 apartments for the elderly and a brew pub there.