Tuesday’s ad features a quote and drawing of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch, who was born today in 1839. It’s kind of a funny quote, and I can only assume it was made up in 1976 by A-B’s advertising department for a centennial ad. “It’s good, this new beer of mine. Really good. Some day it will be world renowned … I think I’ll call it Budweiser.” Even if he ever thought or said (to whom?) something so ridiculous in 1876, who wrote it down?
“Even if he ever thought or said (to whom?) something so ridiculous in 1876, who wrote it down?”
Carl Conrad, perhaps? As he wrote it down, he might have been heard mumbling, “YOUR beer? I thought it was MY beer…”.
Please enlighten those like me who don’t know who the hell Carl Conrad is. I’ve read some beer history, including the book about the Busch family, but his name never stuck in my craw, even tho it might have been in there.
I’m sure Jess has more info, but he was Adolphus’ friend and is mentioned in the early history of Budweiser. See the History of Anheuser-Busch at their website and also the same story at Wikipedia.
Conrad, besides being Adolphus’ “friend” was also a business partner. Conrad was a liquor, wine, beer, cigar dealer in St. Louis and “Budweiser” (the US one) began as a sort of private label, contract brew from Anheuser-Busch for Conrad’s business. A-B at the time, and long after until Prohibition, brewed a number of different German-style beers.
His business, C. Conrad & Co., eventually went bankrupt in 1883 with his biggest creditor being A-B. It was only then that Budweiser became an A-B owned and marketed brand.
Lots of great ads and other miscellanea for Conrad from the era starting at http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlylehold/6642952971/in/set-72157626443560568/