Historic Beer Birthday: William Peter Sr.

March 16, 2026 By Jay Brooks 1 Comment

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Today is the birthday of William Peter Sr. (March 16, 1832-June 10, 1918) who was born Wilhelm Jacob Peter in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, but anglicized his first name after coming to America in 1850. He worked at other breweries in both New York and Cincinnati before opening his own brewery in 1859, in what was then Union Hill, New Jersey, but today is Union City.

Here’s his obituary from the Western Brewer from January 1918:

And here’s another obituary from Find-a-Grave:

William Peter, founder of the great beer brewing plant of The William Peter Brewing Company Incorporated, of Union Hill now Union City, New Jersey, fled from Achern, Baden, Germany, where he was born, March 16, 1832, to escape the persecution he would have been subjected to as the son of one of the leaders of the Revolution of 1848-1849, against Prussian domination. He fled from Germany while serving his apprenticeship in the brewing trade. He then set sail to America with his mother Maria Antonia (Hof)Peter, four sisters and brother-in-law Max Frech, on the sailing vessel Gallia and arrived in New York on September 14, 1850. He then started a brewery in 1859 in West New York, New Jersey then moved to Union Hill, New Jersey. He developed his business rapidly and became the “best by test” beer in the country. He also had talent for painting, hundreds of landscapes and pictures in still life adorned his studio and the picture gallery of his home. The artist Max Eglau was his master, he had seen sketches and urged Mr. Peter to take up the brush in place of the pencil. William Peter died in 1918 and at that time had the largest funeral in New Jersey history, every famous brewer attended. William Peter married three times, his third wife having been Mrs. Sophia (Vogel) Bertram. Her daughter by her first husband married August Peter his son, his second wife was Mrs. Caroline (Appeli) Ohlenschlager and his first wife was Magdalena (Jaeger).

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The brewery workers with William Peter in the center of the first row, with possible his son to the right (his left).

And here are some labels from the brewery.Outside the library in Weehawken, New Jersey there’s a historical marker for William Peter that was put up in 2010.

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This is presumably Peter with his son, William Peter Jr., though I don’t which of his three wives this might be. It was taken in 1910.And this clipping is from a book on New Jersey from around the turn of the last century.

And lastly, William Peter was also apparently a prolific fine artist who painted numerous oil paintings. This one he did in 1898 of his brewery.

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Beer In Ads #5164: There Is No Argument To It … Camden Bock Beer Is Genuine Old-Time Bock

March 15, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

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 first ad is for Camden Bock Beer, which was published on March 15, 1938. This ad was for the Camden County Beverage Co. of Camden, New Jersey, which was originally founded in 1904. This ad ran in The Courier Post , of South Jersey, New Jersey.

Beer In Ads #5163: It’s Here Genuine New Jersey Bock Beer

March 14, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Saturday’s first ad is for various New Jersey Bock Beers, which was published on March 14, 1938. This ad was for not one brewery, but for eleven different brewery members of the New Jersey Brewers’ Association. This ad ran in The Press of Atlantic City, also of Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Beer In Ads #5160: No ‘Butts’ About It!.. Ballantine Brews Bock Beer Best!

March 12, 2026 By Jay Brooks Leave a Comment

Thursday’s second ad is for Blatz Bock Beer, which was published on March 12, 1956. This ad was for the P. Ballantine & Sons Brewing Co., of Newark, New Jersey, which was originally founded in 1840. This ad ran in The Daily News, of New York, New York.

Beer Birthday: Jeff Cioletti

March 3, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 54th birthday of Jeff Cioletti, president of Drinkable Media and Editor-at-Large for Beverage World magazine. He’s been covering the business of beer for quite a long while. I run into Jeff at numerous industry events, and we’ve taken a press trip to Belgium. Join me in wishing Jeff a very happy birthday.

Three J’s at CBC in San Diego: Jeff, John Holl and me. (Photo by Win Bassett.)

DSCN0595 — Jeff (on the left just above Lew Bryson) at our table inside the barrel room at Samuel Adams in Boston during an anniversary dinner there last year, when we opened every vintage of Utopias, plus Triple Bock and Millennium Ale.

Ace reporter: “we just want the facts, ma’am, just the facts.”

Jeff, in the center with a camera around his neck, during a visit to Brouwerij Huyghe during a press trip to Belgium in 2013.

A night on bald mountain, or at least a table.

Historic Beer Birthday: John Holme Ballantine

February 28, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of John Holme Ballantine (February 28, 1834-April 27, 1895). He was the second of three sons of Peter Ballantine, who founded P. Ballantine & Sons. In 1857, he brought on his three sons as partners. John Holme served as president of the family brewery from 1883 until his death in 1895.

This is John Holme’s obituary from the Genealogical and Memorial History of the State of New Jersey:

And here’s a history of the Ballantine brewery from “A History of American Manufactures from 1608 to 1860,” by John Leander Bishop, Edwin Troxell Freedley, Edward Young, published in 1868:

Beer In Ads #5171: By Far Philadelphia’s Largest-Selling Bock Beer

January 14, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Wednesday’s ad is for Valley Forge Bock Beer, which was published on January 14, 1954. This ad was for the Valley Forge Brewing Co., which also the name of a brand sold by the C. Schmidt & Sons Brewing Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1859 by Robert Courtenay. This ad ran in The Courier Post , of Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Beer Birthday: John Holl

January 11, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the 46th birthday of John Holl, a journalist who spent the early part of his career working the crime and politics beat at various newspapers, including the New York Times. Now, he’s writing almost exclusively about beer from his home in northern New Jersey. He was the editor of All About Beer Magazine and has worked for most of the trade publications in some capacity over the years. He’s also written several books including the American Craft Beer Cookbook and the Craft Brewery Cookbook. In recent years he’s done a number of podcasts including Drink Beer, Think Beer, Steal This Beer, and The BYO Nano Podcast. In 2019 he founded the site Beer Edge with Andy Crouch and more recently they bought All About Beer magazine. He also works as a contributing editor at Wine Enthusiast Magazine. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know John during some travel over the years, from Denver to Boston, Brussels, and even in Chile. He’s been a great addition to the fraternity of beer writers. Join me in wishing John a very happy birthday.

After the first Beer Bloggers Conference, having lunch at Euclid Hall in Denver, before flying home.

At a BrewDog Pub in Brussels after Brussels Beer Challenge Judging several years ago, with me, Roger Protz, Pete Brown Tim Hampden and Adrian Tierney-Jones.

P1080639 — A few years ago in Chile, judging at the Copa Cervezas de America 2011 (John’s on the right in the back row).

P1080683 — Visiting Maltexco, also in Chile (this time, John’s on the left).

john-holl-euclid-2 — At a lunch at Euclid Hall in Denver; John, me, Greg Koch and Jacob McKean, Stone Brewing’s former blogger, and now owner of Modern Times.

DSCN3986 — With Stephen Beaumont and Stan Hieronymous, taking a pizza from Sandlot Brewing to Great Divide during GABF a few years ago.

In Boston last year at Harpoon Brewery after John missed his flight, after forgetting his keys, which ultimately made for a great afternoon.

john-holl-kid — A portrait of the beer writer as a young man.

Historic Beer Birthday: Robert F. Ballantine

January 3, 2026 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of Robert Francis Ballantine (January 3, 1836-December 9 or 10, 1905). He was born in New Jersey, and was the son of Peter Ballantine, who founded the Patterson & Ballantine Brewing Company in 1840 in Newark, New Jersey. Peter Ballantine had three sons, and they joined him in the business in 1857, which is when the name was changed to the P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company. In 1883, when his father died, Robert became president of the brewery, outliving both his brothers and continuing to run the family business until his own death in 1905.

This short biography of Robert Ballantine is from “New Jersey History,” published in 1909:

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And this lengthier obituary is from the Brewers Journal:

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And here’s a history of the Ballantine brewery from “A History of American Manufactures from 1608 to 1860,” by John Leander Bishop, Edwin Troxell Freedley, Edward Young, published in 1868:

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Historic Beer Birthday: Peter Hood Ballantine

December 18, 2025 By Jay Brooks

Today is the birthday of Peter Hood Ballantine (December 18, 1831-September 16, 1882). He was the son of Peter Ballantine, who founded the Patterson & Ballantine Brewing Company in 1840 in Newark, New Jersey, which is better known by its later name, the P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company. Peter Hood helped run the business with his father and brothers until his death in 1882.

Given that he was the eldest son, there’s surprisingly little information about him, and I couldn’t find an image of him, while there are plenty of his brothers, Robert and John. So I don’t know what his role was within the family brewery, although the fact that he died the year before his father did suggests he had a lesser role and never had the opportunity to do more on his own.

This is from “America’s Successful Men of Affairs: The United States at Large,” published in 1896, and although it’s primarily about Peter Hood’s father, he is mentioned in this account.

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