I stumbled on this motion graphics video yesterday on the History of Beer, created by two Portugese graphic designers, Juliano Silva and Valter Simão. It’s a fun little video, just two minutes long. Enjoy.
Beer In Ads #931: Heute Bock
Monday’s ad is a German one, from 1880, though I don’t know for what brewery it’s advertising. Heute in German means “today” so it’s telling customer, presumably, that bock is available right now. Though honestly, it would appear the man in the ad has had quite enough already.
Beer In Ads #930: You Will Enjoy …
Friday’s ad is another British one, this time for John Smith’s XXX. I’m not sure when it’s from, but the 1950s seems a safe bet. I have a friend named John Smith, and he always likes these ads. The smirking face is a little unsettling, I think. It’s almost like he’s trying to hypnotize us. “You Will Enjoy … You Will Enjoy ….”
Beer In Ads #929: The Best Long Drink In The World
Thursday’s ad for beer generally, from the 1950s. It was created for the Brewers Society, presumably a brewing industry trade organization in Great Britain. It appears that the Brewers Society became the British Beer & Pub Association in the 1990s. A quick search reveals that they did a series of ads in the 1950s using a tagline referring to beer as “The Best Long Drink in the World.” Hopefully some of British friends can explain what the hell that means?
Beer In Ads #928: How American It Is … To Want Something Better
Wednesday’s ad for Ballantine Ale, from 1945. Anticipating the post-war boom in home construction, it shows a couple looking over the blueprints for their new home, although the salesman holding them looks a little sleazy to me.
Beer In Ads #927: Satisfy Your Thirst For Better Beer!
Tuesday’s ad for Pabst Blue Ribbon, from 1954. Part of PBR’s “What’ll You Have” series, this one is tennis-themed, with a white tennis sweater emblazoned with Pabst’s tagline by the courts, back in the days when they still used white balls and … well, wore sweaters. Still not quite sure what made the beer better, though.
Beer In Ads #926: Deportment Excellent
Monday’s ad for Budweiser, from 1947. Showing a young boy whose report card was less than stellar trying to soothe the beating he was about to get by bringing his father a tray of Budweiser. I’m not quite sure he really thought this through. Is getting Dad drunk really the way to go here? And what exactly does “Deportment Excellent” mean? I guess I’m getting a failing grade, too.
Beer In Ads #925: I Was Curious About Model Trains
Friday’s ad for Schlitz, from 1949. It’s from their long-running “I was curious …” series, that featured three-panel stories that always ended with people drinking Schlitz beer. This one features a younger couple visiting the home of an older one, with the older man showing off his model train layout … and, of course, his superior taste in beer.
Beer In Ads #924: Early American Pioneer
Thursday’s ad is an Independence Day ad featuring Early American Pioneer Ben Franklin. In this ad, he’s flying a kite — at night, oddly — but I guess that’s so we can see the three-ring Ballantine logo in lightning.
Beer In Ads #923: Traditionally The Finest
Wednesday’s ad is for Miller Brewing, from 1950. It’s part of Miller’s serioes of ads from that time period using the slogan “Traditionally The Finest: with spartan indoor settings. This one features a nautical and seafood theme, and this curious statement: “women have a curious instinct for recognizing quality.”
