Tuesday’s ad is for Schlitz, from 1950. This is from a series of billboard ads from around the same time I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular, though in case I’m a little glad it’s in black and white. In this ad for Schlitz, they’re advertising with a clown — and I HATE clowns — but even so I don’t quite understand this one. Essentially it’s saying “No wonder it’s … The Beer that made Milwaukee famous.” But why? Because … clown?

Monday’s ad is for Drewrys, from 1950. This is from a series of billboard ads from around the same time I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this ad for Drewrys Beer and Ale, they’re advertising their Canadian association using a Mountie, although most of the beer was brewing in Indiana.

Sunday’s ad is for Haffenreffer & Co., Inc., from 1946. This is from a series of billboard ads from around the same time I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this ad for Pickwick Ale and Pickwick Ale Light, they’re advertising like that scene in The Blues Brothers, when they play in a redneck bar. When one of the Blues Brothers asks what kind of music they play here, a waitress replies “we got both kinds: country AND western.” Same deal with the choices presented here, your “pick” is between regular adjunct ale or light adjunct ale, which according to the label is “lighter than regular Pickwick.”

Saturday’s ad is for Hyde Park Beer, from 1946. This is from a series of billboard ads from around the same time I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this Hyde Park Beer ad, they’re advertising Hyde Park Beer as “always mighty good!,” a phrase you don’t hear any more.

Friday’s ad is for Gretz Beer, from 1951. This is from a series of billboard ads from the same year I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this Gretz ad, they’re advertising it as “a better beer naturally.” I wonder what they meant by that? There;s a clue in this wonderful sentiment that ends the ad. “Made the old-fashioned way — slowly — naturally.” I guess every other brewery was making their beer a completely different, and unnatural, way. Oh, and fast, too.

Thursday’s ad is for Acme Beer, from 1951. This is from a series of billboard ads from the same year I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this Acme ad for their Gold Label beer, they’re advertising it as a “new lighter, drier beer.” The cartoon faces are amazing, especially that wink.

Wednesday’s ad is for Hamm’s, from 1951. This is from a series of billboard ads from the same year I stumbled upon, though I’m sure the originals in color are more spectacular. In this Hamm’s ad, using their iconic tagline “From the land of sky blue waters,” imagine it ginormous, with a bottle of beer being poured into a pilsner glass, with a picturesque outdoor background.

Monday’s ad is for Rheingold Extra Dry Lager Beer, from 1964. How about the head on that mug? One down, one to go. And only a few more peanuts left. It really is “as good to your taste as it is to your thirst.” But buried in the text is a baseball reference, too. “There’s no better way to work up a thirst than cheering our Mets. No better way to quench it than with Rheingold Extra Dry.” The World Series starts tomorrow. There may be peanut, but there will definitely be beer.