Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

Socialize

Beer In Ads #5069: Hunting Season Opens Today

By

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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 not for a specific Bock Beer, but instead a half-page panel celebrating the opening of hunting season in Montana in 1907. It was published on September 1, 1907. With the headline: “To Lakes, Rivers and Hills They Go in Bunches in Quest of Game, Now That the Season is Open,” there are below that several hunting-themed cartoons, including one featuring “Teddy Roosevelt in Disguise” standing with his boot on the back of a bock beer goat. The goat is exclaiming, “Here’s Where Bock Beer Gets the Worst Of It.” This ad ran in The Anaconda Standard, of Anaconda, Montana.

The Ballad Of Steam Beer

By

Today is the birthday of William S. “Billy” Barnes (September 1, 1864-March 13, 1910). He was born in San Francisco, left to attend Harvard, and then after graduation returned home to join his father’s law office, and was later elected District Attorney for San Francisco. He also belonged to the San Francisco Press Club, and appears to have dabbled in some writing of his own. I guess he was also a fan of Anchor Steam Beer, because in 1897 his poem “The Ballad of Steam Beer” was published in The Wave, a well-regarded local magazine. Former Anchor Brewing historian Dave Burkhart wrote about it for Anchor’s old website, and the story is also included in his great book, The Anchor Brewing Story. But who knows what will happen to the website’s archives, so I thought it was worth keeping it alive here.

The Ballad of Steam Beer


By William Sanford (Billy) Barnes (1864–1910)
As published in The Wave, San Francisco, March 13, 1897

You may talk of your Moet and Chandon,
And all the Cuvees of Champagne,
Of Burgundy, ruby and royal,
From Romanée’s storied demesne;
Of Lafitte and of Lachramae Christi
Or the warm, blushing vintage that grows
Where Yquem and the premier cru Grand Vins
Gush forth from the Hills of Bordeaux;
Of crusty old port and Madeira,
And all of the sherries of Spain,
All the liquers of castle and convent
That ever came over the main.
But I chant out a hymn to Gambrinus,
The god of small change and good cheer,
For I sing you the Song of the Nickel
That buys the big glass of Steam Beer.

A fig for straw-covered Chianti,
Or brandy a century old,
For foaming and flashing Spumante
That sparkles and glitters like gold.
Benedictine and opaline Absinthe
That gourmets and viveurs adore,
And the life-blood of amorous grape vines
That cluster along the Cote D’Or.
Not for me burn the molten sun-kisses
Upon the warm vineyards of France,
Not for me weave the chaplets of Bacchus
Nor call Satyrs and Nymphs to the dance.
I care not for these classical pleasures;
They are for my income too dear,
But still I can compass the nickel
That buys me my Schooner of Beer.

No flagons or wassail cups fill me
Of vintages priceless and rare,
Away with a stoup or a beaker,
And I scorn an effete petit verre;
My chalice is glittering crystal
Full-bosomed, deep-chested, divine,
With the glorious crown of the hop-lands
That mocks at the glory of wine.
Come! drink of the soft flowing amber,
Come! lave in its somnolent streams,
Come! taste of the foam-flecked Nepenthe
That flows from the Kingdom of Dreams.
And sing, as afloat on its tideway
We gently and drowsily steer:
“Here’s a health to the Nickel of
Commerce That buys me my Schooner of Beer!”

B. B.

Beer In Ads #5068: GB Dark Bock Beer

By

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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 GB Bock Beer, which was published on August 31, 1966. This one was for The Grace Brothers Brewing of Santa Rosa, California, which was originally founded in 1872 by William Metzger as the Santa Roa Steam Brewery, but became Grace Bros. beginning in 1897. The ad is first for their “Bavarian” Type Beer and then, “For a Change of Pace,” try their “GB” Dark Bock Beer.  This ad ran in The Ventura County Star, of Camarillo, California, but serving all of Ventura County.

Beer In Ads #5067: Enjoyed By Three Generations

By

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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 an Bruck’s Bock Beer, which was published on August 30, 1935. This one was for The Bruckmann Company Brewery of Cincinnati, Ohio, which was originally founded in 1856 on a family farm. The ad also mentions their seven beers, including Bock Beer.  This ad ran in The Cincinnati Post, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Beer Birthday: Johan Van Dyck

By

seef
Today is the 50th birthday — the Big 5-O — of Johan Van Dyck, who founded Seef Beer in Antwerp, based on an old style that he worked hard to resurrect after it had died out, despite having been the most popular local beer for many years before two world wars. I first met Johan in San Francisco when he was here with his importer to launch the brand and I wrote about the beer for my newspaper column. The company is now called Antwerpse Brouwcompagnie. It was originally a contract brew, but Johan has opened a production facility in the Noorderpershuis, which was originally a power plant. I’ve since run into him a few times in Belgium, and I’m very glad to see his beer succeed. Join me in wishing Johan a very happy birthday.

DSCN1259
Johan with the King of Belgium (though he was still the prince when we met him), and Bob Leggett from Artisanal Imports.
DSCN1270
Pete Slosberg and me with Johan at City Beer Store
SAM_3813
Johan winning an award at the Brussels Beer Challenge in 2015.

Beer In Ads #5066: Old Dutch Lunch, Bock Beer, Ice Cream

By

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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 an Old Dutch Lunch, apparently consisting of Bock Beer and Ice Cream, which was published on August 29, 1919. It’s not mentioned which specific bock beer the Parlor Drug Store (who placed the ad) was serving, though it was apparently the “Coolest Place in Town.” It must have been near a military base since the ad also mentions they were in “Class A, as designated by the U.S. Army.” This ad ran in The Columbus Weekly Courier, of Columbus, New Mexico.

Beer In Ads #5065: The Origin Of Famous Bock Beer….

By

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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 Graupner Bock Beer, which was published on August 28, 1933. This one was for the Robert H. Graupner Brewery of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, which was originally founded in 1875 as Koenig & Bro. and was also often called the Centennial Brewery, though Graupner was usually in the name after 1893. They also mention two of the other beers, Graupner’s X-Tra Fine Beer and Silver Stock Lager. But what’s most curious about the ad is that most of it is taken up by the telling of one of the many origin stories of bock beer. This ad ran in The Harrisburg Telegraph, also of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Historic Beer Birthday: Sandy Dvore

By

Today is the birthday of Sandy Dvore (August 28, 1934-November 20, 2020). He was a prolific American artist, graphic designer, and title designer. This short biography from his Wikipedia page gives the highlights:

Around 1962, he met Hollywood publicist Guy McElwaine playing baseball, who represented Natalie Wood, Warren Beatty, Judy Garland and Tony Bennett and needed ads created. Through this connection, Dvore became well known for designing back cover art for Sammy Davis Jr. in Variety. Dvore then illustrated an ad for Judy Garland for Judy at Carnegie Hall which caught the attention of American theatrical agent and film producer Freddie Fields. The pair worked together for 13 years on numerous projects. Dvore would go on to illustrate hundreds of ads for stars like Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Natalie Wood, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Steve McQueen. His minimal but vibrant illustrated trade ads held the coveted back pages of The Hollywood Reporter and Variety for years.

Sandy Dvore is best known for his work in designing television title sequences, such as the walking partridges in The Partridge Family, and the brush-stroke logo and paintings from the long-running soap opera The Young and the Restless. His film title credits include the 1976 film Lipstick and the 1972 Blaxploitation thriller Blacula. He also designed the opening credits for selected seasons of the nighttime soap opera Knots Landing.

Dvore’s work in graphic design won him an Emmy Award in 1987 for Carol, Carl, Whoopi and Robin.

But as memorable as that work is, that’s not why I’m sharing his birthday here, as you might expect. He also worked on a more beer-related project. Robert Leo Hulseman, whose father founded the Solo Cup Company. In the 1970s, Hulseman hired Dvore to design a new plastic cup for the company. Here’s the story, from the now-defunct design blog Design-Ago:

One rainy day in early 1970’s Los Angeles…

Leo Hulesman, founder of the Solo cup company, stopped by the studio of Hollywood designer Sandy Dvore.

“I heard you’re the best commercial artist around.” Said Hulesman.

This was true. Dvore was the hottest designer in Hollywood. His work appeared everywhere from billboards to trade ads and most famously, every week in the Hollywood Reporter and Variety publications. At the time, these were the most important pieces of the Hollywood community. EVERYONE looked to these weekly magazines to see what their peers were doing.

Hulesman was looking for a design for his new venture, children’s records that would be a promotional giveaway on the Solo cup box. You see, Dora Hall, a singer who was also Mrs. Hulesman, had given up her career in Ziegfield Follies to raise their children. This was a chance for her to get back to performing again and do something her children could enjoy.

“I’m doing very well now” said Dvore. “I’ve got some major projects and I really don’t want to do small piece work. It would take up a lot of time.”

“What if I give you a retainer?” Said Hulesman.

“He was sharp”, Dvore thought.

At the time Dvore was doing big name television projects, The Partidge Family and The Waltons.

“I could send you a chunk of money…” “What kind of number are we talking?” Asked Hulseman.

“$17,500” stated Dvore.

“Why don’t we just make it a flat $25,000.” Replied Hulesman.

They shook hands and Hulesman smiled. He enjoyed the banter as he, like Dvore, was a self made man from Chicago.

“He liked that I could handle myself.” Dvore remembered. “We became friends and I enjoyed knowing him.”

Hulesman enjoyed sharing the success he had. He would pay for entire television specials for his wife Dora so she could have an opportunity perform.

When it’s time to change.

“The Solo company at the time had an old serif logo right out of a type book.” Dvore remembers.

Dvore looked at the two O’s in the SOLO logo and the idea came to him, simple as that.
He hadn’t been asked to create a new logo either. He just thought,

“as a artist, we can do better.”

Hulesman had his feet propped up on Dvore’s desk when he showed him what he had come up with.

“We should change your logo, this should be the logo for your company.” Dvore slid the concept to Hulesman.

The negative space in the SOLO, O’s replaced with cups, along with a new san-serif type.

Hulesman looked at it and replied, “send it to the company.”

And, one short phone call later, it became the logo you still see everywhere today.

Sometimes, but not often, it IS that easy.

A relationship of trust formed between Dvore and Hulesman. Which is why Dvore felt comfortable proposing new ideas.

“Why are all your cups white? You should have some colored cups.”

With this idea Dvore took the colors from his recent Partridge Family art and applied the same blue, yellow and red to the cups.

And in another short phone call to the factory, the Solo cup company started producing color cups.

“I even used the same color numbers from the Partridge Family logo.” Recalls Dvore.

And so, once again, a simple yet smart idea, a phone call, and the rest is history, the red Solo cup was born.

Whoever would have thought a cup would be so famous?

It has inspired songs, drinking games, tattoo’s, merchandise and created plenty of hazy memories.

Why red became the go-to, and a cultural icon is anyone’s guess.

“It’s become the most well known and most seen thing I have ever done.” Dvore states today.

Every day, millions of people get their morning cup of coffee and before they take a sip there it is, the Solo cup logo.

Every night, people attend a party or have a game of beer pong and there it is again, the red Solo cup.

Beer In Ads #5064: Schaffhauser Bock Protest

By

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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 poster is for Falken Schaffhauser’s Bock, and was published in 1934. This one was made for the Bierbrauerei Falken Schaffhausen, or Falcon Brewery, of Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The brewery was founded in 1799, and is still in business today, and is “considered the only independent brewery in the Schaffhausen region,” and is Switzerland’s 5th largest brewery. This one is for their Schaffhauser Bock and shows a group of protestors carrying signs, though in the end they’re just beer signs. It was created by Swiss artist Arnold Oechslin.

Beer In Ads #5063: Bock Beer Days

By

Last year I decided to concentrate on Bock ads. 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 Shreveport Bock Beer, which was published on August 26, 1904. This one was for, I think, the Shreveport Brewery of Shreveport, Louisiana, which was originally founded in 1902, but only appears to have been in business until 1906. This ad ran in The Shreveport Times, also of Shreveport, Louisiana.