It’s not hard to figure out why Rolling Rock’s popularity/sales have plummeted every since AB bought the beer. Once AB bought RR, they closed down the RR brewery in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, which brewed it’s beer in glass bottom tanks, which somehow gave RR it’s unique flavor. Once AB was in control of RR, they moved production to their Newark, NJ facility without taking the glass bottom tanks from Pennsylvania. The resulting Rolling Rock now tastes almost exactly like Bud Light being served in light green bottles. Since the takeover by AB, I have stopped drinking Rolling Rock because it is simply not the same beer I enjoyed a few years ago. It seems that quite a few beer enthusiasts share my same sentiment on the subject. I hope that an independent entity buys Rolling Rock and moves production back to Latrobe, PA so RR has it’s unique flavor once again.

Tim, A-B actually has glass-lined tanks in Newark. But I would also hope that RR can be returned to Latrobe, since the Latrobe brewery doesn’t really have a reason to exist without it.

The newark brewery has had glass lined tanks since it was built in 1951.Newar does have larger newer tanks that are not glass lined but they are not used for RR.

My apologies, I did not know that the Newark Brewery has glass lined tanks as well. AB must have changed something about the brewing process of Rolling Rock because it does not taste the same as it did before AB purchased it. I imagine that the original RR brewing method/ingredients was costly, but again, AB shot itself in the foot by disappointing loyal RR drinkers all for a solid bottom line. We have all seen where that got AB, especially its’ employees….

This relates to the story of Coors beer that is unofficial but widely recognized among veteran beer drinkers. The distribution area of Coors was once limited to the states adjoining Colorado, and it had such a reputation for being “special” that people visiting those states would bring cases of Coors back with them. Being a skeptic myself, I remember doing a taste test between Coors and, I think, Bueweiser or Pabst, and I couldn’t tell any significant difference. Sure enough, once Coors expanded its distribution area, it lost its mystique.

I think that Rolling Rock is the same. It is unique not because it really tastes significantly different than most watery American lagers, but rather that it is brewed in a small city in Pennsylvania and comes in a uniquely green bottle. Among the mass of beer drinkers brand image is the main thing that determines what they buy. Of course, that principle extends to a lot of other products, from cigarettes to automotive vehicles.

I remember the first time I drank RR in Granville, OH (1978). I really thought it had a distinctive taste. It was, in my opinion, vastly different than Bud, my beer of choice, Hamms or Olympia were my second choices. Bud Light wasn’t out yet. I had a couplr of Rocks recently and I thought they were OK, still vastly different than Bud and no where near Bud Lt in green bottles.

If Rolling Rock now tastes more like Bud Light, then that’s all for the better. I don’t even like Bud Light, but the first — and only — time I ever drank RR, I had a few bottles after a funeral in PA. To my taste, it was awful.

I think RR is a regional taste (as others have pointed out.) I’ve noticed from time spent in PA that most of their beers (such as Iron City, Straubs, etc.) all seem to have a very metallic, harshly bitter, flavor. I’d guess it has to do with the mineral levels in the water there (although I’ve always found the drinking water up there to be pretty good.)

And, for whatever else it’s worth, it doesn’t seem like A-B exactly went nuts getting their marketing juggernaut going on RR’s behalf. What ads I have seen in the past couple years have been lame (and that’s being generous.)

While I consider Roling Rock, Budweiser, Coors, and other watery American lagers to be “mediocre,” I’m amused by the comment by Kands that he drank Rolling Rock at a funeral and didn’t like it.

Having consumed many brands of beers under many circumstances, I can testify that the satisfaction provided by beer (or water, or any other drink) has a LOT to do with the circumstances under which it is consumed. After I have become really thirsty by playing sports with friends, even light beer tastes good while we sit around drinking it afterwards. The only way to accurately judge your preference for any type of beveridge is to conduct a “blind” taste test between two or more. This involves sampling each at the same time without knowing which is which.

I have done this a number of times with many types of beer, wine, and liquor. Generally, I find that the medium-priced brands are the best values. Among A-B/In-Bev products, I prefer Michelob or Amber Bock (which I suspect is the same as the old Michelob Dark).

Yeah it probably taste different, its fresh now !