
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 Thomas Brau Bock Beer, which was published on August 22, 1935. This one was for the Gebrüder Thomas Bierbrauerei of Munich, Germany, which was originally founded in the Middle Ages, but merged with Paulaner in 1928. To be fair, it’s really a small part of a full-page ad for a market chain called “George W. Loft Markets,” in upstate New York, with locations in New Rochelle, White Plains, and the Bronx. This ad ran in The Standard-Star, of New Rochelle, New York, and the exact same ad also ran in the Daily Reporter of White Plains.

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