Last year 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.

Friday’s ad is for a Halloween Party taking place tonight rather than a specific Bock Beer, which was published on October 31, 1933. So presumably this would have been the first Halloween after prohibition was repealed, and they are advertising a Bock Beer Glass for 5-cents This one was for the Owl Cabaret at the A.B.W. Club in Mexicali, Mexico. This ad ran in The Imperial Valley Press, from El Centro, California.