Yuengling Ice Cream And Draft Beer Flavored Jelly Beans To Hit Shelves, Because America

Ashley Schaeffer BMW11 years ago

There’s no doubt that those of us living in the northeast with 15 inches of snow piled up outside are quite familiar with Yuengling Brewery, based right outside of Philadelphia. Chances are, if you’re the kind of person that traditionally tells the barkeep you’d like a “lager,” expecting to be handed a ‘yinger, you’ve drank quite a few of them this week between having off MLK Day and the crippling snowstorm that just rolled though.

Conversely, chances are if you had any kind of decent childhood, you’re familiar with Jelly Belly. The fine jelly bean connoisseurs based in California generate most of their yearly net revenue from a single day that is Easter, by filling the baskets of little gentile children all over the nation with a myriad of flavored, ADHD inducing, candy beans.

That said, if you’re American and not lactose-intolerant, you love both beer and ice cream.

In that case, I have some great news for you, because Yuengling is now in the business of making ice cream, and Jelly Belly just announced they’re happy to offer a “Draft Beer” flavored jelly bean for sale.

The much-loved lager family will now offer a variety of ice cream, albeit non-alcoholic, and a jelly bean flavored like “Hefeweizen-inspired ale” now exists.

If there ever was a situation where everyone wins, well this is pretty damn close.

Apparently, unbeknownst to me and I’m sure a few others, who likewise appreciate sharing a few fine 24-racks of Yuengling bottles with some friends on a typical #TFMgameday, the brewery was previously in the business of making ice cream some 30 years ago.

The Consumerist explains:

When Prohibition hit in the 1920s, the brewery decided to turn its talents to other industries, including the dessert set. The owner of the brewery started Yuengling’s Ice Cream Corporation in 1920 in Pottsville, Penn. to deal with the moratorium on booze set by the 18th Amendment, [Yuengling’s] company website explains.

And from there on, the ice cream became a fan favorite, even after Prohibition was repealed in 1933. That ended in 1985 when the family decided to close up the factory and donate the building.

But as of last week, Yuengling’s Ice Cream is back in production under the ownership of one of the Yuengling family, and will make its return to shelves by mid-February of this year at certain East Coast stores. As for that beer float, the closest brewed flavor is probably Root Beer Float. But if you want actual Yuengling, well, you’ll have to add that yourself.

Incredible.

The entire flavor listing is on Yuengling’s website; it’s really cool to see them offer up a new take their classic Black and Tan brew described as “A Swirl of Rich Belgian Chocolate Ice Cream and Salty Caramel Ice Cream.”

Knowing how decent their beer is, there’s no way I’m not snagging a pint of this stuff the first time I see it when I’m very hungover at WaWa following a typical #TFMgameday.

Fingers crossed, I’m lucky enough to come across a huge bag of these beer-infused Jelly Bellies, too — my faith in humanity told me that it was only a matter of time that my prayers for these things would be answered.

Apparently, Fox News agrees:

With America’s growing obsession with craft beer flavoring everything from ice cream to lip balm, it was only a matter of time before someone came up a way to get that great taste in a jelly bean.

“The effervescent and crisp flavor is packed in a golden jelly bean with an iridescent finish. Beer connoisseurs will find the flavor profile to be clean with notes of wheat and a touch of sweetness. The aroma is mildly bready,” according to a press release.

Anyone looking to get a little buzz from the new candy will disappointed by the zero percent alcohol content.

Holy shit. That flavor description is verbatim off a draft list somewhere. You better not let me down, Jelly Belly.

As far as both of these awesome products being non-alcoholic, I don’t give a shit. I’m pretty confident I’ll be able to wrangle up something else to drink while I’m going to town on both of these, simultaneously, already drunk, at 2:30am on a Thursday morning.

Only in America. Wooh.

[via Consumerist, Fox News, Yuengling]