LATROBE — A line of trucks idled outside the loading docks at Latrobe Brewing Co. on Friday morning. In a few hours, they would haul away some of the last cases of Rolling Rock beer brewed in Latrobe.Somehow the beer won't taste the same if it's brewed by Anheuser Busch in New Jersey.
‘‘It’s over. It’s done,’’ said Larry Ewantis, who ran the receiving department for ingredients. ‘‘Now they’re just cleaning up.’’
Known for its distinctive green bottle and quality pledge with a mysterious ‘‘33’’ at the end, Rolling Rock has been brewed here since 1939. But Belgium-based InBev SA, which owned Rolling Rock and Latrobe Brewing, sold the Rolling Rock brand to Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. for $82 million in May.
Anheuser-Busch plans to brew the beer in New Jersey beginning in August. The brewery in Latrobe was not included in the deal, and is expected to close Monday.
La Crosse, Wis.-based City Brewing Co. is negotiating to buy the brewery and produce others brands of beer here. Union workers at the brewery have voted to accept a contract with City Brewing.
The plant employed 250 employees. The union has reached an agreement with City Brewing, but the sale of the plant is still incomplete.
(Thanks Erik!)
