DISH: United Beverage falls

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

UNITED FALLS

United Beverage of NEPA (635 S. Main St., Pittston) will be closing its doors in September. The company’s roots date back to 1934.

“Pretty much we’re selling our brands,” co-owner Mark Nobile told Dish Tuesday. “It’s a consolidation from when Miller Coors merged.”

The merger was announced in October 2007 so the two companies could better compete against Anheuser-Busch InBev. U.S. antitrust regulators approved the venture in June 2008, and MillerCoors began operation that July.

While local published reports have stated Miller, St. Pauli Girl and Verdi are being sold to LT Verrastro in Scranton; Yuengling and Rolling Rock to Northeast Eagle in Pittston and Genesee, Pabst, Straub and Dos Equis to Banko Beverage in Allentown, Nobile stated that isn’t so — yet.

“It’s not officially granted,” he said, “but that is the plan.”

The wholesale company which services six counties through Northeastern Pennsylvania has about 30 employees. Nobile said he expects to be closed by Sept. 1, but “that’s not official.”

SALERNO’S SHUT

Salerno’s Pizza (247 Carey Ave., Wilkes-Barre) closed Friday following a state police drug raid, according to the Times Leader. The city’s Neighborhood Impact Team has condemned the building that housed the establishment and declared it unsafe.

BEER WITH DINNER

Arena Bar and Grill (380 Coal Street, Wilkes-Barre) will hold its third beer dinner Sunday, Aug. 15 beginning at 1 p.m.

The five course meal will be paired with five Sam Adams beers. A brewer from Sam Adams will be on hand to meet people and discuss the beer.

Entrance to the event costs $60 per person, and space is limited. Stop in or call 570.970.8829 to make a reservation.

TASTING THE HISTORY OF BEER

Dennis Peterson will present “A Taste of the Culture and History of Beer Making and Beer Appreciation” Wednesday, Aug. 11 at 7 p.m. at the lodge at Lacawac Sanctuary (94 Sanctuary Road, Lake Ariel).

The program will include a presentation and a tasting to learn about the ingredients and the processing of different types of beers. The program costs $10.

Lacawac Sanctuary is a non-profit community based organization dedicated to preservation of the natural environment, public environmental education and scientific research. The 545-acre nature preserve is one of the few sites nationwide that is federally recognized as both a National Natural Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

For more info about Lacawac or the event, visit www.lacawac.org or e-mail info@lacawac.org.

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