Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. Bock, of course, 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.

Thursday’s ad is for Rheingold Bock Beer and was published April 10, 1916. The brewery was S. Liebmann’s Sons Brewing Co., a.k.a. as the Rheingold Brewery, of New York, New York, which was originally founded in 1870. This ad ran in The Brooklyn Citizen, of Brooklyn, New York. I do love the poem that’s a part of the ad:

To thirsty throats these capering goats
Announce the best of cheer
For Rheingold Bock is now in stock
Wherever they appear.