Today in 1882, US Patent 254120 A was issued, an invention of Patrick J. Darcy, for his “Beer-Cooler.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states that his “improvement relates to a device for cooling beer as it is drawn from the cask, by which it is cooled as it is used, instead of being obliged to cool the cask, and thereby diminish the head or pressure, besides the waste of ice in cooling through the wood.”
Patent No. 1899203A: Combined Bottle Opener And Key Ring
Today in 1933, US Patent 1899203 A was issued, an invention of Joseph Charle Auguste Labreche, for his “Combined Bottle Opener and Key Ring.” There’s no Abstract, but the simple description states that the “invention pertains to a novel combined bottle opener and key ring designed a to be carried conveniently-in the pocket.” Weird to think that this had to be patented, they seem so ubiquitous now.
Patent No. 1899784A: Bottle Cap
Today in 1933, US Patent 1899784 A was issued, an invention of Albin H. Warth, assigned to the Crown Cork & Seal Co., for his “Bottle Cap.” This crown was patented shortly before the repeal of Prohibition, which took place several months later, in December, although by April some lower-strength beer became available. There’s no Abstract, but the description provides some insight in the why it was a more modern crown.
This invention relates to bottle caps and more particularly to a cap consisting of ametallic’shell containing a cushion disc having what is known as a protecting facing. In its preferred form, the invention relates to that type of cap having a protecting facing in the form of a center-disc or center-spot which is of smaller diameter than the cushion disc.
In closures of this character, the cushion or compressible disc is ordinarily formed of sheet cork or of a composition of granular cork, the particles of which are united by a binder which is resistant to gas and acids.
It is desirable to protect the cushion disc from the contents of the bottle, since the cork or other material of the disc becomes discolored and imparts an undesirable flavor or taint to the contents.
The facing discs have ordinarily been fornied either of metal foil, such as aluminum or tin, or of fibrous material, such as paper.
The present invention relates to the latter type in which the facing is of paper.
Beer In Ads #1479: Bavarian Brewery, E. Anheuser & Co.
Friday’s ad is for the Bavarian Brewery, a.k.a. E. Anheuser & Co., from 1860. This, of course, was the brewery that would later be called Anheuser-Busch, but sixteen years before they’d start making Budweiser. Even then, it was a fairly large enterprise, with “bottling for export a specialty.”
Next Session Coming Up For The Up And Coming
For the 97th Session, our host is Brett Domue, who is one-half of the duo writing Our Tasty Travels, along with Erin De Santiago. He’s asking us all to opine on “Up-and-Coming Beer Locations.” Essentially he wants to know. Where are tomorrow’s beer superstars?
We all have our favorite beer locations. Some have been around for centuries. Others have made such a name for themselves in the past 25 years, they have reached beer-legend status and are ranked up there with the “old-world” beer destinations.
Belgium, Germany, and the Czech Republic are pretty-much synonymous with beer, especially in line with the basic styles that originated in their breweries centuries ago.
Within the United States, you have “old-world” cities such as Milwaukee, WI, as well as “new-world” cities such as [San Francisco,] San Diego, Denver, Philadelphia, Boston, Portland, OR, and Asheville, NC more well-known for their experimental craft breweries.
But one thing that has become more apparent than ever in recent years, the craft beer scene is growing around the world, even faster than ever before!
What are the up-and-coming beer locations that you see as the next major players in the beer scene?
For this month’s session, I’m asking you all to share which locations you see as the beer destinations that everyone will be talking about in the next few years. Where are the beer scenes just emerging, or coming into their own? Some may be brand new locations. While others may be old-world destinations seeing a renaissance into the world of new craft beer styles. Some may even be locations where familiar names from around the world are planning on setting up shop to bring new styles to old palates.
So come up with your own list of up-and-comers. To participate in March’s Session, just wax on and/or off about your take on the humble beer fest. Then on March 6, post your choices in the comments section to Domue’s announcement. He even has a novel approach for non-bloggers. “If you don’t have a beer blog but still want to participate, use the hashtag #session97 and I’ll try to include microblog/social media inputs with that hashtag as well.” That’s a fun idea, and if it works, one we should continue with going forward.
Patent No. 644171A: Attachment For Beer-Dispensing Apparatus
Today in 1900, US Patent 644171 A was issued, an invention of William Handler, for his “Attachment for Beer-Dispensing Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, but in the description Handler explains that his “invention relates to an attachment for beer-dispensing apparatus,” adding that the “object of this invention is to produce what may be termed an anti-froth device, which may be applied at any point between the barrel, keg, or vessel and the discharge outlet of the dispensing-faucet, the said device operating to retard or hold back the froth,while permitting a ready outflow of the liquid, and thereby equalizing the amount of froth delivered with the liquid from the first to the last glass of liquid drawn from the vessel.”
Beer In Ads #1478: My Friend Budweiser
Thursday’s ad is for Budweiser, from 1907. The simple ad from over 100 years ago is trying to make friends. For every tuxedoed, top-hatted man with a patriotic flag lapel pin is a friend of Budweiser.
Beer In Ads #1477: The Health Of The Farmer
Wednesday’s ad is another one for Anheuser-Busch’s “Malt-Nutrine,” also from 1908. Malt-Nutrine was promoted not as a non-alcoholic beer, but as a “pure malt tonic” and sold by druggists and grocers. “The Health of the Farmer” that the ad is touting comes from Malt-Nutrine containing “the combined juices of germinated barley and selected Saazer Hops.” Is that all? Hell, no. “Every bottle is charged with the strength and glory of the golden grain. Its aroma is the fragrance of the clinging hop vine and its living vigor is the cream of ripened barley. It infuses life into the blood — sustains all the vital powers and to the feeble, aged and run down it is a veritable restorer of recreative and soothing potency.”
Patent No. 1054119A: Apparatus For Picking Hops
Today in 1913, US Patent 1054551 A was issued, an invention of Emil Clemens Horst, for his “Apparatus For Picking Hops,” and his second patent to be issued today. There’s no Abstract, but the description states he’s “devised a complete system for mechanically picking hops from the vines and separating them from the leaves and stems, with which they are co-mingled and delivering them to dryers by machinery.”
Patent No. 1054551A: Method Of Picking Hops
Today in 1913, US Patent 1054551 A was issued, an invention of Emil Clemens Horst, for his “Method of Picking Hops.” There’s no Abstract, but the description states that the “invention comprises a method of picking hops and [he has] disclosed in the accompanying drawings apparatus by which my method may be performed.”
To the attainment of the desirable results which will be hereinafter more particularly described, the method which I prefer to employ as comprehended in the scope of this application is as follows: First: Passing the hop vines over and in contact with suit able picker mechanism. Second: Depositing the hops by gravity into a suitable conveyer by means of which they’re carried to an inclined cylindrical separator. Third: Subjecting any clusters to a further separating action, then causing the hop stems and trash to be elevated and repassed through the separating cylinder just de scribed. Fourth: Finally conveying the hops to the dry house from the combined cleaning mechanism.
