Monday’s ad is a Schlitz ad, most likely from the 1950s, featuring a cowboy trying to rope a bottle of Schlitz with his lasso. I imagine that if he manages to snag a bottle that it won’t open without spraying him in the face.
Guinness Ad #13: Spyglass
Our lucky 13th Guinness poster by John Gilroy is another in the “Lovely Day For A Guinness” series, this time featuring a sailor spying a pint of Guinness through his telescope, while two seagulls circle him expectantly.
Beer In Ads #84: Budweiser’s New York Beacon
Friday’s ad is for Budweiser and reflects the optimism of its publication date, which was 1933, just after the end of prohibition. Above cloudy skies, the Empire State Building, like a lighthouse beacon, shines around the city, lighting it up for the fun below. Below the beacon, an orchestra plays, people dine and dance, all, presumably, with the newly legal beer.
Beer In Ads #83: Schlitz Like A Melody
Thursday’s ad is another in the Schlitz “kiss of the hops” series, this one featuring a violinist with the tagline “Like a Melody, No Bitterness.” It’s from 1943, a time when I think ads still tried to cram way to much into their ads, as this one looks much too cluttered to my eye.
Beer In Ads #82: Schaefer All Around
Wednesday’s ad is all about circles and is for Schaefer beer in cans from 1959. Using imagery from the top of the can with round burgers, they make the case that because of their similar roundness, they should — and do, I should add — go great together. But check out this priceless bit of adspeak copy. “Nothing goes with burgers like Schaefer. The flavor’s something special … never sharp, never flat, a smooth round taste. That’s why folks say it’s — REAL BEER!”
Beer In Ads #81: National Beer’s Private Signals
Tuesday’s ad is a maritime ad complete with the signal flags ships use to communicate with one another. The ad is from 1960 and is for National Brewing, from Baltimore. Did you know the Chesapeake Bay area is the “Land of Pleasant Living?” Me neither. I also love the unusual glass, no doubt chosen so we could see more of the poster of flags through it. The bottom stem looks a bit like an upside down bottle neck, doesn’t it?
Beer In Ads #80: Ballantine At The Beach
Monday’s ad finds us at the beach with Ballantine Ale, probably from the late 50s, early 60s. The slogan “Try it for a change … and you’ll never change back!” is pretty interesting, though I’ve no idea what it has to do with being at the shore. The other text, “Ballantine Ale begins where other brews leaves off … in flavor … in satisfaction” is likewise great adspeak.
Beer In Art #72: Shawn Kenney’s Will Work For Food (& Beer)
Today’s works are from a series entitled Will Work For Food by an artist from Providence, Rhode Island, Shawn Kenney. There’s a story behind the project, and a portion of each sale is “donated to agencies working to end hunger through education, outreach, and food distribution.” All of the beer paintings are already sold, but plenty of food paintings remain available in the food inventory. The first beer painting below is of a can of Narragansett beer, which is Rhode Island local.
Then there’s this bottle of Red Stripe.
And finally, a pint of Guinness. There are also a few more beer paintings at the Will Work For Food main web page.
Here’s a portion of Kenney’s biography:
I was tremendously fortunate to study under a stellar lineup of professors during my time at [the Rhode Island School of Design]. Among them: Tom Sgouros, Dean Richardson, Victor Lara, and David Macaulay. They, along with some amazing classmates, opened my eyes to a much larger world.
In the years since, I have worked as an illustrator, designer and art director, never leaving my love of the craft of drawing and painting behind.
You can also see more of Kenney’s work at his Studio Work and his blog. You can also see a few more pieces at the Charlestown Gallery.
Guinness Ad #12: Stone Statue
Our twelfth Guinness poster by John Gilroy is another in the “Guinness For Strength” series, this time featuring a stone statue pining for a Guinness.
Beer In Ads #79: Sodibo’s Blue Lady
Friday’s ad is for a brand I’m not familiar with, Sodibo, which I believe was a French beer. I love the highly stylized pastel drawing with the sophisticated-looking woman partially obscured by a bright blue fog. It’s from the 1920s and the art is by a Jean Rousseau.
You can see more of the art in the poster below, but I still prefer the simpler one with almost no text. Below seems cluttered, above, elegant.
