I first made Johann, the founder of Seef Bier, in San Francisco, when he was here to do a presentation with his importer and the Belgian Trade Delegation as he was beginning to import his beer to the U.S. And I quite like Seef, and have since I first tried it. I saw him most recently last month in Belgium, when he was on hand to pick up the gold medal for Seef he received at the Brussels Beer Challenge. At any rate, this morning he sent me this fun video of Christmas Wishes from Seefbier, a spoof of the popular Christmas carol recorded by Andy Williams, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. It really is the most wonderful time to drink beer. Enjoy.
Patent No. 838735A: Beer-Racking Apparatus
Today in 1906, US Patent 838735 A was issued, an invention of Henry L. Momburg, for his “Beer-Racking Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention is a means for filling receptacles, and I have chosen to illustrate the same in this application as embodied in a beer-racking apparatus.
One object of my invention is the provision of means for rapidlyfilling kegs or other receptacles with liquid.
Another object of my invention is the provision of means for completely filling the kegs or other receptacles with liquid without wasting the liquid.
As the liquid beer, for instance, is supplied to or introduced into the keg it will foam and the foam will float on top of the liquid as the keg is filled. Now in order to completely fill the keg it has been necessary to allow the foam to run out of the bunghole and be wasted, the beer also overflowing unless shut off just as the liquid reaches the bung-hole. This operates to waste considerable beer when filling a number of kegs,.and as the filling operation should be completed as speedily possible the drip and overflow beer wasted is a considerable amount.
My invention is designed to avoid all waste from any source whatever, and if a little care be used no appreciable amount of beer need be wasted.
Of course if the foam in the keg is not al lowed to overflow then short keg is the result, the beer not completely filling the keg, and the air commingled with the foam will operate to make the beer flat and destroy the taste and freshness. By the use of my apparatus this danger is avoided, since the keg is filled completely with beer, the foam being forced out of the keg, and hence when the bung is driven into the keg there is no air left in the keg and the beer retains its original strength, freshness, and taste.
Another object of my invent-ion is the provision of a means for receiving the foam and overflow beer from one keg and supplying it to the succeeding keg to be filled without impairing the beer in the slightest, and yet effect- I ing a saving of the liquid.
Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel means for retaining the filling-tube in the keg by releasably locking it 1 1place when inserted through the bungs vision of an inexpensive, simple, and neat racking apparatus which will effectually perform all the work required in a highly efficient manner.
To these ends my invention consists, broadly, of a suitable supporting-frame, upon which is carried the filling tube or tubes, which are provided with means for receiving the overflow beer, which means is also connected with a member, likewise carried by the frame, for causing the expulsion of the overflow beer into the next keg to be filled, together with means for connecting the filling tube with the source of supply.
Patent No. 664185A: Keg, Barrel, Or Cask
Today in 1900, US Patent 664185 A was issued, an invention of Charles W. Stran, for his “Keg, Barrel, Or Cask.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention relates to improvements in kegs, barrels, or casks, and pertains more especially to an article of the character indicated that is made of sheet metal.
The object of this invention is to provide a keg, barrel, or cask that possesses great strength and durability, whose heads cannot become displaced, that can be made with facility, and that is exceedingly simple in construction and comparatively inexpensive.
Beer In Ads #1762: Sledding With Schlitz
Thursday’s holiday ad is for Schlitz, from 1953. A rosy-cheeked, happy-looking couple is sledding home with two six-packs of beer, which should definitely make for a happy holiday.
Patent No. 20090308879A1: Method Of Distributing Beer
Today in 2009, US Patent 20090308879 A1 was issued, an invention of James H. Johnson, Jr., for his “Method of Distributing Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
A method of distributing beer includes the steps of providing a beer staging structure adjacent a retail location for the sale of beer, stocking beer in the structure and advertising for the beer on the structure.
Beer In Ads #1761: Father William Wishes You A Merry Xmas —
Wednesday’s holiday ad is for William Younger’s Scotch Ale, from 1931. Father William I understand, but what the hell is he riding? It looks like an ostrich made of a Christmas ornament with Christmas crackers for legs and a tail of either mistletoe or a sprig of pine tree. The whatever it is, the creature’s wearing a sort of dunce cap with a decorative ball of yarn on top. And lastly, what is on the beast’s neck? Perhaps this is what you see if drink too much Scotch Ale.
Patent No. 3484244A: Fermenting And Aging A Malt Beverage
Today in 1968, US Patent 3484244 A was issued, an invention of Peter D. Bayne and Joseph A. Kozulis, assigned to Schlitz Brewing Co., for their “Fermenting and Aging a Malt Beverage.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to a method of brewing and more particularly to a method of fermenting and aging a malt beverage.
The present invention is directed to a method of fermenting and aging at malt beverage which is based on a concept directly opposed to traditional brewing practices. More specifically, the wort is introduced into a tank and pitched with yeast. Following the addition of yeast, the Wort is continuously circulated from the tank to a heat exchanger and returned to the tank in a closed flow system. A cooling medium is supplied to the heat exchanger to maintain the wort at a temperature in the range of 45 to 70 F. during the fermentation process.
When the fermentation has proceeded to a point where the specific gravity of the wort falls to a predetermined value below 5 Plato the supply of the cooling medium to the heat exchanger is terminated and the fermented wort circulating within the closed system will gradually increase in temperature due to the heat generated by the fermentation process. The temperature of the fermented wort is permitted to rise until it reaches a value at least 4 above the fermenting temperature, and generally in the range of 50 to F., and is maintained at this temperature by controlled circulation of the cooling medium. At this time the yeast is still present in the beer and the beer is continuously circulated through the system for a period of about one to five days and until the diacetyl content falls to a value below 0.2 p.p.m. and the acetaldehyde content decreases to a value below 5 p.p.m. At this time, the beer is considered to be fully aged or matured.
At the end of the maturation cycle, the temperature of the circulating beer is reduced to a value of about 29 to 32 F. approaching the freezing point of beer. With the beer at this temperature, the beer is withdrawn from the tank and pumped through a centrifuge to re move the yeast. Following the removal of yeast, the beer is prefiltered and carbonated, injected with enzymes, and other additives, polish filtered, the carbonation adjusted and then is stored in government storage tanks for packaging in accordance with conventional brewing procedures. In some instances, only one filtration may be necessary to prepare the beer for packaging.
Patent No. 715828A: Tray For Beer Glasses
Today in 1902, US Patent 715828 A was issued, an invention of Albert Markmann, for his “Tray For Beer Glasses.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
This invention relates to supports or saucers for beer-glasses and the like; and my improvements in the same consist in certain arrangements and combinations of parts, as are fully described hereinafter.
Patent No. 222639A: Improvement In Apparatus For Forcing Beer From Casks
Today in 1879, US Patent 222639 A was issued, an invention of James A. O’Connor, for his “Improvement in Apparatus for Forcing Beer from Casks.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:
My invention relates to an improved apparatus for maintaining the pressure in beer-4 casks, and for preserving the freshness of the beer While it is being drawn from the casks and it consists in the combination, with an air-pump, of an air-reservoir connected to the beer-cask by a suitable pipe, the said reservoir-being composed of two cylindrical or polygonal vessels, closed at their outer ends, and arranged to slide one within the other through a packed joint, as hereinafter more fully described.
And here’s the original drawing filed with the application:
Beer In Ads #1760: Help Yourself To Good Cheer
Tuesday’s holiday ad is for Budweiser, from 1953. The first Christmas ad for 2015 is a fairly simple one, showing quite the holiday spread with twelve bottles of Budweiser and a big display piece of the Clydesdales and a beer wagon being pulled by Santa Claus.
