Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #5240: Rieker’s Bock Beer Is Now On The Market

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Sunday’s ad is for Rieker’s Bock Beer, which was published on May 3, 1916. This ad was for the F.A. Rieker Brewing Co. of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1867 as Stroebel, Senn & Klink. This ad ran in The Star-Independent of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Historic Beer Birthday: Herman Adolph Schalk

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Today is the birthday of Herman Adolph Schalk (May 3, 1833-May 2, 1908). He was born in Meßkirch, Germany and emigrated to the U.S. with his father and two brothers, Adolph and Oscar. They had been brewing already in Germany, so when they settled in Newark, New Jersey, the four of them opened a family brewery in 1841, which they called the Johann Nepomuk Schalk & Sons Brewery. After helping his sons’ build and manage the brewery, he moved back to Germany to return to running his own brewery, located in Konstanz. In 1856, the three sons renamed the brewery Schalk Bros. Brewery, though at that time it appears Oscar was no longer involved, only his brother Adolph.

A portrait of Herman Schalk by Ferdinand Keller from 1890.

From Tavern Trove:

By 1870 the Schalk Brothers Brewery was the largest in Newark, and approaching the top 20 in the nation. However the panic of 1873 left the company exposed and they were forced to cut back. They never recovered and in 1878 the brothers had to sell their assets to the aforementioned Ballantine Brewery. Herman Adolph Schalk died in 1908, one day before his 75th birthday.

Here’s a short obituary from the Time Union, May 2, 1908.

And a longer one from the New York Herald, also May 2, 1908:

And one more, from the Time Ledger:

Beer In Ads #5239: The National Drink

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Saturday’s ad is for Doering & Marstrand Bock Beer, which was published on May 2, 1901. This ad was for  the Doering-Marstrand Brewing Co. of the Mount Pleasant area of Vancouver, British Columbia, in Canada, which was originally founded in 1892, though Charles Doering had been brewing in the area prior to that. This ad ran in The Daily News Advertiser of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This is n odd ad, beginning with the text, which reads “The National Drink — of Great Britain is acknowledged to be beer, and of all the beers brewed there is none that can excel the bock beer made by Doering & Marstrand.” At first glance it sounds like they’re saying there’s no British bock beer as good as their own, but I don’t think that’s what they were trying to say, though it does seem like an awkward sentence. Then there’s the illustration, again for a Canadian brewery, comparing themselves to British beer, but the woman is wearing what sure looks like an American flag dress (or top) and hat.

Beer Birthday: Anders Kissmeyer

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Today is Danish brewer Anders Kissmeyer’s 69th birthday. He was a co-founder of Nørrebro Bryghus in Copenhagen. I first met Anders through corresponding with him for an article on collaboration beers I did for All About Beer magazine several years ago. Then we met in person at GABF a few years ago and judged together at the World Beer Cup in Chicago. Anders more recently started his own company, Kissmeyer Beer & Brewing. Join me in wishing Anders a very happy birthday.

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Anders with Kjetil Jikiun, from Nogne O, at the Local Option during CBC Chicago.
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Anders with Jacob Storm, John Mallett, and Matt Brynildson at the World Beer Cup Gala Awards Dinner in 2012.

Me and Anders at the 2022 World Beer Cup.

Beer Birthday: Bruce Paton

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Today is the Beer Chef, Bruce Paton’s 71st birthday. Bruce has been doing fantastic dinners pairing great beer and gourmet food for over twenty years in the Bay Area starting at Barclay’s Restaurant and Pub in Oakland and continuing at the Clift and Cathedral Hill Hotels in San Francisco. He’s has been doing events and consulting at various food and beverage operations since the hotel closed in 2009, so look for more of his beer dinners in the coming months. I’ve been to many, many of Bruce’s food events and they’re all spectacularly top notch. He did around eight each year. More recently, he’s cooking at Fermentation Labs in San Francisco. Raise a toast and stuff your face in wishing Bruce a very happy birthday.

My hands down favorite photo of Bruce, which I took for the Chef’s Association of the Pacific Coast newsletter. I don’t think this is the one they used, but, by far, as I think it captures Bruce’s spirit and his great love and passion for what he does with his cooking and beer.
Giving a cooking demonstration with Garret Oliver, brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery and author of The Brewmaster’s Table at the 2005 GABF.
Me and Bruce New Year’s Day a few years ago at Barclay’s.
At Bruce’s 70th birthday bash last year.

Beer Birthday: Brian Hunt

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Today is iconoclastic brewer Brian Hunt’s 69th birthday. Brian owns and operates Moonlight Brewing in Sonoma County, California, which was almost a one-man show for most of its existence. If you’ve never had his “Death and Taxes,” “Twist of Fate Bitter,” “Bombay by Boat,” or his fresh hop ale, alternately called “Homegrown” or “Greenbud Ale,” then you’re really missing out on some of the most unique and wonderful beers around. Plus, Brian is one of the nicest curmudgeons you’ll ever meet, and one of my favorite people anywhere. Join me in wishing Brian a very happy birthday.

At the Rate Beer Fest in Santa Rosa a few years ago.
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Hildegard van Ostaden, Urthel’s brewster, one of only a very few female brewers working in Belgium, and Brian.
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Brian in his hopyard, with Russian River’s old assistant brewer Travis (who opened his own place, Societe Brewing), and Vinnie Cilurzo.
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Shaun O’Sullivan and Vinnie Cilurzo with Brian at the Bistro in Hayward, California.
Brian Hunt (Moonlight)
Brian at the Opening Gala for SF Beer Week a number of years back.
At another Rate Beer event.

Beer In Ads #5238: The First Of May Is Bock Beer Day

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Friday’s second ad is for Anheuser and Lemp’s Bock Beer, which was published on May 1, 1880. It’s unclear is this one beer, a collaboration between both Lemp and Anhueser-Busch, or two separate bock beers both arrived for May Day 1880. The latter seems the most likely despite the bottom of the ad stating that Chas. Schifferdecker was an [a]gent for the celebrated Anheuser and Lemp Breweries, Joplin, Mo.” So presumably then this ad was for both the Lemp Brewing Co., which was located in St. Louis, Missouri and was originally founded in 1840, and the Anheuser Busch Brewing Association, also of St. Louis, and having been founded in 1852 by George Schneider. This ad ran in The Joplin Herald, of Joplin, Missouri.

Historic Beer Birthday: Robert “Mac” MacTarnahan

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Today is the birthday of Robert “Mac” MacTarnahan (May 1, 1915-October 25, 2004), one of Oregon’s most famous athletes. Mac was one of the original investors in Portland Brewing Co., which was later named MacTarnahan’s Brewing in his honor. I met Mac twice, once in Portland at an event at the brewery, and once he visited me in California when I was still the beer buyer at BevMo. I hope I have half the energy he did when I’m in my eighties. A couple of years ago, my friend and colleague John Foyston wrote a nice remembrance of Mac in The Oregonian, which included the obituary he wrote in 2004. Raise a glass today to Mac’s memory.

Brewer Alan Kornhauser, Mac and Portland Brewing co-founder Fred Bowman.
And a larger version of the photo from the newspaper.

Here’s a story from Februry of 2004 from the Oregonian, by John Foyston:

And another from July of 2004:

And here’s the first part of his obituary, again from John Foyston:

Mac’s Oregon Sports Hall of Fame photo. Here’s his entry:

Oregon’s most accomplished Masters Athlete, Robert “Mac” MacTarnahan is the first masters competitor ever chosen for induction into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame. His athletic feats are amazing. Mac is a four-time Masters world record holder with a national record in the mile plus three world record holders in the 3000-meter steeplechase. In the steeplechase, he is a six-time AAU National Masters champion, two-time USA National Senior Olympic champion, two-time World Senior champion. Mac is also a five-time National Masters wrestling champion. The wiry Scot owns more the 50 Masters Gold Medals.

Historic Beer Birthday: Frederick H. Krug

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Today is the birthday of Frederick H. Krug (May 1, 1870-1914). He was the son of Frederick Krug, who was the “German-immigrant founder of the Frederick Krug Brewing Company of Omaha, Nebraska. Krug is often cited as one of the early settlers of Omaha. In addition to operating the brewery for almost the entire duration of his life, Krug operated Krug Park in the Benson community and was the president of the Home Fire Insurance Company, which was founded in Omaha in 1884.” His son was involved in the business, and was treasurer, but passed away when he was only 44, five years before his father passed away.

Probably because he passed away so young and his contributions to the brewery were relatively modest, there’s no biographical information I could find on junior, not even the exact date he died.

“The Fred Krug Brewery was located at 2435 Deer Park Boulevard in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1859, Krug Brewery was the first brewery in the city. Krug was one of the “Big 4” brewers located in Omaha, which also included the Storz, Willow Springs and Metz breweries. Later sold to Falstaff in 1936, the facility closed in 1987.

The brewery in 1920.

And in its heyday.

This is a short history of the brewery.

In 1859 Frederick Krug established the Krug Brewery with an original output of one and a half barrels a day. In 1878 the brewery was located on Farnam between 10th & 11th Streets in Downtown Omaha, and by 1880 it was brewing approximately 25,000 barrels a year. In 1894 the brewery moved to 29th & Vinton Street near South Omaha. It cost $750,000 and was reportedly one of the best equipped breweries in the country. Omaha’s historic Anheuser-Busch Beer Depot is the only remaining building from the original Krug Brewery.

You wouldn’t believe there was such difference in beers until you use one Krug’s popular brands. They are uniform perfectly brewed and well-aged absolutely pure and leave no bad after effects. The kind of beer that acts as a tonic and a system builder. Order a trial case and begin to enjoy. – Text from a 1910 advertisement by Fred Krug Brewing Company.

Krug brewed beer under several labels: Fred Krug, Cabinet, and Luxus. Krug supported an amateur baseball team called Luxus, taking them as far as the Amateur Baseball World Championship in 1915.

Beer In Ads #5237: May Day To-Day And This Is Bock Beer Day!

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising. With Spring approaching, there are so many great examples that I’m going to post two a day for a few months.

Friday’s first ad is for Lemp Bock Beer, which was published on May 1, 1900. This ad was for the Lemp Brewing Co., which was located in St. Louis, Missouri and was originally founded in 1840. This ad ran in The El Paso Morning Times, of El Paso, Texas.