Piels

Piels Beer is a regional lager beer, originally brewed in Brooklyn, New York. The brewery was founded in 1883 by the Piel brothers: Gottfried, Michael and Wilhelm Piel. The soft water from Long Island was preferred by German brewers and Breweries in Brooklyn proliferated at this time. Piels’ union employees are reputed to have been guaranteed ice cold beer on tap 24 hours a day in their union contract.

In the 1950s, Piels expanded greatly. In 1951, Piels bought Trommer’s beer in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and in December 1953 the company bought the plant of Rubsam and Hormann in Stapleton, Staten Island, plus the R&H label. However, in 1955 as sales slowed down the Trommer plant was closed. Like most regional breweries, including its New York competitors, Ballantine, Schaefer and Ruppert, Piels was facing an influx of national brands such as Schlitz, Pabst and Budweiser. These brands, backed by massive advertising campaigns, began infiltrating Piels’ primary sales territory and slowly overtook the market. This was coupled with a disastrous 81-day brewery strike in 1949 that allowed out-of-town brewers to establish a foothold in New York City and helped to end the Piels dynasty. In 1963, the R&H plant was also closed down. In 1963, the Piel management decided to sell the company, and it was acquired by Associated Brewing Company of Detroit, Michigan.

Piel’s Draft

ABV: 4.65%
Category: Domestic
Food Pairing: Cuisine (Barbecue, Indian, Latin American, Thai, Pan Asian) Cheese (peppery; Monterey / Pepper Jack)
Brewery: Pabst Brewing Co
Seasonal Availability: Year Round
Beverage Type: American Lager

Piels Lager embodies the true essence of fine European beer: mild hop aroma, rich malty flavor with just enough alcohol to enhance its enjoyment. Emboldened with ample effervescence and carbonation, Piels dances light and tingly on the tongue, offering your senses a pleasant appeasement of thirst. Mild at 3.65% alcohol by weight or 4.65% by volume, Piels begs for a second round, then a third. Satisfying but not satiating, Piels is the choice of beer lovers who come back for more.

Piel’s Light

Category: Domestic
Brewery: Pabst Brewing Co
Seasonal Availability: Year Round
Beverage Type: Light Lager

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