Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #361: American Originals, Black & Tan

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Tuesday’s ad is for another one of Anheuser-Busch’s series of beers they marketed under the name “American Originals,” beginning in the fall of 1995. This one was Black & Tan, a “Porter.” Here’s what a press release said about it at the time:

Adolphus Busch’s Black and Tan was first brewed in 1899 as an American porter, and was particularly popular on draught in saloons. Black and Tan is a full-bodied porter with a bit more malt to soften the flavor, and it has a deep reddish-brown color. It is a hearty, rich and dark ale that features taste characteristics of roasted malt, chocolate and coffee. Its aroma combines roasted malt, chocolate, fruity and slightly floral characteristics.

Black and Tan is brewed using a true English ale yeast, a blend of chocolate, caramel and two other varieties of roasted malt, and a combination of Washington State hops and imported hops.

“Black and Tan is a very hearty, rich, and dark beer that is a perfect complement to foods of a similar nature, such as meat stews, chilis and strong chocolate-flavored desserts,” Kahn said.

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Beer In Ads #360: American Originals, Faust

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Monday’s ad is for one of Anheuser-Busch’s series of beers they marketed under the name “American Originals,” beginning in the fall of 1995. This one was Faust, a “Devilish All-Malt Lager.” Here’s what a press release said about it at the time:

Faust was first brewed in 1885 by Adolphus Busch for his good friend Tony Faust to serve at Faust’s renowned St. Louis Oyster House and Restaurant. The brand was initially sold only in Faust’s restaurant, but it became so popular that it was made available on a much wider basis in subsequent years.

“Faust is an all-malt lager that is brewed using only the richest two-row, dry-roasted barley and a blend of distinctive imported Bohemian and Washington State hops,” said Dan Kahn, the Anheuser-Busch brewmaster responsible for American Originals’ development.

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Beer In Art #125: Pieter de Hooch’s Woman Drinking In A Courtyard

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This week’s work of art is by the Dutch artist Pieter de Hooch who was active during the time period known as the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. The painting, completed between 1658-1660, is entitled Un homme fumant et une femme buvant dans une cour a Delft (which is translated as Man Smoking and Woman Drinking in a Courtyard in Delft). The original painting is in the Mauritshuis in the Hague.

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The woman looks positively modern, almost like she’s savoring the aroma of the beer before taking her first sip.

You can see more of Pieter de Hooch’s work at the Artchive, the Artcyclopedia, Olga’s Gallery and the Web Gallery of Art.

Guinness Ad #66: See What Big Chief Toucan Can Do

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Our 66th Guinness ad is an odd one, obviously from a time when sensitivities toward Native Americans weren’t particularly high. That cringeworthy tagline “— Him Strong,” while obviously referring to Guinness, nonetheless seems wrong by today’s standards. And it’s not helped by the iconic Toucan wearing the headdress with the slogan “See What Big Chief Toucan Can Do.” Still, it was a different time.

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Beer In Ads #358: Miller’s Six-Bottle Man

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Thursday’s ad is also from 1983, but is for Miller Brewing. The ad welcomes us to “Miller Time” and features a bearded man in a plaid shirt (at first I thought he might be a lumberjack, but alas it doesn’t look like flannel) holding six bottles of Miller High Life in both hands, that is three bottles per hand. That’s a pretty impressive feat, especially when you consider he’s holding them in such a way that every label is facing us.

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Beer In Ads #355: Biere Gallia

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Monday’s ad is for an old French brewery, Brasserie de Gallia. The original brewery was founded before 1878 but rechristened New Gallia in 1890, when it moved to Paris. It struggled after World War 2, and eventually closed in 1968. But last year it was relaunched as Gallia Paris. I’m not sure when the ad is from, but 1950s or before seems like a safe bet.

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Beer In Art #124: Rasmussen Ximenes’ The Last Supper

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This week’s work of art is by a Brazilian artist who now calls Petaluma his home. Rasmussen Ximenes painted The Last Supper as part on a local contest entitled ArtSlant, in which it was a second round winner. Feeling the pride of his new home, he included the local brewery’s beer in his painting: Lagunitas IPA.

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I saw the original painting recently, which is temporarily in the offices of Lagunitas in Petaluma. Though, as you can see below, the frame has now been painted purple.

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You can read more about Ras Ximenes, a.k.a. Moco, at his web bio and also see more of his work at his gallery.