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.

Wednesday’s ad is for Rieker’s Bock Beer and was published May 7, 1913. The brewery was at the time the F.A. Rieker Brewing Co. of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1867 under another name. Frank Rieker appears to have become involved by 1874 and in 1876 the name was changed to the Frank A. Rieker’s Star Brewery. It was later known as the Penn-Star Brewery, but closed for good in 1938. This ad ran in The News Journal, which I believe was in Wilmington, Delaware.