Brookston Beer Bulletin

Beer In Ads #895: What Made Milwaukee Change Its Mind?

Jay Brooks — Sat, 25 May 2013 05:14:50 +0000

Friday’s ad is for Blatz Beer, from 1953. Oddly, showing the evolution of bowling, equating that to the march of progress. In “modern times,” the bowlers of Milwaukee all drink Blatz, apparently. I love the red belt and red argyle socks that the “modern” man is wearing. Now that’s a modern outfit.

Beer Glass Identification Chart

Jay Brooks — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:47:35 +0000

Today’s infographic is another Beer Glass Identification Chart, created by the online beer glassware store True Beer.

Click here to see the chart full size.

Beer In Ads #894: Taste And Enjoy This Truly Genuine Beer

Jay Brooks — Fri, 24 May 2013 05:32:00 +0000

Thursday’s ad is for Miller Beer, from 1959. It’s another one of Miller’s minimalist ads from the late fifties. Showing a scene that’s looks to be a fancy cocktail party, but one where tuxedoed guests sit on the floor and there’s a gold plated beer bucket cooling the Miller High Life. I have to wonder, though. What exactly is “truly genuine.”

Cenosillicaphobia

Jay Brooks — Thu, 23 May 2013 19:24:23 +0000

Here’s an interesting word I’ve been seeing around the internet: Cenosillicaphobia. According to some sources, the Fact-Archive and the Urban Dictionary, the word means “the fear of an empty glass,” as “commonly experienced by drinkers.”

Although I can’t find it listed in any of my regular dictionaries, it seems to fit at least. It’s not in either of my two unabridged ones, including the Webster’s International 2nd edition, which my librarian sister-in-laws tells me is the gold standard. The closest word in my O.E.D. is “cenotaph,” which means “empty tomb.” So along with “sillica” for glass, the word “cenosillicaphobia” seems to fit the meaning, the “fear of an empty glass.”

So look at the photo below. If seeing the beer glass empty causes you to shudder involuntarily, you probably have cenosillicaphobia. Luckily, a cure is as close as the nearest keg, can or bottle.

Haydamaky Tour Of Ukrainian Breweries

Jay Brooks — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:54:50 +0000

Today’s infographic is an interesting one, although it’s somewhat unusual. It may prove useful, however, the next time you find yourself in the Ukraine. Entitled For Every Thirst, a Beer, it comes from an article by Oleksandr Yarmola, “the leader of folk rock band Haydamaky,” as he “tours Ukraine mapping breweries that produce unpasteurized “live beer.” It almost makes me want to go there.

Click here to see the map full size.

Beer Birthday: Tony Forder

Jay Brooks — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:42:26 +0000

Today is the 58th birthday of Tony Forder, publisher of Ale Street News. Tony’s been putting out Ale Street News for over 20 years now, and was kind enough to give me a column when I first came back to freelancing when my son Porter was doing well enough so that I could return to work. I still run into Tony at a variety of beer events throughout the year, and he’s a great person to share a pint with. Join me in wishing Tony a very happy birthday.

After judging the finals for the 2009 Longshot Homebrew Competition in Boston. From left: Jason Alström, Tony, Bob Townsend, Jim Koch (founder of the Boston Beer Co.), yours truly, Julie Johnson (from All About Beer magazine), and Jason’s brother Todd Alström.

Tony leading a toast at the end of the evening at Schlenkerla in Bamberg, thanking our host, Matthias Trum, and our guide, Horst Dornbusch, for a wonderful second day in Bavaria.

Tony, Bob Townsend (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) and me at Longshot judging in 2009.

During a trip to Bavaria in 2007, the gang of twelve plus three at the Faust Brauerei in Miltenberg, Germany. From left: Cornelius Faust, me, Lisa Morrison, Johannes Faust, Julie Bradford, Andy Crouch, Peter Reid, Horst Dornbusch, Jeannine Marois, Harry Schumacher, Tony Forder, Candice Alström, Don Russell, Jason and Todd Alström.

Beer In Ads #893: Boy! Make Mine Ruppert

Jay Brooks — Thu, 23 May 2013 05:05:03 +0000

Wednesday’s ad is for Ruppert Knickerbocker Beer, from 1947. Ah, what innocence … a time when yelling “Boy!” was considered acceptable. He looks more like a milk delivery person, but I assume it’s meant to be at a baseball game, meaning it’s also odd that they’re showing glass bottles. I also love that slogan. “Slow Aged for Finer Flavor.” As opposed to fast aging?

Beer Prices Vs. Baseball Winning Percentages

Jay Brooks — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:12:44 +0000

Today’s infographic is about baseball’s Beer Prices vs. Winning Percentage, a chart showing “the projected winning percentage of Major League Baseball teams this season, per Baseball Prospectus, compared to the price of beer at their stadiums,” which they got from an earlier infographic I posted.

Click here to see the poster full size.

Beer Birthday: Sam Calagione

Jay Brooks — Wed, 22 May 2013 15:02:00 +0000

Today is Sam Calagione’s 44th birthday. Sam is the owner and marketing genius behind Delaware’s successful Dogfish Head Brewing. Sam’s also a great guy, and a rap singer of sorts, with his duo (along with his head brewer) the Pain Relievaz. See the bottom of this post for a couple videos of him singing after hours at Pike Brewery during the Craft Brewers Conference when it was held in Seattle. Join me in wishing Sam a very happy birthday.

Sam gives the thumbs up behind his booth at the Great American Beer Festival a few years ago.

With Ken Grossman at a Life & Limb collaboration beer dinner.

Kite & Key co-owner Jim Kirk and me with Sam, Bill Covaleski & Greg Koch.

Sam at the Rare Beer Tasting at Wynkoop during GABF 2009.

Rapping at Pike Place in Seattle in 2006.

This first video is “I Got Busy with an A-B Salesgirl,” the Pain Relievaz’ first hit single.

The second video is “West Coast Poseurs,” a smackdown to the hoppy West Coast beer and brewers.

Beer In Ads #892: Something More Than Beer

Jay Brooks — Wed, 22 May 2013 05:58:34 +0000

Tuesday’s ad is for Budweiser, from the 1951. Showing a couple wearing near-matching outfits, and certainly the exact same apron, with the man having constructed a gadget to do as little work as possible while the meat on the grill cooks. Check out his socks, and the white bucks. They never quite explain what the “Something more than Beer” might be, but apparently it’s “The Companion of Contentment.”