America’s oldest brewery has found new support from fans old and new in the aftermath of Bud Light’s recent controversy over its partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
D.G. Yuengling and Son, based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, has operated since 1829, sharing its secret to success in a recent tweet.
“Yuengling. The Oldest Brewery In America. Independently Owned and Family Operated since 1829 because we make good beer,” the post read alongside an image of its traditional lager with an American flag in the background.
The patriotic post has more than 5 million views and has been retweeted over 10,000 times.
Many users responded with encouraging messages about the brewery’s focus on its product without shifting emphasis to political or social issues.
“Dear @yuenglingbeer — now would be a fantastic time to finally expand across the country,” one user responded. “Instant market share domination. We need you in this time for choosing.”
“Thank you for supporting AMERICA,” another Twitter user wrote. “I’m a real woman and your beer is the beer for me. Real women, and now real men, don’t drink Bud Light. Yuengling every day. From an army veteran in Texas, thank you.”
The positive feedback stands in stark contrast to the outcry from many Americans against Bud Light and parent company Anheuser-Busch following its recent Mulvaney partnership. In a self-described attempt to reach new customers, the longtime beer company chose to celebrate Mulvaney’s so-called “365 days of womanhood” through its brand.
Mulvaney is a man who identifies as a woman and serves as a popular transgender influencer with millions of followers on social media. Mulvaney was also selected as one of a select number of TikTok influencers to interview President Joe Biden.
The influencer’s partnership with Bud Light led to strong responses from some celebrities, especially in the music industry, who have spoken out against the campaign. Perhaps most notably, rock music artist Kid Rock posted a viral video that included him shooting a rifle at a case of Bud Light and offering a profanity-filled response to the beer company. The Twitter video has been viewed 52.2 million times.
Country music artists Travis Tritt and John Rich have also made statements to boycott Anheuser-Busch products.
Following the backlash, Budweiser released a patriotic “Heart of America” ad in an apparent effort to shift focus.
“This is a story bigger than beer,” the ad’s narrator says. “This is the story of the American spirit.”
Many have criticized the move as a desperate response, claiming the action is a weak attempt to recover from a hit to the company’s profits.
