Today is the birthday of Megan Parisi, who’s currently a brewer for the Boston Beer Company. Before that she brewed at Wormtown Brewery, Bluejacket and Cambridge Brewing. And coincidentally, we both once played clarinet in a military band, Megan for the US Navy, whereas I was in an Army band. Megan’s a terrific brewer and a great addition to the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston. Join me in wishing Megan a very happy birthday.
Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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.
Sunday’s ad is for Hornung’s White Bock Beer, which was published on October 12, 1934. This one was for the Jacob Hornung Brewing Co. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1885. I’m amazed how much they used winning two beer competitions in their advertising for years afterwards. This ad ran in The Philadelphia Inquirer, also from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Today is the 54th birthday of Luc De Raedemaeker, who’s the Tasting Director for the Brussels Beer Challenge, the Dutch Beer Challenge and also the owner of BIERinhuis. I first met Luc in D.C. when Stephen Beaumont introduced us during CBC, and then we judged together in Japan several years ago, and I’ve also been privileged to judge at the BBC for over ten years. We generally run into one another several times a year, both in the states and in Belgium, and he’s always fun to share a beer or three with. One summer, a few years ago, his family stayed with us for a week while they were on vacation in the states, and had a grand time. Join me in wishing Luc a very happy birthday.
Today would have been the 68th birthday of Kirby Shyer, who founded the Zip City Brewing Co. in New York City, the only brewpub in Manhattan when it opened in November of 1991, since both New Amsterdam and Manhattan Brewing has closed earlier. Unfortunately, he passed away late last year. He was a pioneer in the industry, especially on the East Coast because his brewpub was in such a visible place in downtown Manhattan. Unfortunately, when the bottom fell out of craft beer in 1997, the brewery closed. I met Kirby a little later when he was working for another brewery and called on me at BevMo and we later attended a Cleveland Indians baseball game, along with Tom Dalldorf, when the Craft Brewers Conference was in Cleveland in 2002.
Kirby worked in the brewery industry for several years after Zip City closed, both for breweries and distributors, but left to work on a project outside beer and beverages. He passed away in early November of 2024.
All About Beer’s archive includes a great 2017 overview of Zip City and Shyer by Tom Acitelli entitled A Brewpub’s Collapse 20 Years Ago Sounds Familiar.
This is his obituary from the New York Times:
Kirby Shyer passed away after a long illness on Friday, November 1, 2024 at Mt Sinai Hospital. He was born on October 11, 1957 in NYC, raised in Larchmont, NY and was a longtime resident of Ridgefield, CT. Kirby was a technology early-adopter, a talented amateur film-maker, an enthusiastic champion of his favored music, especially Lou Reed, and a lifelong (but disappointed) Mets fan. Kirby loved Boston Terriers, particularly his own: Indie. Kirby will be missed dearly by everyone who knew him. Kirby was good-natured, smart, creative and also the nicest guy you ever met. Throughout his life, Kirby loved every place he lived and retained close friendships from Westminster School in Simsbury, CT, from St. Lawrence University, where he was a pillar of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, and stayed connected to childhood friends from St Regis and Swiss Challenge camps. In 1991, Kirby launched the startup Zip City Brewing Company, popularizing the brewpub craze across the US and leading the neighborhood revivals of Flatiron & Union Square in NYC. Zip City was notable for its brewing equipment — imported from Austria — integrated into the design of the bar. Zip City brewed rich lagers, expanding the NY beer palate, and paved the way for 10 other local brewpubs. His greatest Zip City success, however, was meeting his loving life partner and wife of 30 years, Jennifer. Kirby was responsible for masterminding the introduction of the Belgian beer Stella Artois to the American market, an effort that was so successful, he was knighted by the Belgian Brewers Guild. Being so well-known in the brewing community, he was also a brand ambassador for Manhattan Beer Distributors. Kirby was the devoted father of Griffin and Grace Shyer, dedicated husband to Jennifer Brown Shyer, and doting uncle to his nieces and nephews. He is also survived by mother Marlene Fanta Shyer, sister Alison Shyer, brother, Christopher Shyer and his partner David Ehrich, and father-in-law Robert Brown.
Today is the 41st birthday of Kushal Hall, former Director of Brewing Operations for Speakeasy Ales & Lagers. Kushal had been brewing at Speakeasy since 2007, but left in May of 2017 to open his own place in Southern California. The new brewery is called Common Space Brewing and is located in Hawthorne. While Kushal studied photography at UC Santa Cruz, I think we can all agree the world is a better place since he became a brewer. A terrific brewer and person, please join me in wishing Kushal a very happy birthday.
[Note: last two photos purloined from Facebook.]
Today is the 34th birthday of Jaime Ojeda Selamé (October 11, 1991- ). Jaime was born in Chile and founded ConEspuma, an online beer magazine, along with being a founder of both breweries Cervecería Principal and Jardín Mallinkrodt. I first met him when I judged in South America several years ago, but have gotten to know him much better judging in Belgium and on some press trips abroad. He’s now living in New York, looking for a spot to start a barbecue business. Plus he’s an awesome person to going drinking and eating with. Join me in wishing Jaime a very happy birthday.
Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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.
Friday’s ad is for Kopp’s Celebrated N.P. Bock, which was published on October 10, 1898. This one was for the North Pacific Brewery of Astoria, Oregon, which was originally founded in 1884, and also used the founder’s name, John Kopp, until 1902. This ad ran in The Astoria Evening Budget, also from Astoria, Oregon.
Today is the birthday of George W. Schimminger (October 10, 1857-January 25, 1917). He was born in Philadelphia, but after Pharmacy school, and some years with a chemical company, moved to Altoona to open a drug store. After retiring in 1885, he and two partners created the business partnership known as Wilhelm, Schimminger & Ramsey, “which took over the operation of the Altoona brewery.” Originally known as the George Wilhelm Brewery, when it was founded in 1855, and later the Old Hickory Brewery, the partners renamed in the Schimminger & Wilhelm Brewery, doing business as the Altoona Brewery, until it was closed for good by Prohibition in 1920. After repeal, the Empire Brewery/Germania Brewery called itself the City Ice & Beverage Co., but in 1936 bought the rights to the Altoona Brewing Co., which remained their name until closing in 1974.
This obituary is from the Altoona Mirror, Altoona, Pa., Friday Morning, January 26, 1917:
GEORGE SCHIMMINGER SUMMONED BY DEATH
Well Known Citizen and Business Man Passes Away YesterdayGeorge W. Schimminger, one of the city’s well known citizens, a former druggist and a member of the firm of Wilhelm, Schimminger & Ramsey, proprietors of the Altoona brewery, died at the home of his son-in-law, A. A. Scheffer, 319 Fourth Avenue, at 12:25 o’clock yesterday afternoon, of a complication of diseases. The news spread over the city rapidly and was received with sincere regret by those who shared his acquaintance.
Mr. Schimminger had been in failing health for the past couple of years but his condition became serious some three months ago and his decline continued rapid until he passed away. Deceased was the son of Max and Elizabeth (deceased) Schimminger, and was born at Philadelphia, October 10, 1857. He attended the schools of his native city and on being graduated from the high school entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, from which institution he was graduated. He then spent several years in the employ of a large chemical house in Philadelphia. He came to Altoona in 1882 and opened a drug store on Twelfth street, between Seventh and Eighth avenues. He conducted it with success until 1895, when he retired from business and entered the firm of Wilhelm, Schimminger & Ramsey, which took over the operation of the Altoona brewery. Since that time and up until his illness compelled him to relinquish work, he was identified with the business.
He was a member of the St. Mark’s Roman Catholic church and was a member of a number of secret and fraternal organizations, among them being the Elks, Eagles, Moose, Frohsinn society, Concordia society, Altoona Turngemeinde, Bavarian society and the Catholic Mutual Beneficial association. He was one of the organizers of the latter organization in the city. He was quiet and unassuming but possessed a disposition that won him friends with all with whom he came in contact.
He was married in this city October, 1882, to Miss Elizabeth Wilhelm, who preceded him to the grave sixteen years ago. He is survived by two children, Charles M. Schimminger and Mrs. J. C. Soyster, both of this city. A daughter, Mrs. Scheffer, preceded him to the grave a few years ago. He is also survived by his aged father, now residing in Philadelphia, and three brothers – Charles, William and Albert Schimminger, of Philadelphia.
The body of Mr. Schimminger will be taken from his late home at 2:30 o’clock Sunday afternoon to St. Mark’s church and later will be interred in the family vault in St. Mary’s cemetery. Solemn high requiem mass will be celebrated at the church Monday morning at 9 o’clock.
And this shorter obiturary is from the American Brewers’ Review:
Today is the birthday of Barbara Groom, co-founder of Lost Coast Brewing in Eureka, California. I first met Barbara when I was the beer buyer at BevMo in the mid-1990s and our paths have crossed on occasion ever since. She makes terrific beers and her brewery celebrated its 30th anniversary a few years back. Join me in wishing Barbara a very happy birthday.
Barbara in the brewery.
This is what Barbara was wearing when I first met her, back when she called on me at BevMo.
Thumbs up.
In the beginning.
[Note: All photos purloined from Facebook.]
Today is the birthday of Walter Jerome Green (October 10, 1842-January 27, 1885). He was the son of Charles Green, who founded an upstate New York hop merchant around 1840. After his son joined the business, it became known as Charles Green & Son. According to the Brewers’ Journal, he was “one of the earliest and most widely known hop merchants of Central New York.”
Here’s a portion of his obituary that mentions the hop business from Oneida County, NY Biographies:
Walter Jerome Green, who passed away in Utica on the 27th of January, 1885, was one of the city’s most prominent business men and respected residents. He was a leading factor in financial circles as a member of the banking house of Charles Green & Son, of Utica, and was also the president and owner of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax River Railroad of Florida. He is survived by his widow and one son. His birth occurred in Hubbardsville, Madison county, New York, on the 10th of October, 1842, his father being Charles Green, who was born at Sangerfield, Oneida county, on the 28th of May, 1811. The latter was prominently identified with financial interests in Utica for a number of years, being one of the oldest and best known bankers and business men of this part of the state. David Green, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was born at South East, Putnam county, New York, his ancestors, John Alden and Priscilla Nolines, coming to America in the Mayflower. He was related to General Nathaniel Green of Revolutionary fame. His mother, who in her maidenhood bore the name of Deliverance Hatch, was a native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Her mother was a Sears, to which family David Green was likewise related.
The mother of Walter Jerome Green bore the maiden name of Mary Jane Hubbard and was a resident of Hubbardsville. Madison county, New York. She was a descendant of Lieutenant Joseph Kellogg, of Hadley, Massachusetts. Her parents, Oliver Kellogg and Mary (Meachem) Hubbard, were both natives of Connecticut, the former of Windsor and the latter of Simsbury, that state.
Walter Jerome Green received a liberal education in his youth, attending Cazenovia Seminary and Madison University. Desiring to become a member of the legal fraternity, he qualified for practice by an extensive course of study and was graduated from Albany University in 1864. At the end of two years, however, he abandoned a promising career as an attorney because the increasing importance of his father’s business made it desirable for him to come to his assistance. Soon afterward he was admitted to a partnership in the bank and the name of the firm became Charles Green & Son. Young though he was, his enterprising spirit soon made itself felt in the affairs of his father’s business, which gradually broadened its field, of operations and took a leading place among similar enterprises in the central part of the state. An important department in the business of the house was the trade in hops, which became so extensive as to place the firm among the largest dealers in this country. To meet the demand for reliable intelligence bearing on the hop trade, the firm published a journal known as Charles Green & Son’s Hop Paper, a large, handsomely printed, four page folio of twenty eight columns, of which an edition of about five thousand was issued, gratuitously, each quarter.
And here’s another account from Michael Brown Rare Books:
Charles Green’s son, Walter Jerome Green became one of Utica, New York
‘s most prominent business men and respected residents. He was a leading factor in financial circles as a member of his family’s banking house of Charles Green & Son, of Utica, and was also the president and owner of the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax River Railroad of Florida. Walter’s birth occurred in Hubbardsville, Madison County, New York, on the 10th of October, 1842. He received a liberal education in his youth, attending Cazenovia Seminary and Madison University. Desiring to become a lawyer, he qualified for practice by an extensive course of study and was graduated from Albany University in 1864. At the end of two years, however, he abandoned a promising career as an attorney because the increasing importance of his father’s business made it desirable for him to come to his assistance. Soon afterward he was admitted to a partnership in the bank and the name of the firm became Charles Green & Son.Young though he was, his enterprising spirit soon made itself felt in the affairs of his father’s business, which gradually broadened its field, of operations and took a leading place among similar enterprises in the central part of the state. An important department in the business of the house was the trade in hops, which became so extensive as to place the firm among the largest dealers in this country. To meet the demand for reliable intelligence bearing on the hop trade, the firm published a journal known as Charles Green & Son’s Hop Paper, a large, handsomely printed, four page folio of twenty eight columns, of which an edition of about five thousand was issued, gratuitously, each quarter.
On the 26th of June, 1867, Mr. Green was united in marriage to Miss Sarah L. Swartwout, a daughter of Henry Swartwout, of Troy, New York. They had one son Walter Jerome Green, Jr.
Seeking a new field for investment of his capital Green became interested in a railroad project in Florida. His attention was drawn to the lack of modern transportation facilities in the fruit growing section of that state. He put both energy and money into the scheme. The outcome of his effort was the Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Halifax River Railroad, of which he was president and the entire owner. This road began at Jacksonville on the St. John’s River, in the northeastern corner of the state, extended southwardly and eastwardly to St. Augustine on the Atlantic coast and was thirty seven miles in length. The road connected with the Atlantic Coast Steamship Company, running outside to New Smyrna on the Halifax coast. Mr. Green’s intentions were to extend the road a distance of one hundred and six miles to New Smyrna. This would have afforded quick and cheap transportation between Jacksonville and the Halifax and Indian River country. The rail through a fertile and rapidly developing region had shortened the time of transport between the orange country of the east coast of Florida and New York by some eight days, a most important consideration under any circumstances, but more especially so in view of the perishable nature of the delicate fruit transported. While the possibilities of this section of Florida as a fruit growing country and health resort had long been known and to some extent developed, progress had been slow and uncertain owing to the lack of railroad facilities. Among the most notable results was the laying out of new towns between St. Augustine and Jacksonville.
Returning from active labors in Florida in the winter of 1884-5, he was passing some time at his home in Utica, when he was stricken with apoplexy and died on the 27th of January, 1885. He was survived by his widow and one son. On the death of Green the property was left to trustees for his son. In 1886 it was sold to H. M. Flagler of New York, who has carried out the plans and ideas of its previous owner.
The Michael Brown Rare Books site also had for sale a letter to and from Walter Jerome’s father, Charles Green, and his company which details some of the history of the company.
In 1838 Charles Green entered the store of Gideon Manchester, assignee of Hart & Hunt, Hubbardsville. He bought the stock and continued the business three years. Afterwards he got into the hop business eventually bringing into business his sons, Walter J. and Charles Germaine Green. Green first started in the hop business in 1850. In 1865 a partnership was formed with his son Walter Jerome Green, under the firm name of Charles Green & Son, with headquarters at Hubbardsville. The company later appears as Charles Green & Sons when Charles Germaine Green joined the firm.
