Sunday’s holiday ad is for two breweries — Griesedieck Bros. Brewing Co. and Utica Club. I think it’s from the 1950s and appears to be a stock photo, probably meant to be used by newspapers to advertise either one of the brands, and it was simply cheaper to produce one photo. Happily, you rarely see white wreaths these days.
Saturday’s holiday ad is for Mac’s, from New Zealand. The ad is a fairly recent one, from 2014. Originally known as McCashins Brewery, for founder Terry McCashin, it was New Zealand’s first craft brewery when it opened in 1981. But almost everybody called it Mac’s, and that’s the name it goes by today, and for most of its existence. But the ad is pure genius, taking Mac’s distinctive bottle and having look like a dead beer ringer for the man in red. It almost makes me wish I had some in the cooler.
Friday’s holiday ad is for Miller High Life, from 1949. One of my favorite Christmas ads, featuring a version of Miller’s “Girl in the Moon,” with a wreath around the moon as she offers “Season’s Greetings” and “A Holiday toast to you from the National Champion of Quality … Miller High Life.”
Thursday’s holiday ad is for Acme, from 1948. San Francsico’s Acme Breweries got famed pin-up artist Alberto Varga to create the artwork for their annual Christmas card, this one, of course, for 1948 as they also wish everyone a great next year. “May the Christmas Season be a Merry One … and ’49 a Golden Year for You!” I guess she must be Mrs. Claus? Have a happy and hoppy holiday!
Wednesday’s holiday ad is for Guinness, from 1962. This is one of the last illustrations John Gilroy did for Guinness, and it was featured on the company magazine for Christmas 1962. The slightly angled one below is the largest image of it I could find, although the smaller one below it gives you a better look at it. I like how determined Santa is to get that glass of beer, willing to jump through a harp held my a lion.
Monday’s holiday ad is for Budweiser, from 1952. What could be “something more than beer….?” Apparently it’s “A tradition in hospitality.” The wagon with Santa is great though. Instead of eight tiny reindeer, it’s eight not-so-tiny Clydesdales and the sleigh is pulling beer in bottles and kegs, though I suppose those are toy of a sort.
Sunday’s ad is for Guinness, from 1952. I like the idea that Santa gets a bottle of Guinness at Christmas Eve instead of the more traditional milk for his cookies, although the addition of an evil (or at least mischievous) kinkajou seems a strange way to go. I’m not sure that Santa Claus versus the Kinkajou makes a great deal of sense, but I guess it’s a least a different approach.
Saturday’s ad is for Rheingold Beer, from 1957, and features Miss Rheingold from that year, Margie McNally. It’s a simple ad, with Miss Rheingold out on a crisp winter’s day, wearing a warm white winter coat, and choosing a tree for Christmas. Hopefully, this isn’t the one she settled on, as it looks more fit for Charlie Brown.
Friday’s holiday ad is for Work Beer, from 2010. Work appears to be a contract brewer in Richmond, Virginia that started in 1999. For this Christmas ad, Santa’s relaxing after his workday with a case of beer plus an additional six-pack. In the bottom right of the ad it gives a pretty good synopsis of why he’s earned his case of beer:
Each year Santa delivers toys to 378 million children. To get the job done before any little girl or boy wakes up, Santa must travel 3,000 times the speed of sound pulling a sleigh that weights 321,300 tons. In 31 hours he must visit 91.8 million homes, allowing him to spend 1/1000th of a second at each home.
It sure beats milk and cookies.
Thursday’s holiday ad is for Schlitz, from 1953. A rosy-cheeked, happy-looking couple is sledding home with two six-packs of beer, which should definitely make for a happy holiday.
