Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Beer In Ads #5198: Back Again! Wiedemann’s Genuine Bock Beer

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Tuesday’s ad is for Wiedemann’s Genuine Bock Beer, which was published on February 10, 1953.  This one was for Geo. Wiedemann Brewing Co., of Newport, Kentucky and was founded by John Butcher in 1860, though Wiedemann become involved fairly early, at least by 1870. This ad ran in The Cincinnati Post, of Cincinnati, Ohio. I love that they mention at the bottom that “It’s Registered, Too!”

Beer In Ads #5197: It’s Here! Rahr’s Bock Beer

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Monday’s ad is for Rahr’s Bock Beer, which was published on February 9, 1957.  This one was for Rahr Green Bay Brewing Corp., of Green Bay, Wisconsin and was founded by Henry Rahr in 1864. This ad ran in The Green Bay Press Gazette, of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Beer In Ads #5196: Happy Days Are Here Again

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Sunday’s ad is for Dawson’s Bock Beer, which was published on February 8, 1940.  This one was for Dawson’s Brewery, of New Bedford, Massachusetts and was founded in 1899. This ad ran in The Boston Globe, of Boston, Massachusetts.

Beer In Ads #5195: It’s The Time Of Year For Pearl Bock Beer

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Saturday’s ad is for Pearl Bock Beer, which was published on February 7, 1964.  This one was for Pearl Brewing Co., of San Antonio, Texas and was founded in 1883. This ad ran in The San Antonio Express, also of San Antonio, Texas.

Bistro Double IPA Winners 2026

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Earlier today, the 26th annual, silver anniversary, Double IPA Festival was held at the Bistro in Hayward, California. I got there early for judging again this year, and spent the morning holed up in the basement, where we judged Double IPAs for most of the morning, before choosing our top three favorites.

In the cellar of The Bistro this morning.

It was a cool day in Hayward, with some warming help from the sun as the day wore on.

The Double IPA Festival.

At 2:00 pm., owners Vic and Cynthia Kralj announced the winners:

Double IPAs

People’s Choice Awards

Super Secret Sauce, by Shred Beer Co., from Rocklin, California.

Beer In Ads #5194: Ring In Spring With Pearl Bock Beer

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Friday’s ad is for Pearl Bock Beer, which was published on February 6, 1962.  This one was for Pearl Brewing Co., of San Antonio, Texas and was founded in 1883. This ad ran in The El Paso Herald-Post, of El Paso, Texas.

Historic Beer Birthday: Jacob Muth

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Today is the birthday of Jacob Muth (February 6, 1825-December 6, 1892). He was born in Prussia (Germany today) and came to New York as a young man, eventually settling in Wisconsin. Over his career, he founded two breweries in the state, the Jacob Muth Brewery in Sheboygan, which later became the Thos. Schlachter & Co.) and in Burlington, the Jacob Muth, Sr. Brewery.

Here’s a short biography from The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin:

JACOB MUTH, saloon-keeper. Burlington; born at Hesse Darmstadt, Prussia, in 1825; he came to New York, in 1846; arrived in Milwaukee, May 1, 1846, and worked in P. H. Best & Bros. brewery for two years; he then went to Sheboygan and built a brewery there, which he operated himself one year, and, in 1849, took in two partners, Joe and Aug. Binz; in 1852, he sold out his interest to them, and came to Burlington; July 30, 1852, he built a frame brewery here, and operated it till 1872, then tore down part of the old brewery, and, with some new additions, altered it into a malt-house, and used it for that purpose till 1876; he then sold the property to the People’s State Bank, and started a meat market, but, not liking the business, he sold that to his nephew and opened the saloon he now owns. He married, in Milwaukee, in 1847, Margaret Eimmerman, of Richfield, Wis.; they have five children living – Jacob, Mary, Dora, Emma, and Lilly.

And this obituary is from the Journal-Times, December 7, 1892:

Beer In Ads #5193: Washington’s Favorite! Senate Bock Is Back

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Thursday’s ad is for Pabst Bock Beer, which was published on February 5, 1940.  This one was for Christian Heurich Brewing Co., of Washington, D.C. and was founded in 1872. This ad ran in The Evening Star, also of Washington, D.C.

Beer In Ads #5192: Pabst 1915 Bock Beer

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Two years ago I decided to concentrate on Bock ads for awhile. Bock, of course, may have originated in Germany, in the town of Einbeck. Because many 19th century American breweries were founded by German immigrants, they offered a bock at certain times of the year, be it Spring, Easter, Lent, Christmas, or what have you. In a sense they were some of the first seasonal beers. “The style was later adopted in Bavaria by Munich brewers in the 17th century. Due to their Bavarian accent, citizens of Munich pronounced ‘Einbeck’ as ‘ein Bock’ (a billy goat), and thus the beer became known as ‘Bock.’ A goat often appears on bottle labels.” And presumably because they were special releases, many breweries went all out promoting them with beautiful artwork on posters and other advertising.

Wednesday’s ad is for Pabst Bock Beer, which was published on February 4, 1915.  This one was for Pabst Brewing Co., of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was founded in 1844. This ad ran in The Oshkosh Northwestern, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Historic Beer Birthday: William Sebastian Sohn

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Today is the birthday of William Sebastian Sohn (February 4, 1852-February 26, 1902). He was born in Cincinnti, Ohio, the son of Johann Georg Sohn, who co-founded the Hamilton Brewery, which was later known as the J. G. Sohn & Company Brewery. It was also known as the Clyffside Brewing Co., and used the trade name Feldsbrau. William took over after his death, and it was sold in 1907 and became known as the William G. Sohn Brewing Co. and later the Mohawk Brewing Co. After prohibition, it reopened as the Clyffside Brewing. After World War 2, it was renamed the Red Top Brewing before closing for good in 1958.

This is his obituary, as reprinted in “Centennial History of Cincinnati and Representative Citizens, Volume 2,” by Charles Theodore Greve, published in 1904.

Sohn later in life.

Here’s Sohn’s obituary from the Cincinnati Enquirer: